hot honey chicken tenders

these hot honey chicken tenders feature juicy chicken and a delightfully crispy, golden crust. the real star of this recipe is the hot honey glaze – rich, sticky and glossy, with just the right amount of spice and sweetness in every bite.

these delicious hot honey chicken tenders combine the crunch of perfectly fried chicken with a silky, spicy-sweet glaze. fry up seasoned chicken until golden and crisp, before dousing in a mouthwatering mix of garlic, hot sauce and honey for the perfect glossy finish. if you’re looking for comfort food with a kick, this one’s for you.

why you will love this hot honey chicken recipe:

• easy recipe: while this hot honey chicken tenders recipe might seem complicated, you’ll learn that it really is a lot easier than it seems once you break it down into steps and have all of the ingredients in front of you. the best part is that the ingredients used in this hot honey chicken recipe are everyday ingredients that you most likely already have at home! you’ll be surprised at the sort of flavour you can get in this hot honey chicken using simple, everyday ingredients.

• customisable – you can easily customise these hot honey chicken tenders to suit your preferences and your spice level. i’ve tried to keep the spice minimal for this recipe so that those with a lower spice tolerance can enjoy it, but if you like your chicken to be on the spicier side, you can absolutely increase the spices in the chicken batter and the sauce. similarly, if you prefer a sweeter flavour, you can reduce the spices and increase the honey in the sauce.

• easy to make as part of a balanced diet – this recipe doesn’t have to be unhealthy! you can easily make this hot honey chicken healthy by skipping the deep frying, coating in cornflakes instead of the flour mix and opting for making in the air fryer or baking in the oven instead. serve with a side of vegetables or a salad to make it a balanced meal and you’re good to go.

how to make these hot honey chicken tenders:

to make this hot honey chicken, we’re going to start off by marinating our chicken in spices, some vinegar and some milk to tenderise it. once it has marinated, we’ll coat the chicken in a seasoned flour mixture to create our crispy coating. then, we’ll fry until golden and crunchy. finally, we’ll make the hot honey chicken glaze and drizzle it on top of our fried chicken.

hot honey chicken tenders ingredients:

• chicken – i like to use boneless chicken breast for this hot honey chicken recipe.

• spices – in this recipe, we’ll be using a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, red chilli powder, black pepper and salt to marinate the chicken and in the seasoned flour mixture. to the flour mixture, we’ll also add some paprika for some extra colour. we’ll also be using some of these seasonings in our hot honey chicken sauce, as well as some red chilli flakes for a little more spice.

• vinegar -adding a small amount of vinegar to the chicken when marinating will help tenderise it.

• milk – adding milk to the chicken mixture will also help tenderise and keep it soft after frying it.

• flour – coating the chicken in plain flour/ all purpose flour is going to give us our crispy crust

• cornstarch- i like to use a mix of flour and cornstarch for the coating for extra crispiness.

• ice water – after coating the chicken in flour, we’ll dunk it in ice water. i like to use this over an egg before coating in a second layer of flour for a lighter and crispier crust. you can also use an egg if you prefer that.

• oil – use any neutral oil such as sunflower, safflower, canola etc. for frying. we’ll also be using a small amount of oil for the spicy honey sauce.

• butter – the base of the hot honey chicken sauce

• garlic- for the glaze, we’ll cook fresh minced garlic in butter to add some extra flavour.

• hot sauce/chilli sauce – use your favourite hot sauce to add some heat to the hot honey chicken glaze

• honey – adjust the amount of honey in the sauce depending on how sweet you like it.

tools:

• wire skimmer – use a wire skimmer to drain any excess oil after frying the chicken.

• wire rack – let the fried chicken rest on a wire rack after removing from the oil. this will also remove any excess oil before you add the spicy honey sauce.

step by step instructions

for full measurements, keep scrolling down to the recipe below.

step one: in a bowl, add chicken breast, cut into strips, and then add all of the seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, red chilli powder, black pepper and salt. add vinegar and milk, and mix all of this into the chicken. cover the bowl, place it in the fridge and let the chicken soak into the mixture for at least 30 minutes.

step two: while the chicken is marinating, start making the flour mixture. in another bowl, mix together flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, red chilli powder and onion powder.

step three: once the chicken is ready, coat the strips in a thin layer of the seasoned flour.

step four: dunk the chicken, one by one, in the ice water for just a few seconds at a time.

step five: add the chicken back to the flour mixture and coat it nicely with the flour.

step six: shake off any excess flour, then we’ll start frying the chicken once all the pieces are coated. add the chicken strips to hot oil, then turn the heat down to medium-high heat, and fry until golden and crispy.

step seven:using a wire skimmer, remove the hot chicken from the oil and drain any excess. place the chicken on a wire rack while you make the hot honey sauce.

step eight: for the hot honey chicken sauce, in a pan add a small amount of oil and heat it up. then, add butter and let it melt. add fresh garlic, and cook this over medium heat until the garlic becomes a light golden colour.

step nine: to the garlic and butter mixture, add paprika, black pepper, red chilli flakes, hot sauce and honey. combine all of these until the sauce is warmed through.

step ten: drizzle the spicy honey sauce over the fried chicken, or dip the chicken into the sauce until it is nicely coated.

step eleven: let’s eat!

tips and notes

• marinate the chicken for as long as you can – marinating the chicken for hours is not always an option when you don’t have much time, so i generally recommend marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes in my recipes. however, when you do have the time, marinating for a couple of hours or even overnight, makes a difference in terms of taste and texture of the chicken. the spices and the milk will help tenderise the chicken and give it a better flavour.

• remove from the fridge and let the chicken come to room temperature before you start coating and frying. this helps the chicken cook evenly. alternatively, if you live in a place with cold weather, you can just leave the chicken to marinate at room temperature instead of putting it in the fridge.

• make sure you don’t cut your chicken into strips that are too thick. thick pieces of chicken will take longer to cook and be harder to fry.

• do not overcrowd the pan when frying the chicken. if necessary, fry the chicken in batches.

• adjust spices and seasonings to your taste – i tried to keep this hot honey chicken recipe balanced in terms of sweetness and spice. but if you’RE WORRIED that this hot honey chicken MIGHT BE TOO SPICY for you (or if you’D prefer it to be spicier), I WOULD recommend adjusting the salt and spices to your preference.

• make sure your oil is not too hot or too cool when frying. oil that is too hot will cook the outside too quickly and won’t cook the inside enough, and oil that isn’t hot enough will make the chicken greasy.

• the secret to that crispy texture after frying the chicken is from the clumps of flour when you’re coating the chicken. for the second coating of flour, don’t be too gentle with chicken. press it into the flour, and squeeze the chicken to create clumps and texture. when you lift the chicken out of the flour and shake off the excess, you should be able to see all the ridges that will give it texture when it’s fried.

• there are so many serving options when it comes to this recipe! serve this hot honey chicken over rice or with mashed potatoes. have hot honey chicken mac and cheese or a hot honey chicken wrap. skip the flour coating in favour of cornflakes and bake the chicken or cook in the air fryer to make this hot honey chicken healthy. the possibilities are endless.

frequently asked questions

1. can i use egg instead of ice water for the coating?

   – yes, you can. using egg for the coating is actually a more common method than using ice water. i find that dipping in ice water helps the flour coating stick to the chicken better, which makes it crispier. i also find that it gives the chicken a lighter crust. however, with egg, you tend to get a richer flavour and a more golden colour after frying. you can use egg or ice water depending on what you prefer. ice water is also a good option for those who can’t have eggs in their diet.

2. how can i make this hot honey chicken spicier?

   – if you want to make this hot honey chicken a little spicier, you can increase the heat by adding more red chilli powder to the chicken marinade and/or the flour mixture. you can also increase the red chilli flakes and hot sauce in the hot honey chicken glaze.

3. can i use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

   – yes, you can absolutely use boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast. in fact, chicken thighs tend to be juicier and more tender, with more flavour too. just make sure they’re cut into thin strips to make frying easier.

4. can i make this hot honey chicken in the air fryer or oven?

   – yes, you can make this hot honey chicken a little healthier by baking or cooking in the air fryer instead of frying in oil. you can bake or air fry at 200°C (400°F) until golden and crispy. keep in mind that the chicken won’t be as crispy as chicken that is deep—fried.

5. how do i know if my oil is hot enough for frying?

   – if you’re not sure whether your oil is hot enough, and you don’t have a thermometer, dip the handle of a wooden spoon or a chopstick in the oil. once you see bubbles start to form around the spoon/chopstick, and they start to float up, it means that your oil is hot enough for frying. if the oil is bubbling up really fast, it might mean that your oil is too hot.

6. can i make the hot honey chicken sauce in advance?

   – if you need to make this dish in advance for whatever reason, you can marinate the chicken the night before and also prepare the flour mixture in advance. you can also prepare the glaze ahead of time and store in an airtight container in the fridge. when it comes to serving, just coat your chicken, fry, and let it rest on a wire rack. gently reheat the spicy honey sauce on the stove before brushing it onto the chicken.

7. what sides could i serve with this hot honey chicken?

   – if you’re looking for something light, you could serve this hot honey chicken with a side salad or some rice and vegetables. for a heartier meal, mac and cheese or some creamy mashed potatoes are also great options.

8. what kind of oil do i use for frying?

   – for frying the hot honey chicken, you will need to use an oil with a high smoke point so that it’s able to withstand the high temperatures needed for deep frying. i also recommend using an oil with a neutral taste so that it doesn’t impart any of its flavour on the chicken. some good options are sunflower oil, safflower oil or vegetable oil (which is a mix of different plant oils).

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