Juicy and crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, drenched in a spicy-sweet hot honey sauce – these chicken tenders have it all! And with only 7 ingredients and 30 minutes from start to finish, these hot honey glazed chicken tenders are super simple and easy to make.
I can’t get enough of these Hot Honey Chicken Tenders! Crispy golden chicken, smothered with a sticky hot honey glaze–what’s not to love? They’re the perfect balance of sweet and spicy, keeping you coming back for more and more.
These homemade Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are crispy outside, tender inside, spicy, sweet, and completely addicting!
Here’s all about how to make hot honey chicken tenders!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Ultra crispy & juicy – These chicken tenders are EXTRA tender thanks to a quick dunk in buttermilk which helps to tenderize an already tender cut of meat. Then, they’re shallow-fried until super crispy. They’re so good!
- Perfect for entertaining – My crowd loves these crispy hot honey chicken tenders on game days! They’re the most popular finger food around.
- Super easy – Soak, dunk, fry, and pour the glaze over the top. These are seriously easy hot honey chicken tenders!
- Restaurant-style food at home – You may have seen hot honey chicken tenders on TikTok or at a local restaurant or Publix (their viral Hot Honey Chicken Tender Sub – yum!) This recipe helps you save money and time by showing you how to make your own homemade hot honey chicken tenders!
Recipe Notes
This Hot Honey Chicken Tender recipe is as simple as promised! Just 7 ingredients and 30 minutes for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Hot Honey Chicken Tenders to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the chicken:
- Chicken tenderloins – Tenderloins are a tender cut of chicken from the underside of the chicken breast. You’ll be able to find them in the meat department of most well-stocked grocery stores.
- Buttermilk – A quick soak in buttermilk gives you tender, juicy chicken tenders, thanks to the lactic acid found in buttermilk. It’s so worth the extra few minutes of soaking!
- Flour – I like to use all-purpose flour for a crispy outer coating.
- Paprika – Adds mildly peppery and slightly sweet notes of flavor to the outer layer of the chicken.
- Salt & pepper
- Cooking oil – Use your favorite cooking oil. Vegetable oil is a great choice; canola or peanut oil also work well.
For the hot honey chicken tender sauce:
- Honey – You’ll need 1/4 cup of your favorite honey.
- Hot sauce – Grab your fave! I like Frank’s Red Hot, but Sriracha or Cholula are great choices, too.
- Red pepper flakes – For an extra kick of spicy heat.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Hot Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders– Add a teaspoon of garlic powder to the flour coating for a garlicky twist.
- Extra Hot Honey Chicken Tenders– Use the hottest sauce you can find and double the crushed red pepper flakes to turn up the heat!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Hot Honey Chicken Tenders.
Place the chicken tenders in a dish with high sides.
Pour on the buttermilk and stir to coat. Place in fridge while prepping the coating & glaze.
In another dish or medium-size bowl, stir together the flour, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Remove the tenderloins from the buttermilk and coat on all sides with the flour.
To make the hot honey sauce, which together the honey, red pepper flakes, and hot sauce.
Add the oil to a skillet and heat over medium heat. Cook the chicken on both sides until golden brown and cooked through. Drizzle with sauce.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust the spices to taste – If you like your hot honey less spicy, use a bit less hot sauce and reduce the crushed red peppers. Or add more if you like heat!
- Cook in a single layer – If you pile too many chicken tenders into the skillet all at once, it is more likely to steam rather than fry. So for the crispiest hot honey glazed chicken tenders, be sure to cook it in a single layer.
- Watch the cooking temp – Different stoves cook at different temps, so I suggest keeping an eye on your chicken as you fry it and reducing the heat to medium low if it seems to be browning too much before the inside is cooked through.
- Have a paper-towel-lined plate ready – This way, you can transfer your freshly cooked chicken tenders to the paper towels, which will soak up any excess oil.
Recipe Short Cut
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here is an idea that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Prep ahead – Whisk together the sauce and the coating beforehand to shave off a couple of minutes of prep time. The sauce can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days; you can cover the flour mixture and keep it on the countertop until you’re ready to use it.
What to Serve with Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of classic American cuisine, it will pair well with many of your favorite traditional side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
- Maple Glazed Carrots
- Easy Baked Macaroni & Cheese
- Creamy Southern Coleslaw
- Instant Pot Corn on the Cob or Crock Pot Corn on the Cob with Garlic Butter
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Publix Hot Honey Chicken Tender Wrap– Make a copycat of the popular wrap by spreading some mayo in a large flour tortilla and laying one or two hot honey chicken tenders in the middle. Top with provolone, tomato slices, shredded lettuce, banana peppers, salt, and pepper. Roll up and enjoy!
- Chicken Tender Sub– Chop up leftover hot honey chicken tenders and place them in a soft sub roll a’la these chicken tender subs. So good!
- Chicken Tender Salad– Chop leftover tenders and serve over a bed of crisp lettuce. Top with red onions, slices of avocado, and cherry tomatoes. Drizzle with jalapeño ranch dressing.
- Chicken Tender Quesadillas– Place chopped chicken tenders on one half of a flour tortilla and layer a couple of slices of Provolone on top. Fold in half and cook in a skillet until golden brown on both sides. Serve with sour cream.
Recipe FAQ’s
Should I soak chicken tenders in milk?
For extra tender and juicy chicken, I say yes! Buttermilk, actually, is the very best for soaking chicken.
Is hot honey actually spicy?
That all depends on your tolerance for spice and the hot honey itself! Generally, it’s going to have a spicy kick to it. One great thing about making it at home is that you can adjust the heat level to your preference.
More EASY Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy chicken recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders (No Breading)
- Blackened Chicken Tenders
- Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders
- Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2½ pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup flour
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 cup oil, + more as needed (your preferred cooking oil)
For the hot honey drizzle
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1½ teaspoon hot sauce
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Pour buttermilk over chicken tenderloins and stir to coat. Let it sit in the refrigerator while you prepare the coating and honey.
- Add the flour, paprika, salt and pepper to a shallow dish and mix to combine.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. Add more or less hot sauce and red pepper flakes to taste. Set aside.
- Take the chicken tenderloins out of the buttermilk and coat on all sides liberally with the flour mixture. Repeat until all chicken tenderloins are coated in the flour mixture.
- Add the oil to a large skillet, and heat over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken tenders in a single layer to the pan. Only put in as many pieces as you can fit without them touching.Allow the chicken to cook 3-4 minutes then flip and continue to cook until done (165˚F internal temp.) About 4-5 minutes.Remove the chicken to a paper towel lined plate.TIP: Depending how your stove cooks, you may want to reduce the heat to medium low once you add the chicken so the outside doesn't over cook before the inside gets done.
- Repeat until all chicken is cooked. Add more oil as needed if the skillet starts to get dry spots.Once it is all done, arrange the chicken on a platter and drizzle the hot honey over each piece. Optionally, you can serve the chicken and allow each person to top with as much honey as they like.
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