Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

For the Chicken Tenders:

• 1 lb (450g) chicken tenders
• 1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (optional for extra crispiness)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Cooking spray or a light drizzle of oil

For the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce:

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter
• 3 tbsp honey
• 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce (optional for extra depth)

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken:
   • In a bowl, combine chicken tenders and buttermilk. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
2. Prep the Coating:
   • In a shallow dish, mix flour, breadcrumbs (if using), garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
3. Coat the Chicken:
   • Remove tenders from the buttermilk, let excess drip off, and dredge in the flour mixture, pressing to coat evenly.
4. Air Fry:
   • Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes.
   • Lightly spray the chicken with oil and place in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
   • Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through (internal temp: 165°F/74°C).
5. Make the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce:
   • While the chicken cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
   • Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
   • Stir in honey and soy sauce (if using). Simmer for 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened.
6. Toss and Serve:
   • Once the chicken tenders are done, place them in a bowl and drizzle the warm honey butter garlic sauce over them.
   • Toss gently to coat.

✨ Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce or over rice or salad!

Let me know if you’d like a spicy version or a dipping sauce to go with it!