Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are everything your taste buds crave sweet, savory, crispy, and finger-licking good. Perfectly seasoned tenders are air-fried until golden and juicy, then tossed in a sticky, buttery honey garlic sauce that clings to every crunchy bite. Whether it’s dinner, lunch, or a weekend snack, this recipe is a must-try.

Pure Comfort

When it comes to comfort food with a twist, nothing beats tender chicken with buttery garlic and honey glaze. It’s like southern fried chicken meets Asian fusion and the air fryer keeps it lighter without sacrificing the crunch. This dish brings the warmth of home-cooked food to your plate with minimal effort and major flavor.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken

Here’s what you need to make the magic happen:

For the chicken tenders:

• 1 ½ lbs chicken tenders or boneless chicken breast strips
• 1 cup buttermilk (for marinade)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup breadcrumbs or panko
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• Cooking spray or a light brush of oil

For the honey butter garlic sauce:

• 4 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

What You Need

You’ll want to have these on hand for the best results:

• Air fryer
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk or fork
• Tongs
• Small saucepan
• Basting brush (optional)

Time to Cook Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Total Time: 27 minutes
• Servings: 4

Steps to Make Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken

1. Marinate the Chicken

In a bowl, pour buttermilk over your chicken tenders. Let them soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight for max tenderness).

2. Bread the Chicken

In a separate bowl, mix flour, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and coat each piece in the dry mix. Shake off excess.

3. Air Fry

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray the basket. Place tenders in a single layer, spray lightly with oil, and air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and fully cooked (internal temp 165°F).

4. Make the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce

While the chicken cooks, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1–2 minutes. Stir in honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.

5. Coat the Tenders

Remove chicken from the air fryer and brush or toss in the warm honey butter garlic sauce. Serve immediately.

Make It Perfect

• Crispier tenders? Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket give the tenders room to crisp evenly.
• For even juicier chicken, marinate overnight in the fridge.

Mix It Up

Want to spice it up or make it your own? Try these variations:

• Add a tablespoon of hot sauce to the honey butter sauce for a sweet-heat combo.
• Toss in a pinch of lemon zest for a citrus kick.
• Swap chicken tenders for boneless chicken thighs or nuggets.

Perfect Partners

Pair these tenders with:

• Sweet potato fries or curly fries
• Creamy mac and cheese
• A light, crunchy slaw
• Or serve with Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips for a full-on crispy chicken spread!

Busy Day Hero

Air fryer recipes are a lifesaver for weeknights. You can even prep and freeze these tenders in advance. Just bread them, freeze on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag. Air fry from frozen just add 2–3 extra minutes.

Work Ahead

You can:

• Marinate the chicken overnight
• Prep the breading mix and store in an airtight container
• Make the sauce ahead and reheat it gently when ready to serve

Save Some For Later

Got leftovers? Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 5–6 minutes to restore crispiness.

Freezer-friendly too freeze breaded uncooked tenders or fully cooked tenders. Reheat from frozen as needed.

Everyone’s Happy

From picky kids to sauce-loving adults, these honey butter garlic chicken tenders are a universal crowd-pleaser. They’re sweet, savory, garlicky, and made for dipping.

Want to explore more saucy creations? Don’t miss this savory-sweet combo in Honey Garlic Shrimp Sausage, or go bold with Ooey Gooey Cheddar Bacon Ranch Stuffed Chicken.

Good For You Too

Because it’s air-fried, you’re skipping the excess oil of deep-frying. You still get that crispy satisfaction with fewer calories and less mess.

Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and tamari to make this a gluten-free meal!

Easy Clean Up

This recipe only uses a few bowls and a pan for the sauce. Line your air fryer basket with parchment for even easier cleanup.

Switch It Up

Turn the sauce into a glaze for salmon, drizzle it over roasted veggies, or use it on crispy tofu for a vegetarian twist. It’s that good.

Simply Perfect

With crispy chicken and a sticky-sweet garlic glaze, this recipe is a no-fuss, high-reward dish that’s sure to land in your weekly rotation.

FAQs for Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken

1. Can I use frozen chicken tenders?

Yes! Just thaw completely before marinating and cooking.

2. Can I double the recipe?

Absolutely. Just cook in batches so the air fryer doesn’t overcrowd.

3. Is there a dairy-free version?

Swap buttermilk with almond milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice. Use vegan butter in the sauce.

4. What’s the best dipping sauce?

Ranch, sriracha mayo, or extra honey garlic sauce!

5. How do I make it spicier?

Add extra red pepper flakes or a splash of hot sauce to the glaze.

6. Can I bake instead?

Yes! Bake at 425°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.

Conclusion for Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken

Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are sweet, garlicky, buttery bites of joy perfect for families, game day, or a quick dinner that feels like takeout (but better). They’re fast, flavorful, and totally addictive.

Serve them with a side of Air Fryer Steak Bites or your favorite slaw, and dinner’s done.

Ready to crunch into something amazing? Fire up that air fryer and drizzle on the flavor. 🍯🍗💥

Happy cooking with Rita chef ❤️!