Dinner

Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe

Name: Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2½ pounds chicken tenderloins; 1 cup buttermilk; 1 cup flour; 2 tablespoons paprika; 2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; ¼ cup oil (plus more as needed, your preferred cooking oil); ¼ cup honey; 1½ teaspoon hot sauce; ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

ByJack Voss March 1, 2026March 1, 2026

Jump to Recipe

Introduction

Hot Honey Chicken Tenders offer a perfect balance of spicy heat and sweet honey glaze that makes them irresistible. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, these tenders are easy to make and great for any meal or snack.

A white plate is filled with many pieces of golden-brown fried chicken, each piece having a crispy and rough texture with some darker spots from frying. The chicken pieces are piled closely together, and shiny honey is being drizzled on them from a wooden honey dipper, creating a glossy layer on some pieces. Behind the chicken, there is a clear glass bowl filled with more honey. The background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2½ pounds chicken tenderloins
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flour
2 tablespoons paprika
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ cup oil (plus more as needed, your preferred cooking oil)
¼ cup honey
1½ teaspoons hot sauce
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

Step 1: Pour buttermilk over the chicken tenderloins and stir to coat. Let them sit in the refrigerator while you prepare the coating and hot honey sauce.
Step 2: In a shallow dish, combine the flour, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix well.
Step 3: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. Adjust the hot sauce and red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level. Set the sauce aside.
Step 4: Remove chicken from the buttermilk and coat each piece generously with the flour mixture. Repeat until all tenderloins are well coated.
Step 5: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken tenders in a single layer without crowding. Cook for 3–4 minutes, then flip and cook another 4–5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F. Remove chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. If needed, reduce heat to medium-low to avoid overcooking the exterior before the inside is done.
Step 6: Repeat cooking with remaining chicken, adding more oil if the skillet starts to dry out. When all chicken is cooked, arrange on a platter and drizzle the hot honey sauce over each piece. Optionally, serve additional sauce on the side for extra topping.

Tips & Variations

For a crunchier coating, double-dip the chicken in buttermilk and flour mixture before frying.
Substitute cayenne pepper for red pepper flakes for a different kind of heat.
Try swapping buttermilk for plain yogurt if buttermilk is unavailable.
Use a thermometer to ensure chicken cooks to a safe 165˚F without drying out.

Storage

Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350˚F for about 10 minutes to keep them crispy. The hot honey sauce can be stored separately in the fridge for up to 1 week.

How to Serve

A white plate holds several pieces of crispy fried chicken with a golden brown and crunchy texture, some areas darker and some lighter showing the fried surface unevenness; on top of the chicken, glossy honey is being drizzled from a wooden honey dipper, adding a shiny amber layer with sticky flowing texture. Behind the chicken, there is a small clear glass bowl filled with thick amber honey. The whole scene is set against a white marbled texture background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I bake these chicken tenders instead of frying?

Yes, you can bake them at 400˚F for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they reach 165˚F internally. Keep in mind the texture will be less crispy than frying.

How spicy are these chicken tenders?

The level of spiciness can be adjusted by the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes you add to the honey sauce, making it mild or more fiery according to your preference.