Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

These crispy Nashville hot chicken tenders are glazed in a sweet and spicy sauce and cooked without oil in the air fryer or baked in the oven. A super easy appetizer or weeknight dinner that can be made gluten-free!

5 from 5 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Serving servings

Ingredients

Chicken Tenders:

1.5 pounds chicken tenders (8 - 10 pieces) or 3 chicken breasts cut into tenders
⅓ cup all-purpose flour, gluten-free if needed
3 tbsp cornstarch, (substitute with arrowroot starch or tapioca flour)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp black pepper
2 large eggs
1 ⅓ cup Panko breadcrumbs, whole wheat or gluten-free if needed

Nashville Hot Sauce:

¼ - ⅓ cup hot sauce, I love Frank's Red Hot Sauce
1 tbsp melted unsalted butter
2 - 3 tbsp honey
1 tsp smoked paprika
¼ tsp ground cayenne
½ tsp garlic powder
Salt, to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Or preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
In a small shallow bowl, add the flour and cornstarch. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a third shallow bowl, add the panko, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Trim off all fat and tendons from chicken tenders. Or, if using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut them into 1-inch thick strips.
Working one at a time, dip a chicken tender into flour, make sure to coat it, and then shake off excess flour. Then, dip it into the eggs, and then finally into panko breadcrumbs. Use your hands to coat the chicken with the panko so it is fully covered.
Repeat step 4 with the rest of the tenders.
Oven: Place the breaded chicken tenders onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 - 14 minutes, until golden, crispy, and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
Air Fryer: Place the breaded chicken tenders into the preheated air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 380°F for 8 - 11 minutes, until golden, crispy, and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
Meanwhile, add all the hot glaze sauce ingredients to a microwave-safe dish and heat for 20 - 30 seconds. When the chicken is done cooking, drizzle and coat the tenders in the warmed hot honey and enjoy!

Nutrition

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American