Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders

These Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders are the perfect combination of crunchy, juicy, sweet, and smoky. Tender chicken is marinated in seasoned buttermilk, coated in a flavorful flour and cornstarch dredge, and double-fried until beautifully golden and crispy. They’re then tossed in a sticky homemade honey BBQ sauce that brings everything together.

Perfect for a quick dinner, weekend snack, party appetizer, or whenever you're craving crispy fried chicken with a sweet and smoky twist. 🍯🍗

Ingredients

For the Marinade

- 700 g chicken tenderloins

- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- 1 tsp onion powder

- 1 tsp paprika

- ½ tsp black pepper

For the Dredge

- 2 cups (250 g) all-purpose flour

- 1 cup (125 g) cornstarch

- 1 tsp baking powder

- 1 tsp salt

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- 1 tsp onion powder

- 1 tsp paprika

- ½ tsp black pepper

For the Honey BBQ Sauce

- ½ cup (120 g) ketchup

- 3 tbsp honey

- 1½ tbsp brown sugar

- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

- 1 tsp smoked paprika

- 1 tsp garlic powder

- ½ tsp onion powder

- ½ tsp black pepper

- 2 tbsp unsalted butter

How to Make Crispy Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders

1. Marinate the Chicken

Place the chicken tenderloins in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Mix thoroughly until the chicken is evenly coated.

Cover and marinate for 2–4 hours. For the best flavor and tenderness, you can marinate the chicken overnight.

2. Prepare the Dredge

In a separate large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.

Mix well so all the seasonings are evenly distributed throughout the flour mixture.

3. Coat the Chicken

Remove the chicken tenderloins from the buttermilk marinade and coat each piece thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.

Press the flour mixture gently onto the chicken to create a good coating.

4. Double-Fry the Chicken

Heat oil to 165–170°C.

Carefully add the coated chicken tenders and fry for 3–4 minutes.

Remove the chicken and let it rest for 5–10 minutes. This allows the coating to settle before the second fry.

Increase the oil temperature to 180–185°C and fry the chicken again for 1–2 minutes, or until the tenders are golden brown and extra crispy.

5. Make the Honey BBQ Sauce

While the chicken is resting, combine the ketchup, honey, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a saucepan.

Simmer the mixture gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened.

Add the unsalted butter and stir until completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.

6. Toss the Chicken

Place the hot crispy chicken tenders in a large bowl.

Pour the warm honey BBQ sauce over the chicken and toss gently until each tender is evenly coated.

Serve immediately while the chicken is hot, crispy, and coated in that sticky honey BBQ glaze. 🍯🍗

Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken Tenders

- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor and tenderness.

- Make sure each tenderloin is thoroughly coated in the dredge.

- The two-stage frying process helps create an extra crispy coating.

- Allow the chicken to rest between fries before increasing the oil temperature.

- Toss the chicken in the sauce just before serving to keep the texture as crispy as possible.

Serving Suggestions

Serve these crispy honey BBQ chicken tenders as an appetizer, snack, or main dish. They pair perfectly with fries, coleslaw, potato wedges, or your favorite dipping sauce.

The result is crispy, juicy chicken covered in a sweet, smoky, buttery BBQ glaze that makes these tenders seriously hard to resist. 🍯✨

Credit:- hescooks