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Ultimate Crispy Chicken Tenders with Tangy Honey Mustard Dip

A tall stack of golden brown, crispy chicken tenders served with a side of bright yellow honey mustard dip.
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Follow this method to make genuinely crispy chicken tenders using an oven or air fryer, served with a simple, tangy homemade honey mustard sauce.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup Dijon mustard (for sauce)
  • 1/4 cup honey (for sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (for sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon yellow mustard (for sauce)
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder (for sauce)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken strips completely dry with paper towels. This step is key for crispiness.
  2. Set up the dredging station: In a shallow dish, combine the flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. In a second shallow dish, whisk the eggs and water together. In a third shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Dredge the chicken: Coat each chicken strip first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Next, dip it completely into the egg mixture. Finally, press the strip firmly into the panko breadcrumbs, ensuring full coverage. Place coated tenders on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
  4. For Air Frying: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the coated tenders with cooking spray. Cook in a single layer for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
  5. For Oven Baking: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Place the wire rack with tenders into the oven. Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through. For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the tops with cooking spray before the final 5 minutes of baking.
  6. Make the honey mustard sauce: While the tenders cook, whisk together the Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, and onion powder in a small bowl until smooth.
  7. Serve the crispy chicken tenders immediately with the homemade honey mustard dip.

Notes

  • To prevent soggy tenders, do not skip drying the chicken or pressing the panko firmly onto the surface.
  • For the crispiest results in the oven, use a wire rack so air circulates around the bottom of the tenders.
  • You can make the honey mustard sauce up to three days ahead and store it in the refrigerator.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastytipster.com/crispy-chicken-tenders-with-honey-mustard/