> Skip to content

Recipe  •  7 March 2025

 

Fitwaffle's Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Tenders

These chicken tenders are a great alternative to a takeaway.

Seasoned with paprika and cayenne pepper and served with a hot honey sauce, these tenders have a wonderful sweet and spicy kick to them and finishing them in the air fryer is not only quicker and easier, but much healthier too.

If you love a sweet and savoury combo like I do, these are for you. Crispy and juicy, coated in hot honey sauce, they’re irresistible. Perfect for a quick dinner or snack, and you can make them as spicy (or not spicy) as you like.

MAKES: 6-8
TOTAL TIME: 25 MIN

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 large egg
  • 60g (2½ cups) cornflakes
  • 300g (10.5oz) chicken mini fillets
  • 3 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • salt and pepper

For the sauce:

  • 60ml (4 tbsp) honey
  • 4 tsp dark soy sauce (light is also fine)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 3 tsp hot sauce (more or less to suit your spice level)

 

METHOD

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 180˚C (350˚F).

  2. Beat the egg well in a medium bowl.

  3. Put the cornflakes into a food processor and process until roughly crushed. Alternatively, put them into a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour into another medium bowl.

  4. In a third medium bowl, coat the chicken fillets in the paprika, cayenne pepper and some salt and pepper, then coat them in the beaten egg, letting any excess drip off, then in the crushed cornflakes, making sure you pat really firmly on both sides of the chicken.

  5. Transfer the coated chicken fillets to the air fryer rack or basket, making sure they’re not touching each other, and air fry for 10–12 minutes until the chicken is cooked through to at least 75˚C (167˚F) when tested with a meat thermometer.

  6. In a small–medium bowl, mix together the honey, soy sauce, garlic and hot sauce until combined. You can microwave it for about 20 seconds to warm it up and help it come together.

  7. Coat the chicken tenders in the sauce.

  8. Serve with your sides of choice. I love to use coleslaw. Enjoy!

Feature Title

Fitwaffle’s Easy Air Fryer
100 simple recipes to be made in an air fryer, from three-time Sunday Times bestseller and viral sensation Fitwaffle (14 million followers).
Read more

More features

See all recipes
Recipe
Mini Chocolate Egg Cookie Pots

If you love your cookies soft and gooey, you'll love Fitwaffle's Easter cookie pots. Studded with Mini Eggs and baked in the air fryer, they couldn't be easier to make.

Recipe
Fitwaffle's Air Fryer Choc Chip Cookie Baked Oats

If you're a fan of porridge for breakfast, you'll love this recipe for chocolate chip baked oats from Fitwaffle. Cooked in the air fryer, this recipe comes together so easily for a delicious start to the day that will keep you fuelled until lunch.

Recipe
Chocolate hazelnut cookies and cream bars

A buttery cookies and cream base, a thick layer of chocolate hazelnut spread, topped with sweet cream cheese and a sprinkle of cookie crumbs.

Recipe
Speculoos cake

This cake is a must for speculoos biscuit lovers.

Q&A
Eloise Head (AKA Fitwaffle) shares her all-time favourite baking ingredients

We caught up with Eloise Head ahead of the release of her cookbook, ‘Fitwaffle’s Baked In One.’ Learn about her favourite ingredients, ultimate comfort food and more.

Recipe
Onigiri (rice balls)

Onigiri is real soul food. It’s perfect for picnics, weekend activities and family car journeys. Use this recipe to make as many onigiri as your heart desires, with filling or without (shio-nigiri).

Recipe
Jamie Oliver’s Meatball Traybake

Hidden in these meatballs from Jamie Oliver are cannellini beans for an added fibre bonus. Using an old friend like meatballs to get some beans into your life is a tasty, nutritious win.

Recipe
Basil, Courgette and Pistachio Pasta

The perfect quick summer meal, this simple pasta dish uses only a few simple ingredients but is packed with bright, herby flavours.

Recipe
Triple Garlic Crispy Chicken with Green Rice and Sauce

Full of depth and umami flavours, this crispy chicken is paired with a light herb sauce and a punchy garlic sauce to make an unbelievably tasty meal.

Recipe
Tropical Prawns with Plantain and Pickled Shallots

This colourful Brazilian recipe from Ixta Belfrage combines juicy prawns with plantain in a rich and deeply flavourful prawn oil. If you're looking for the perfect starter for hosting, look no further.

Recipe
Bangers and tomato rice

This one-pot tomato rice dish is topped with crispy bite-sized pieces of sausage, toasted rice and shallots cooked in the rendered sausage fat.

Recipe
Roasted banana ice cream with choc fudge sauce

This ice cream is vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free (as long as you use gluten-free miso), so it’s great if you’re catering for people with different dietary requirements.

Looking for more recipes?

See all recipes