Description
A quick and easy 5pm dinner solution featuring frozen chicken tenders tossed in a sweet, spicy, and sticky honey-sriracha glaze, cooked in an air fryer for maximum crispiness with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz frozen breaded chicken tenders
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp sriracha sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
- Sliced green onions (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Line the basket with parchment paper if desired.
- Place frozen chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overlap.
- Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces.
- Continue cooking for another 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F).
- While chicken cooks, whisk together honey, sriracha, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic powder, and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth.
- Once chicken is cooked, remove basket and pour sauce over the hot chicken. Toss to coat evenly.
- Return basket to air fryer and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 3-4 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
- Remove from air fryer, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if using, and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not skip the final 3-4 minutes of cooking after glazing; this step is crucial for caramelizing the sugar and setting the sticky glaze. If the sauce is too runny, cook for an additional 2 minutes. If using fresh chicken, cut into 1-inch cubes and reduce initial cook time by 2-3 minutes. For meal prep, store plain cooked chicken in the fridge and reheat with fresh sauce to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 2 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approx. 3-4 chicken
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 20
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 24
- Protein: 22
Keywords: air fryer chicken, sticky honey sriracha, quick dinner, frozen chicken recipes, easy weeknight meals, spicy chicken bites, gluten-free options