Air fryer chicken tenders coated with a delicious honey sesame sauce!
This recipe for honey sesame chicken tenders is an easier variation to the classic recipe and is made much more quickly! It takes a lot less time and requires minimal effort since you’re working with a few larger pieces of chicken instead of several smaller ones. The marinate doesn’t even have to sit and you can get to cooking straight away.
Simply marinate the chicken with a few spices, then dip into the egg and the into the seasoned breadcrumbs. It takes about 14-15 minutes in the air fryer and in the meantime, you can work on making the sauce. Once the chicken is cooked through, coat each piece with the sauce and that’s it! The air fryer honey sesame chicken tenders are ready to enjoy!
The Honey Sesame Sauce
The sauce is mix of ketchup, soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, sesame seeds, and ground ginger! Just mix everything together and let it set for a few minutes. I find that the sauce tastes better when you let all the flavors meld and come together.
I added a few tbsp of water to thin it out a little before coating the chicken. Add 1 tbsp of water at at time until it’s thin enough to your liking but don’t add too much or else it’ll be too watery and won’t stick to the chicken. Serve leftover sauce as a side.
I’ve also shared another recipe for honey sesame chicken before! This one is made entirely on the stove top and is like the classic dish that you’ll find at restaurants. The chicken is marinated with spices, coated with flour, and fried until crispy! The sauce is made using freshly minced ginger and garlic and a few condiments. Just let it simmer for a couple minutes until it thickens and then toss in the fried chicken and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy this recipe and would greatly appreciate a rating and review! I would love to hear your feedback and answer any questions you may have! Don’t forget to stay connected on Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, and Pinterest for video tutorials, updates, & more!
Air Fryer Honey Sesame Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
The chicken
- 1.3 lbs (~ 600 g) chicken tenders
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp ground black pepper or to taste
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- salt to taste
The coating:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup (120 g) bread crumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 – 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 – 1 tsp ground black pepper
The sauce:
- 1/3 cup (90 g) ketchup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (plus more for garnishing)
- 2-3 tbsp water
- green onions (optional for garnishing)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃).
- Marinate the chicken with soy sauce and all of the spices listed in that category and set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk one egg and set aside.
- In a third bowl, mix the breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Take one piece of chicken at a time, dip into the egg, making sure to cover all sides, drip off any excess and then dip into the breadcrumbs. Press them on really well and make sure to coat all sides of the chicken. Set aside as you work with the rest of the chicken.
- Once all of the chicken has been coated, lay them flat on the air fryer basket/tray. Work in batches if necessary. Lightly spray the top with cooking spray and air fry for 14-16 minutes or until cooked through. Flip and spray the chicken half way through air frying. To check with a food thermometer, the internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165℉ (74℃) when fully cooked through.
- In the meantime, make the sauce. In a mixing bowl, add all of the ingredients listed in that category and mix well. Add 1 tbsp of water at a time until its thinned enough to your liking. (I added 2-3 tbsp)
- When the chicken is ready, coat each piece of chicken with the sauce, making sure to cover all sides and shake off any excess.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions and enjoy warm!
