Honey sesame chicken turned into crispy tenders that are made in the air fryer in just 15 minutes!
This recipe for honey sesame chicken tenders is an easier variation to 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 chicken pieces instead of several smaller ones. The marinate doesn’t even have to sit (unless you want it to) and you can get to cooking straight away. Simply marinate the chicken, 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! Then the crispy air fryer honey sesame chicken tenders are ready to enjoy!
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. If you’re looking for more, then this would definitely be a great option too!
I hope you enjoyed 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!
Crispy 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
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- salt to taste
The coating:
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1.5 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
The sauce:
- 1/3 cup (90 g) ketchup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds (plus more for garnishing)
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400℉ (204℃).
- Marinate the chicken with 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, making sure to cover all sides of the chicken. Set aside as you work with the rest of the chicken and avoid stacking the chicken on top of each other.
- Once all of the chicken has been coated, lay them flat on the air fryer basket/tray without crowding them, lightly spray the top side with cooking spray and air fry at 400℉ (204℃) for 7 minutes. Then remove and flip the chicken over, spray again, and air fry for 7 more minutes.
- In the meantime, make the sauce by combining all of the ingredients listed in that category in a large mixing bowl.
- When the chicken is fully cooked through and is cool to touch, take each piece of chicken and dip into the sauce, making sure to cover all sides and shake off any excess. Alternatively, you can also brush the sauce on all sides of the chicken using a basting pastry brush.
- Garnish with some more sesame seeds and enjoy warm!
