Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken tenders – crispy spicy-sweet chicken with a 5-ingredient hot honey lemon pepper glaze. Easy air fryer recipe!
Coming in hot today is this simple weeknight main course or perfect appetizer for any gathering.
It comes together in minutes, has quickly become my new favorite air fryer recipe – and- it cooks in under 10 minutes!
Tender, juicy boneless chicken tenders with a crispy Corn Flake breading air fried and tossed in a hot honey lemon pepper glaze loaded with so much flavor.
Bring on the napkins because there’s plenty of sweet-spicy sticky sauce to go around and it’s absolutely addicting!
WHAT IS LEMON PEPPER SEASONING?
Lemon Pepper Seasoning is a blend of black pepper, salt and dried lemon zest for that delightful citrus flavor.
It’s found in most grocery stores and, depending upon the brand you may also see onion, celery seed or a few other ingredients in it.
WHAT’S IN AIR FRYER HOT HONEY LEMON PEPPER CHICKEN?
Printable detailed instructions in the recipe card below.
THE SAUCE:
- honey
- buffalo sauce
- crushed red pepper flakes
- lemon pepper seasoning
- butter
THE CHICKEN:
- boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in strips (or chicken tenders)
- corn flakes crushed
- all purpose flour
- lemon pepper seasoning
- eggs
- Olive oil cooking spray
You’ll also need a large bowl to drizzle the hot honey glaze on the cooked chicken
HOW TO MAKE HOT HONEY LEMON PEPPER CHICKEN TENDERS:
THE SAUCE:
To make the lemon pepper hot honey sauce, add the glaze ingredients – honey, buffalo sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon pepper seasoning and butter to a small saucepan over medium heat.
Bring to a soft boil for 1 minute then remove from the heat.
Taste and adjust for spice level then cool, transfer to a container and set aside (the sauce thickens slightly as it cools).
THE CHICKEN:
Cut the chicken into strips then set up a dredging station in two bowls:
In the first bowl whisk the eggs and water together.
In the second bowl whisk crushed cereal, flour and lemon pepper seasoning until it’s blended.
Dip the chicken into the egg, then dredge in the cereal mixture, back into the egg and finishing in the cereal mixture.
Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet.
NOTE: the breading can be a little sticky in parts but will crisp up when air fried.
AIR FRYING THE CHICKEN:
Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees then spray the air fryer basket.
Add breaded chicken to the basket in a single layer.
Lightly spray the top of the chicken then cook for 4 minutes.
Carefully turn the chicken pieces over and cook another 2-4 minutes until they’re cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
GLAZING THE CHICKEN:
Transfer cooked chicken to large bowl then drizzle half of the honey over the top, turning to coat the chicken.
Place the chicken on a plate. Drizzle the remaining hot honey lemon pepper sauce over the top, add a light sprinkle of salt then eat right away.
WHAT TO DO WITH LEFTOVER HOT HONEY CHICKEN:
Leftover chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer or microwave.
TIPS AND FAQ: AND VARIATIONS:
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper to transfer the breaded chicken before air frying.
- For extra spicy chicken add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the hot honey sauce.
- Work in batches if necessary. Keep cooked chicken warm on a baking sheet lined with a wire rack in a 200° oven.
- Salted or unsalted butter can be used (whichever you normally buy).
- Optional garnish: fresh parsley or thinly sliced green onions.
- Hot honey sauce can be used for delicious wings! Adjust cook time accordingly to an internal temp of 165°
- For more lemon flavor add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or lemon zest to the hot honey sauce.
- A pinch of onion powder would also be delicious in the sauce.
LOOKING FOR MORE SPICY CHICKEN RECIPES?
Air Fryer Boneless Buffalo Chicken
Enjoy!
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Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Chicken - Air Fried!
Equipment
- Air fryer
- 1 large bowl used for drizzling hot honey on chicken
Ingredients
THE SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup Frank's buffalo wing sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons butter
THE CHICKEN:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in strips (or chicken tenders)
- 2 cups Corn Flakes crushed
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 large eggs +2 tablespoons water
- olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
THE SAUCE:
- Add honey, buffalo sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, lemon pepper seasoning and butter to a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring to a soft boil for 1 minute then remove from the heat. Taste and adjust for spice level then cool, transfer to a container and set aside (the sauce thickens slightly as it cools).
THE CHICKEN:
- Cut chicken breasts into strips then set up a dredging station in two bowls:
- In the first bowl whisk the eggs and water together. In the second bowl whisk crushed cereal, flour and lemon pepper seasoning until it’s blended.
- Dip the chicken into the egg, then dredge in the cereal mixture, back into the egg and finishing in the cereal mixture. Transfer to a parchment paper lined baking sheet repeating until all the chicken is breaded.NOTE: the breading can be a little sticky in parts but will crisp up when air fried.
AIR FRYING:
- Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees then spray the air fryer basket.
- Add breaded chicken to the basket in a single layer. Lightly spray the top of the chicken then cook for 4 minutes.
- Carefully turn the chicken pieces over and cook another 2-4 minutes until they’re cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
GLAZING THE CHICKEN:
- Transfer cooked chicken to bowl then drizzle half of the honey over the top, turning to coat the chicken.
- Place the chicken on a plate. Drizzle the remaining hot honey lemon pepper sauce over the top. Add a light sprinkle of salt then eat right away.
These chicken strips look delicious.!!
Hi Bette – thank you so much! Crispy, spicy-sweet – all the good stuff! 🙂 — Bernie
Loved this recipe! Made it tonight and the flavor is the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Quick easy recipe for any night. Will be making again!
Hi Lauren – thank you so much! So glad you liked the recipe — it’s one of my favorites too! I appreciate you taking the time to comment – 🙂