Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders: The Picky Eater Approved Recipe
Listen up, parents. If you have a picky eater in your house who turns their nose up at literally everything you make, this might just be your golden ticket to victory. These Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders didn’t just pass the picky teen test—they won. Like, full-on, clean plate, no complaints, might-actually-ask-for-seconds level of winning.
And if you don’t have a picky eater? Well, congrats. Must be nice. But trust me, you still need these in your life.
Why These Tenders Are That Good
- Crispy Perfection – The kind of crunch that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate it. ASMR levels of crispiness.
- Sticky, Sweet, and Spicy – The honey-chipotle sauce brings that perfect balance of sweet heat—just enough spice to keep things interesting without setting your mouth on fire.
- Reminds me of Chili’s Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers… BUT BETTER! – If you love honey-chipotle chicken tenders from Chili’s, just wait until you try these. Homemade = extra crispy, extra saucy, and way more flavor.
- Game Day Perfection – These are basically required eating for March Madness, or any excuse you can find to serve handheld snacks.
Let’s Talk Sauce
The honey chipotle sauce? Oh, it’s elite. The honey makes it sticky and sweet, while the chipotle gives it that smoky, slightly spicy kick that keeps you coming back for more. It’s the kind of sauce that will have you licking your fingers and questioning why you ever settled for fast food chicken tenders in the first place.
Quick Fun Fact (Because We’re Here to Learn Too)
Did you know chipotle peppers are just smoked and dried jalapeños? Yep. That’s why they have that deep, smoky heat instead of just straight-up spice. So basically, you’re eating educational chicken tenders.
Final Thoughts (a.k.a. Just Make These Already)
Whether you’re making these for your family, your friends, or just yourself (no judgment), these Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders are guaranteed to be a hit. Serve them with fries, coleslaw, or honestly, just eat them straight off the tray.
Just don’t be surprised when you never want to order tenders from a restaurant again.
Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
Tenders:
- oil for frying
- 10-12 chicken tenderloins Or breasts cut into strips
Dry Flour Mixture
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Wet Batter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Honey Chipotle Sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a pie plate or bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients for the flour coating and set it aside.
- In another pie plate or bowl, whisk together the wet batter ingredients. Once you add the flour, mix gently—small lumps are totally fine!
- Fill a deep heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven with oil, attach a thermometer, and heat it to 350°F.
- Dip each chicken tender into the wet batter, letting any extra drip off, then coat it thoroughly in the dry flour mixture.
- Fry in batches, about 4–5 tenders at a time, until crispy and golden brown. The internal temp should hit 165°F—this usually takes around 4 minutes. Let them rest on a cooling rack in a warm oven to drain excess oil.
- While the chicken is frying, make the honey chipotle sauce by simmering all the sauce ingredients in a small pan until warmed through and slightly thickened.
- When ready to serve, toss the crispy tenders in the warm sauce and enjoy immediately!
