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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Sweet and Spicy Sauce Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 109 reviews

Crispy, flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Tenders coated in a low-carb almond flour mixture and topped with a tangy, sweet and spicy homemade sauce. This gluten-free, low-carb recipe is easy to make, ready in under 30 minutes, and perfect for a healthy snack or meal.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken Tenders

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup blanched almond flour
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 12 chicken tenders (about 1.5 lbs)
  • Olive oil cooking spray

For the Sweet and Spicy Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Dredge the Chicken: Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and season with salt and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl, combine almond flour, garlic powder, dried parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Dip each chicken tender first into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the almond flour mixture. Place coated tenders on a clean plate and continue until all tenders are coated.
  2. Cook in the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Arrange some chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, spray the tops with olive oil spray, then close and cook for 7 minutes. Flip the tenders, spray the other side, and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes until golden, crispy, and fully cooked. Repeat for any remaining tenders.
  3. Prepare the Sauce: While the chicken cooks, melt butter in a small pot over medium heat on the stovetop. Once melted, add hot sauce, honey, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Whisk together and simmer on low heat for 2-3 minutes to blend flavors, then remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Serve: After all chicken tenders are cooked, transfer them to a serving platter. Drizzle or generously top with the sweet and spicy sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy warm.

Notes

  • You can make this recipe dairy-free by substituting the butter in the sauce with a dairy-free alternative.
  • If you prefer extra crispy tenders, feel free to add an additional minute or two to cooking time but watch carefully to avoid burning almond flour.
  • Use gluten-free hot sauce to keep the recipe fully gluten-free.
  • Cooking times may vary slightly depending on the air fryer model and size of chicken tenders.
  • This recipe is great for meal prep; store cooked tenders in the refrigerator and reheat in the air fryer for best texture.

Keywords: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Low Carb Chicken, Gluten Free Chicken Tenders, Healthy Chicken Recipe, Crispy Chicken Tenders, Sweet and Spicy Sauce

Find it online: https://tastemadebyclara.com/air-fryer-chicken-tenders-with-sweet-and-spicy-sauce-recipe/