Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders

If you enjoy crispy chicken tenders that are crunchy on the outside and have a sweet, salty, and spicy interior, this is the recipe you will want to try. These tenders are super easy to make, family-friendly, and your kids (and you) will be wanting seconds - maybe even thirds. The uniqueness of this recipe is that it uses plain Greek yogurt in place of the egg and rice crispy treat cereal in place of the breading. 

These tenders are air fried and then added to the stove to add an extra layer of crisp and can soak in the Honey BBQ sauce. Top with green onions and a side of rice for a full meal.

Here's a quick overview of this recipe:

• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Serving size: 4
• Family friendly: Absolutely, the chicken isn't too spicy 
• Total cook time: 12-15 minutes
• Rating: 8.5/10 for Jace and I

These are perfect for a quick dinner, meal prep, or even a fun twist on classic chicken tenders. 

What Makes These Tenders Unique?

The tenders only use 5 main ingredients and provide a healthier take on fast food chicken tenders. Ingredients include Greek yogurt, rice crispy treat cereal, honey, BBQ sauce, and flour. You can also add other seasonings to your taste if you would like.

Adding the Greek yogurt was actually very accidental for me. I ran out of eggs and didn't want to go to the store just for eggs so I looked up an egg replacement in cooking. I did have Greek yogurt on hand so substituted and it worked out perfectly. The great thing about it is that your kids won't even taste it. 

What Inspired This Recipe?

This recipe was inspired by Sally's Baking Addiction and we were looking for a simple chicken recipe where I had all ingredients. Although I did substitute the eggs, we did omit the salt, milk and ketchup. I wanted a recipe that was easy to make, family-friendly, and a healthier option. This was it.

Why This Recipe Works

This recipe combines different flavor and texture palettes - a hint of spice, sweetness from the BBQ, crunch from the cereal, and a pungent flavor profile from the green onions. Everything balanced out perfectly—it’s a combination that surprisingly works really well.

FAQ

Do I have to use a specific type of honey?
Not at all. Any type of honey should be fine. The more honey you add, the sweeter the Honey BBQ sauce will be.

Do I have to use the sauce?
No. The sauce will go on after so if you just want breaded chicken tenders, just ignore the steps to add the sauce. You can also dip in a sauce if you don't want to fold them into the sauce.

Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely. You can make them a day or two in advance without the sauce and then when you are ready for the sauce, add that to the stove, add the chicken and you are good to go.

If You Enjoy Chicken Tenders, You May Like

• Double Battered Raising Cane's Chicken
• Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
• Air Fryer Spicy Chicken Thighs
• How to Make Hot Honey Sauce

Ingredients For Easy Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase using any of my links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

• 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts - cut into pieces
• 1 cup flour
• *3-4 cups rice crispy treat cereal
• Seasonings of your choosing - black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• *3/4 cup BBQ sauce
• 1/4 cup honey

Note: The BBQ and honey combination is really what makes the chicken tenders more sweet or spicy. If you want them to be less spicy, add more honey, more sweet, add a sweet BBQ. 

How to Make Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders

✓ Step #1: Cut the chicken - Cut the chicken into pieces and add to a PAM or sprayed baking sheet. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees. 

✓ Step #2: Lay out bowls - Lay out three bowls. In one add the flour, the second one add the Greek yogurt and third add the cereal. If you want to add any seasonings, you can add them in this step in the same bowl as the flour.

✓ Step #3: Add chicken to each bowl - This is where it can get a little messy. Take each piece of chicken and add it to the flour, the yogurt and then the breading. Add to a PAM or cooking sprayed baking sheet. Air fry for 8 minutes total, flipping halfway. 

We have a toaster oven so times may vary. 

✓ Step #4: Make sauce - While the chicken is in the air fryer, you will want to make the sauce on the stove. In a saucepan, on medium heat, combine the BBQ and honey. Cook until it boils. After 8 minutes, I took the chicken out of our air fryer because I didn't want them to burn. 

✓ Step #5: Add chicken to sauce - Add the chicken to the sauce on the stove. If this makes the chicken soft instead of crunchy, once they are in the sauce, add the chicken to a separate, warmed frying pan on medium/high for 30 seconds and flip for another 30-60 seconds, until crispy and sauce has been absorbed. 

✓ Step #6: Enjoy - Serve with your choice of sides and top with green onions. Serve immediately.

How to Store

Chicken is best stored breaded, without sauce, in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Add sauce, fresh, on the stove, when ready to cook. 

About the Author

Abbie Guerrero is the creator of Savvy with Abbie and has been blogging since 2009. She has developed over 800 original recipes and shares thoughtful book reviews and personal reflections. Writing has been a lifelong passion and a meaningful form of self-expression.
Recipe and photos by Abbie Guerrero. All photos are original.

Did You Enjoy This Chicken Recipe?

What did you think of this chicken tender recipe? I thought it was very unique but would love to hear your feedback as well as what changes you made to yours. Let me know in the comments below.

How You Can Support Savvy With Abbie

✓ Pin this recipe on Pinterest
✓ Comment below and let me know if you made this recipe
✓ Review/rate the recipe below so others can see what you thought of it
✓ Follow this blog for more chicken tender recipes