Warming, gently sweetened air fryer honey mustard chicken tenders are succulent and mouth-watering. Gorgeous served as a quick dinner or an appetizer.
If you’re wondering what to make for dinner tonight, these air fryer honey mustard chicken tenders are it! It only takes four ingredients to make the honey mustard dressing and only ten minutes to air fry the chicken; the perfect recipe for those who are still getting to know their air fryer.
Air fryer chicken tenders with honey mustard are a delicious combination of sticky and crisp outside and tender in the middle. Air frying caramelizes the sugar in the honey in a way that nothing else does, giving you a restaurant-quality glaze.
You’ll love how the sweetness of the honey rounds out the subtle spicy notes of the mustard and complements the soft chicken meat. Even the fussiest kids will be asking for seconds of this honey mustard chicken recipe!
Ingredients you’ll need to make Honey Mustard Chicken.
**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**
Chicken tenders: The chicken tender is the long strip of muscle beneath the chicken breast. It’s incredibly lean and an excellent source of protein, so it’s a great choice for people trying to limit their calorie intake, as meals higher in protein keep you full for longer. Plus, protein is essential for growing muscle and bone, so this is a good choice for growing kids.
Olive oil: High in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, essential for maintaining a healthy body, olive oil is also an excellent choice for air frying because of its high smoke point.
Dijon mustard: Dijon mustard has a complex flavor that it’s hard to replicate with anything else; it’s tangy, slightly sweet, and perfectly offset by the honey in this honey mustard chicken tenders recipe.
You can use stone-ground mustard in this recipe if you prefer a milder flavor - both dijon and stone-ground mustards are made from brown mustard seeds, but they are crushed to release the flavors for dijon mustard.
Honey: Sticky, sweet, and slightly floral, air frying slightly caramelizes the sugar in the honey for a gorgeous finish. You can also use molasses, maple syrup, or agave syrup.
Oregano (dried): Oregano has a slightly bitter taste, which works so well with honey and mustard! You could also use thyme.
Oregano (fresh): Fresh oregano has a more robust flavor than dried oregano, making it an excellent garnish. Fresh oregano is optional but highly recommended.
Salt and pepper: Essential in most recipes, salt, and pepper help bring other flavors to life, enhancing umami notes and adding a little spice.
Tools used to make the recipe.
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How to make honey mustard chicken tenders in air fryer?
Making the sauce: In a small bowl, combine Dijon mustard, honey, and dried oregano.
Seasoning the chicken: Pat dry chicken tenders with paper towels, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup of the honey mustard mixture, and toss to coat.
Air frying: Arrange the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook to 380ºF for 6 minutes on each side or until an instant meat thermometer registers 165ºF in the thickest part.
Serving: Remove from the air fryer, serve with remaining honey mustard and garnish with fresh oregano. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Always use an instant meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat to prevent food poisoning.
- Store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350ºF for 3-5 minutes. If heating from frozen, reheat for 12 minutes.
How long to cook honey mustard chicken tenderloins in the air fryer
Air fry honey mustard chicken tenders for roughly six minutes per side to ensure that your tenders are succulent rather than overcooked and dry.
The best way to ensure you don’t over or undercook chicken is to use a meat thermometer to check for a temperature of 165°F. That’s the right temperature to ensure that the chicken is safe to eat and still juicy.
What to serve with honey mustard chicken tenders?
- Healthy massaged kale and apple salad
- Crispy air fryer baby potatoes
- Air fryer acorn squash
- Air fryer green beans
- Roasted air fryer whole cauliflower
FAQ’S
These chicken tenders with honey mustard are a fantastic make-ahead meal option because storing them is so easy. All you need to do is seal them in an airtight container, and they will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
If you want to keep them a little longer, you can freeze them too! To freeze them, lay them on a baking sheet with space around each one. Then put them in the freezer for 6 hours until frozen. Once frozen, transfer them to a container or zip-top bag for easier storage. They will be safe to eat for 2-6 months.
I recommend freezing them this way so that they don’t stick together, so you can defrost as many as you want at a time.
Yes. The air fryer is the best way to reheat honey mustard chicken tenderloins because it is super quick and doesn’t dry the meat like other methods.
To reheat in the air fryer, preheat it to 350°F, and then put the tenders in the basket with a bit of space around each one (this allows the air to flow properly). Heat for 3-5 minutes, ensuring you flip once during the cooking time. If heating from frozen, increase the total time to 12 minutes.
As cooking times can vary depending on which air fryer model you are using, you should check that chicken has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Homemade Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders
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Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Warming, gently sweetened air fryer honey mustard chicken tenders are succulent and mouth-watering. Gorgeous served as a quick dinner or an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- 3 Tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh oregano to garnish
Tools
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine Dijon mustard, honey, and dried oregano.
- Pat dry chicken tenders with paper towels, add olive oil, salt, pepper, and ¼ cup of the honey mustard mixture, and toss to coat.
- Arrange the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook to 380ºF for 6 minutes on each side or until an instant meat thermometer registers 165ºF in the thickest part.
- Remove from the air fryer, serve with remaining honey mustard and garnish with fresh oregano. Enjoy!
Notes
- Always use an instant meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat to prevent food poisoning.
- Store leftovers within 2 hours of cooking in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350ºF for 3-5 minutes. If heating from frozen, reheat for 12 minutes.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 3 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 441Total Fat: 35gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 25gCholesterol: 104mgSodium: 876mgCarbohydrates: 49gFiber: 3gSugar: 18gProtein: 40g
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is calculated using a nutrition facts calculator. It is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on products used. When the recipe list salt to taste the amount of salt is not calculated, only the sodium in the other ingredients is calculated.