Easy, crispy gluten free chicken tenders covered in a crunchy, plantain-crusted coating and air fried to sizzling perfection. Served with a homemade hot honey recipe that is sweet and spicy and bursting with flavor! This gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free meal is served in under 30 minutes!
What Makes This Recipe Great
Following a gluten-free diet doesn’t have to mean eliminating classic comfort food favorites! Delicious and satisfying (and healthy!) meals are still possible, and these crispy, crunchy, Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders are here to prove it!
Making homemade chicken tenders in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic favorite without any gluten. Plus, there are just a few simple ingredients, your trusty air fryer, and the resulting strips are crispy, juicy, and delicious! The whole family will love these delicious chicken tenders!
If you haven’t used your air fryer very much, get ready to be won over. Air fryers have all the crispy, delicious capabilities of deep frying but with a fraction of the calories and mess, making everything you cook a bit healthier, a little bit quicker, and much much easier. Try my Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken and these Air Fryer Biscuits!
Serve these tenders along with my homemade hot honey recipe for an appetizer, an easy weeknight meal with your favorite sides, or a game-day snack! Add them to a sandwich or a wrap, or serve them over a salad. You just can’t go wrong!
Watch a Short Video of This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
- plantain chips: Some people use bread crumbs, but to keep these gluten-free, I used plantain chips. The plantain chips give an addicting sweet and savory flavor and a perfectly crispy, crunchy coating.
- eggs
- arrowroot starch: You can substitute tapioca starch as well if that’s what you have on hand. Corn starch will also work in a pinch.
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sea salt & black pepper to taste
- paprika
- chicken tenderloins: You can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts butterflied and cut into strips if that’s what you have on hand.
- cooking spray: Use your favorite neutral cooking oil spray. Olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil would work well.
- hot sauce: You can use Tapatio, Frank’s Red Hot, or whichever hot sauce you prefer.
- honey
Hot Honey Recipe
If you’re a fan of spicy and sweet flavors and love a good dipping sauce, then you’ll love this homemade hot honey recipe! Made with just two simple ingredients – hot sauce and honey – it’s so easy to throw together and can be served with a variety of dishes.
All you need is a small saucepan, honey, and hot sauce. You simmer at medium heat for a few minutes, then let it cool and serve. It goes so well with chicken strips, chicken wings, fries, pizza, chicken nuggets, sweet potatoes, and more! It’s a great way to add extra flavor and sweet heat to your favorite foods.
If you’re looking to add even more flavor to your hot honey dipping sauce, you can experiment with adding other ingredients, such as garlic, ginger, or even soy sauce. The possibilities are endless, and you can customize the sauce to your liking.
How to This Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
- Place plantain chips in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. There can be some bigger pieces. Place in a shallow bowl.
- Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl.
- Combine arrowroot starch, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and paprika in a large mixing bowl. Mix to combine.
- Add the chicken tenders to the starch mixture in the large bowl and toss to coat evenly.
- Shake off the excess, then dredge in the egg mixture to coat. Coat with plantain chips, pressing evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Spray the chicken tenders all over with cooking spray, then air fry in a single layer for 10-12 minutes – flipping halfway through. If needed, cook in batches so you don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The tenders will be golden brown and have an internal temperature of 165F when finished.
- While the chicken cooks, combine honey and hot sauce in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat for 3 minutes until smooth.
- Serve the crispy chicken tenders dipped in hot honey, or you can drizzle the honey over the chicken.
Expert Tips
- Food Processor: If you don’t have a food processor, you can also place the plantain chips in a resealable bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin.
- Nut-Free: Oftentimes, gluten-free recipes use almond flour as an alternative for the crunchy coating on chicken strips. However, this version is completely nut free because it calls for plantain chips instead.
- Spice Level: This homemade hot honey has a spice level of medium, but you can adjust the amount of hot sauce depending on your taste preference.
- Big Batch: If you’re making a big batch, I recommend lining a baking sheet with parchment paper and heating your oven to 200F. As your batches are done in the air fryer, add them to the baking tray in the oven to keep warm.
Serving Tips
Dipping Sauces
Serve dipped in or drizzled with hot honey or your favorite dipping sauce like:
Side Dishes
Serve these chicken strips with your favorite side dish, such as:
- Zucchini fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Salad
- Roasted potatoes
- Roasted broccoli
Storage Tips
- To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 2 minutes on each side until heated through.
- I don’t recommend storing leftovers in the freezer, as the plantain coating could get mushy after thawing.
- Store leftover spicy honey in an airtight container like a glass jar or another container with a lid. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use with the leftover chicken strips or chicken wings, fries, and even pizza. It’s a great way to add extra flavor and heat to your favorite dishes!
Recipe FAQs
After the air fryer is preheated to 400 degrees, these chicken strips take just 10-12 minutes.
It’s possible that they weren’t cooked long enough or at the correct temperature. Make sure you wait until the air fryer is preheated before adding the chicken. Also, feel free to adjust the cooking time for a minute or two if they need more time to crisp up.
I’ve tested this recipe, and they turned out well at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes. If you are unsure, use a meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part of the chicken tenderloin. The internal temperature should read 165 degrees F when fully cooked.
More Quick & Easy Chicken Recipes
Hidden Veggies Gluten-Free Chicken Nuggets
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Air Fryer Gluten Free Chicken Tenders with Hot Honey
Video
Ingredients
- 2½ cups plantain chips
- 2 eggs whisked
- 1/4 cup arrowroot starch or cornstarch
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- Cooking Spray
- 1/2 cup hot sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
Instructions
- Place plantain chips in a food processor and process until coarsely ground. There can be some bigger pieces. Place in a shallow bowl.
- Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine arrowroot starch, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt, and paprika. Mix to combine.
- Add the chicken tenders in the starch mixture and toss to coat evenly.
- Shake off the excess, then dip in the egg to coat. Coat with plantain chips, pressing evenly.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Spray the chicken tenders all over with cooking spray, then cook in a single layer for 10-12 minutes in the air fryer – flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken cooks, combine honey and hot sauce in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes until smooth.
- Serve dipped in hot honey, or you can drizzle the honey over the chicken tenders.
Notes
Expert Tips
- Food Processor: If you don’t have a food processor, you can also place the plantain chips in a resealable bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin.
- Nut-Free: Oftentimes, gluten-free recipes use almond flour as an alternative for the crunchy coating on chicken strips. However, this version is completely nut free because it calls for plantain chips instead.
- Spice Level: This homemade hot honey recipe has a spice level of medium, but you can adjust the amount of hot sauce depending on your taste preference.
Serving Tips
Dipping Sauces
Serve dipped in or drizzled with hot honey or your favorite dipping sauce like:- Ranch dressing
- BBQ sauce
- Honey mustard
- Ketchup
- and more!
Side Dishes
Serve these chicken strips with your favorite side dish, such as:- Zucchini fries
- Sweet potato fries
- Salad
- Roasted potatoes
- Roasted broccoli
Storage Tips
- To store, refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. You can reheat in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 2 minutes on each side until heated through.
- I don’t recommend storing leftovers in the freezer, as the plantain coating could get mushy after thawing.
- Store leftover spicy honey in an airtight container like a glass jar or another container with a lid. It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Use with the leftover chicken strips or chicken wings, fries, and even pizza. It’s a great way to add extra flavor and heat to your favorite dishes!
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Can these be made in the oven?