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Hot Honey Chicken Tenders

Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders for Ultimate Comfort Food

Enjoy the magic of sweet meets spicy with these Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, a perfect comfort food dish.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 4 tenders
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken Tenders
  • 1 pound Chicken Tenders Marinate in buttermilk for tenderness.
  • 1 cup Buttermilk Substitutable with milk and lemon juice.
  • 1 cup All-purpose Flour For coating.
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika Adds color and smokiness.
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder For savory flavor.
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 2 cups Oil for Frying Canola or vegetable oil.
  • 1/2 cup Honey For glaze.
  • 1/4 cup Hot Sauce Cayenne-based sauce preferred.
  • 2 tablespoons Butter (melted) For glaze.
For the Baked Mac and Cheese
  • 8 ounces Elbow Macaroni Can substitute with shells or cavatappi.
  • 2 tablespoons Butter (for sauce) Base for roux.
  • 2 cups Milk For cheese sauce.
  • 1 cup Cheddar Cheese Main flavor cheese.
  • 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese For creaminess.
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Medium Saucepan
  • Baking Dish

Method
 

Marinating and Frying Chicken Tenders
  1. Marinate chicken tenders in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
  3. Dredge marinated chicken in the flour mixture until fully coated.
  4. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) and fry chicken tenders until golden brown for 5-7 minutes.
  5. Drain on paper towels.
  6. Whisk together honey, hot sauce, and melted butter to make glaze. Drizzle over hot chicken tenders.
Preparing Baked Mac and Cheese
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour, then gradually add milk to make a roux.
  3. Stir in cheeses until smooth.
  4. Combine cooked macaroni with cheese sauce, spread in greased baking dish.
  5. Bake for 20 minutes until top is golden.

Nutrition

Serving: 1tenderCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.5gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 300mgFiber: 2gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Feel free to customize heat levels and cheese blends in both dishes for personal preferences. Consider adding a crunchy topping to the mac and cheese.

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