The perfect snack for sports fans…or just food fans 

With World Cup fever fully in action, I decided I wanted chicken tenders. Garlic honey buffalo chicken tenders to be precise.

There’s something about these chicken-y delights (especially when dipped in blue cheese dip) that makes me want to fashion an England shirt, down a pint and research all our players and debate who should absolutely have been part of the squad this year. And although I’m not a die-hard football fan, I am a fan of sharing platters and a keg, so if that means discussing Jordan Pickfords goal saving abilities in great detail whilst devouring a bit of chicken, I’ll do just that. 

Less about the football and more about these chicken tenders…

I love a crispy seasoned bit of chicken and to acheive that crunchy exterior, tender interior and lovely flavour, I use a blend of buttermilk, hot sauce and my secret blend of herbs and spices. I mean, it’s not so secret as it’s listed below for you to copy, but I absolutely will never gatekeep a good recipe. Food should be shared, and nothing makes me happier than someone telling me how much they’ve enjoyed one of my recipes. So please keep any compliments coming.

How do you make homemade buffalo sauce? 

It’s surprisingly simple to whip up a buffalo sauce from scratch, as all you need is honey, butter, hot sauce, garlic and salt and pepper. I find it tastes way better than shop-bought, and you can easily control the spice levels so you can cater for the Korma lovers AND the vindaloo sufferers. 

FAQ

Can I make them spicier?
Yesss. Use more hot honey instead of regular honey, increase the hot sauce or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the buffalo sauce.

What dips can I serve with buffalo chicken tenders?
Blue cheese dip is the classic choice, but ranch dressing, garlic mayo, sour cream, chipotle mayo or even extra buffalo sauce all work really well, because who can have just one dip? 

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?
Yep. Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay lovely and juicy but just keep an eye on timings to ensure they are properly cooked. 

What should I serve these alongside?
Fries, potato wedges, loaded nachos, coleslaw, corn on the cob or a mac and cheese all pair well with the spicy buffalo flavour. I love to enjoy these purely as a snack with dip though. 

What do I do with leftovers?
If you’re lucky enough to have any left, slice them up and add them to wraps, sandwiches, or salads for an easy lunch the next day. I like to make extra with the intention of doing this, but that hasn’t worked out so far. 

Is this recipe batch-friendly?
Yes. Freeze the cooked chicken tenders and buffalo sauce separately. Reheat the chicken in the air fryer at 180°C for 10–15 minutes until piping hot, then warm the sauce (you can use a microwave) and toss together before serving.

Can I make them ahead of time?
You can marinate the chicken up to 24 hours in advance, which actually helps develop even more flavour. But this isn’t crucial if you don’t have time. Ideally marinate for at least 1 hour. 

Garlic honey buffalo chicken tenders

By Poppy Cooks

https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/garlic-honey-buffalo-chicken-tenders/

Crispy garlic honey buffalo chicken tenders coated in a sweet, spicy homemade buffalo sauce. Perfect for game days, sharing platters, party food and easy fakeaway dinners.
Prep Time: 30 mins
Cook Time: 6 mins
Total Time: 36 mins
Serves 2
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Ingredients

Metric Imperial

For the chicken tenders

    Metric

  • 300ml buttermilk
  • 30ml hot sauce
  • 400g chicken mini fillets
  • 25g cornflour
  • 100g plain flour
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 1 tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1/2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1 tsp fine salt

    • Imperial

  • 10.5oz buttermilk
  • 1oz hot sauce
  • 14oz chicken mini fillets
  • 1oz cornflour
  • 3.5oz plain flour
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 1 tsp onion granules
  • 1 tsp garlic granules
  • 1/2 tsp mustard powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground pepper
  • 1 tsp fine salt

For the buffalo sauce

    Metric

  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 150ml hot sauce
  • 50g butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
  • Salt and pepper

    • Imperial

  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 5oz hot sauce
  • 2oz butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced or finely grated
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Pour the buttermilk and hot sauce into a large mixing bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk to combine and add in the chicken.
  2. Stir to coat the chicken and leave to marinate for atleast 1 hour, but the longer the better.
  3. When you're ready to cook, heat a deep fat fryer or pan of oil to 170ºc/340ºf. Tip the flour and herbs and spices into a bowl and mix well, then sprinkle in 2-3 tbsp of the buttermilk marinade. Stir gently to create some scraggly bits that will stick to your chicken and go extra crispy.
  4. Shake off any excess buttermilk marinade and dredge the chicken pieces through the flour. Deep fry for 5-6 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
  5. While the chicken marinades, tip the butter into a small saucepan and melt over a low heat. Add in the garlic into the butter and cook until fragrant, then pour in the hot sauce and honey. Bring to a gentle bubble and season with salt and pepper, then keep warm at the side of the stove while the chicken cooks.
  6. Tip the crispy chicken into a large bowl and pour over your buffalo sauce. Give it a good toss to coat and serve with blue cheese dip, sour cream or mayo to cool down the SPICE.

Find this recipe online at https://www.poppycooks.com/recipes/garlic-honey-buffalo-chicken-tenders/

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