Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (2024)

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by Todd + Diane

It’s the fish sauce that makes this honey garlic chicken strips recipe so delicious. But you can certainly use soy sauce. Funny how scary fish sauce can be to some folks. It’s certainly an ingredient that needs to be slowly introduced. Fish sauce is stinky but the umami flavors are amazing. If you’re not that daring yet, use soy sauce. These honey garlic chicken tenders are still delicious with soy sauce!

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Sticky Asian Garlic Sauce For Chicken Tenders

It’s always about the sauce. Our chicken strips are coated in a sticky and super flavorful sauce. We love using fish sauce and it can definitely be very intimidating. We write about the Best Fish Sauce here.The rich umami flavors of the fish sauce is super delicious. But you can certainly use soy sauce or how about trying half fish sauce and half soy sauce? You try your tolerance of fish sauce in stages.

  • These aren’t just any ordinary chicken strips they’re our popularhoney garlic chicken strips recipe. They’re sweet and sticky with a nice baked crust.
  • For anyone who loves chicken strips, these are amped up an extra level with a sweet and sticky sauce. Just like the fish sauce chicken wings, make sure you have extra handy-wipes ready.

Video: Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe

Tips on How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe

Because we want to slowly introduce some of you to the joy of cooking with fish sauce, we’ve adapted this recipe with soy sauce or other options. The technique is the same and you can choose to use either soy sauce or fish sauce.

  • If you buy true chicken tenders, these will be slightly smaller and cooking time might be less. If you’re cutting the strips from boneless skinless chicken breasts, make sure to make them even sized for even cooking times.
  • Baking the strips is definitely the “healthier” way. But for the extra crunch, deep frying them in oil will give you the best crispy outside texture.
  • If you decide to coat the strips with the sauce, you’ll have less crunch because the crust is coated with sauce. Instead of tossing the strips with the sauce, you can just dip them into the sauce. The flavors are the same it’s just the crunch factor that differs.
  • You can use the sauce for any type of chicken from chicken wings to chicken thighs and drumsticks.

Our Favorite Fish Sauce Brands:

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This has been our house fish sauce for decades. Great stuff! We’ll use it to make our dipping sauces as well as marinades.

Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (3)

100% all-natural first press extra virgin Vietnamese fish sauce. One of the best artisan fish sauce producers.

Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (4)

Another good fish sauce. Clean flavors, good depth. It’s the one Diane’s mom most often uses for cooking.

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Sweet and Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 25 minutes mins

Total Time: 40 minutes mins

The tenders can be cooked by either baking or frying. Baking is healthier and frying is crispier. Since tossing the tenders in the sauce will reduce the crispiness a bit, we've written the recipe up with the baking instructions. For frying, cook the tenders in oil that is about 375°F for about 3-5 minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through. Here's more detailed instructions on our sister site for fried chicken tenders.

The garlic in the sauce comes from the chili garlic sauce. If you like it more garlicky, you can always add more some crushed/minced garlic or garlic powder to the tenders when seasoning them, or to the sauce.

4.83 from 56 votes

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Ingredients

for the chicken strips:

  • 2 pounds (907 g) boneless skinless chicken breast or chicken tenderloins
  • 1 cup (60 g) panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs)
  • 2 (2) eggs
  • 3/4 cup (100 g) all-purpose flour , or more if needed
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) kosher salt
  • fresh cracked black pepper to taste
  • optional additional seasonings (additional salt & pepper, crushed or minced garlic, garlic powder, smoked paprika, etc.)

for the sweet and sticky honey soy sauce:

  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) ketchup
  • 1/2 cup (120 ml) honey
  • 1/4 cup (60 ml) soy sauce (or fish sauce cause it tastes better! Fish sauce will be saltier, start with 2-3 tablespoons)
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) chili garlic sauce or any hot sauce (optional)
  • 2 Tablespoons (15 ml) fresh lime juice or rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 425°F (220°C). Prepare 1-2 baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

  • If using chicken breasts, cut into thin strips. The thicker they are, the longer they take to cook. Make sure the strips are consistently sized so that you get even baking. OptionalFor a well-seasoned tender, coat the chicken with salt, pepper, and/or any other seasonings you enjoy (crushed garlic, garlic powder, paprika. etc).

  • In a bowl, add panko or breadcrumbs. In another bowl, beat the eggs. In a third bowl combine flour, teaspoon of salt, and black pepper.

    Dredge each strip of chicken in flour, then egg, then Panko or breadcrumbs. Lay coated chicken strips on sheet pan. Repeat for all chicken strips.

  • Bake chicken strips at 425°F (220°C) for about 15 minutes. Flip the chicken strips to the other side up.

  • Continue to bake for another 5-10 minutes or until crisp and cooked through.

  • While the chicken is baking, make the sauce. In bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients: ketchup, honey, soy sauce (or fish sauce), chili garlic sauce, fresh lime juice or rice vinegar, and cornstarch.

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add half of the chicken strips and half of the sauce. Toss to coat and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minutes on each side or until the chicken strips soak up the sauce on both sides and become sticky. Repeat with remainder of sauce and chicken strips. (Cooking Tip: Don't let the pan get too hot because if the pan becomes too hot, it dries up the sauce and becomes too sticky.)

Notes

Note: If you want the chicken strips extra crispy, fry the chicken strips instead of baking them and then toss them in the skillet with the sauce. The crunchy fried texture is delicious!

Video

Nutrition Information per Serving

Calories: 537kcal, Carbohydrates: 63g, Protein: 54g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Trans Fat: 0.03g, Cholesterol: 186mg, Sodium: 2208mg, Potassium: 1032mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 43g, Vitamin A: 285IU, Vitamin C: 6mg, Calcium: 45mg, Iron: 3mg

Course: Appetizer, Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Asian

Calories: 537

Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (13)

Can you Freeze these Chicken Strips or Tenders?

Yes, you certainly can! Cook a big batch of these and freeze the rest. They’re definitely better than buying frozen chicken strips from the store. To thaw them we like to take them out of the freezer and let them thaw in the fridge for at least a day. Or before heating them in the oven or air fryer, microwave them for a few minutes to warm them through the center. Then bake them in a pre-heated oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes OR until they are warmed.

Serve Honey Garlic Chicken Strips with Beer

And of course, don’t forget the beer. These sweet and sticky honey soy sauce chicken strips are screaming to be washed down with beer. Or a co*cktail or dry white wine, which pairs perfect with the flavors in these chicken strips. Or a fruit juice for the kiddies.This honey garlic chicken strips recipe is perfect for game day and for anyone who loves chicken wings, but want more chicken without fighting through the bones. Hope you enjoy these honey garlic chicken tenders!

Can you use the honey garlic sauce on crispy fish?

Our easy honey garlic sauce recipe is great on crispy fish! In fact, you can use it on roasted fish, vegetables or any types of meats. It’s a simple sauce to make but awesome on so many different dishes. It’s even great as a dip for french fries or tossed with some roasted potatoes. Yum.

More Asian Recipes to Enjoy:

  • Garlic Chicken Spring rolls Recipe Here.
  • Fresh Vietnamese Spring Rolls Recipe Here.
  • BLT Bacon Lettuce Tomato Spring Rolls Recipe Here.
  • These Zucchini noodlesare low carb and delicious
  • Here’s all our Chicken Wings Recipes if you’re hungry for more
  • This recipe was originally published in 2013.
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37 comments on “Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders”

  1. Shelly B January 23, 2024 @ 3:39 pm Reply

    Made this for dinner and it was quite good. I thought I had chicken tenderloins but I actually had thin sliced chicken breast. Next time I’ll make sure I have tenders. I wasn’t sure where to add the garlic to make it honey garlic, so I put minced garlic in the sauce. Very yummy over jasmine rice! Thank you!Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (18)

    • Todd + Diane January 25, 2024 @ 10:38 am Reply

      So glad you enjoyed the recipe shelly! The garlic comes from the chili garlic sauce. But adding fresh chopped garlic is always a great addition!

  2. ale October 4, 2022 @ 6:19 am Reply

    This recipe has been a really special recipe for me.
    Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (19)

  3. George Egbuonu March 29, 2022 @ 1:57 am Reply

    Definitely trying this.

    Thanks for sharing the recipe.

  4. Debbie Lukas February 10, 2022 @ 2:09 pm Reply

    Easy and delicious! The whole family enjoyed it, which is amazing!
    I will make this again.Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (20)

  5. Alyssa February 10, 2022 @ 1:53 pm Reply

    This was absolutely delicious! I used this sauce on store bought chicken tenders. Super easy, and the sauce stuck on really nicely. This is great for a weeknight meal, even my pickiest eater wanted more.Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (21)

  6. Michele February 8, 2022 @ 10:44 am Reply

    How about trying this with fish?

  7. Jeff February 6, 2022 @ 2:23 pm Reply

    Simply delicious that’s all I can say simply delicious thx for sharing the recipe cheersHoney Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (22)

    • Todd + Diane February 7, 2022 @ 5:40 pm Reply

      Glad you enjoyed the recipe Jeff!

  8. Bernie February 6, 2022 @ 7:45 am Reply

    Wanted to make something different and this dish delivered. Yummy and just the right kick. Thank you.Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (23)

    • Todd + Diane February 7, 2022 @ 5:41 pm Reply

      Thanks Bernie! We’re glad that you enjoyed them.

  9. Beverly February 2, 2020 @ 8:02 pm Reply

    Made this for dinner during the Superbowl. Was a huge hit! I coated each strip in sauce and returned to baking sheet to reheat just before the game. Worked perfectly!Honey Garlic Chicken Strips Recipe Tenders | White On Rice (24)

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FAQs

Is there a difference between chicken strips and chicken tenders? ›

Chicken Strips. To the confusion, chicken tenders and fingers are sometimes sold as chicken strips. This may be a result of the actual chicken meat being cut into strips before they are breaded and fried. According to the USDA, strips, unlike tenders and fingers, do not actually have to be made from breast meat.

Can you use chicken tenders instead of chicken breast? ›

You can even use them interchangeably in pretty much any type of chicken recipe. The thing that really sets the breast and tenderloin apart is that chicken tenders have a higher fat and sodium content. Even still, they're both lean and healthy white meat options that can adapt to many flavor profiles.

What is the breading on chicken tenders made of? ›

Prepare the breading station: Place flour in a shallow bowl. Place eggs and water in a second shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl, and mix in ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Coat chicken in flour, then eggs, and then bread crumbs, one piece at a time, and set aside.

Are fried chicken tenders better than grilled chicken tenders? ›

Grilled Chicken is better for the body because it loses its fat during the cooking process. The fat will drip off the meat during the cooking process. This cooking method also provides iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc to the consumer. Frying chicken will cause it to lose these essential vitamins.

Are chicken tenders just sliced chicken breast? ›

Some people think that chicken tenders are just strips cut from the breast of the chicken. But in fact, the tender or tenderloin is an independent secondary muscle that lies directly under the breast. Sometimes, the whole breast is removed, which includes the tender; sometimes they are removed separately.

What is the secret to cooking tender chicken breast? ›

  1. Flatten the chicken breasts. ...
  2. Heat the pan. ...
  3. Cook the chicken breasts over medium heat for 1 minute without moving. ...
  4. Flip the chicken breasts. ...
  5. Turn the heat down to low. ...
  6. Cover the pan and cook on low for 10 minutes. ...
  7. Turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 10 minutes. ...
  8. Remove lid and take temperature.

How do you keep chicken breast tenders moist? ›

Use this guide to whip up succulent chicken every time, even when it's boneless and skinless.
  1. Marinate Your Chicken Breasts and Tenders. ...
  2. Try a Brine for Crispy Chicken Tenders. ...
  3. Be Mindful of the Chicken's Internal Temperature. ...
  4. Add Fat for Richness. ...
  5. Introduce Moisture with a Sauce.
Jan 20, 2021

How do you know when chicken tenders are done? ›

You'll want to ensure that your poultry reaches the proper temperature while cooking. Your baked chicken tenders are done when their breadcrumb coating looks golden-brown and the chicken is no longer pink in the center (at least 165°F).

Are chicken tenders okay for weight loss? ›

While different parts of chicken provide various nutrients, such as protein, and can be part of a healthy diet, fried foods usually contain high amounts of fat and sodium. If you choose fried chicken tenders for a meal or snack, just make sure you're mindful of this.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot? ›

Always cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts on LOW for the best results. I do not recommend cooking boneless chicken breast on HIGH, as it will become very dry and tough, even if you check it early. On high, the chicken turns out drier; I consistently have the best results with low.

Which piece of chicken is healthiest? ›

The chicken breast is lean and has the most protein by weight, making it ideal for people who want to lose weight, maintain muscle mass and improve recovery. Fattier cuts like the thigh, drumstick and wings have more calories, which make them better for people wanting to build muscle or gain weight.

How do you get batter to stick to chicken strips? ›

Flour > Egg > Breading then I usually refrigerate them for 20 minutes or so to allow the breading to adhere better. You can cook more than one at a time, just don't overcrowd the pan.

What is the difference between chicken strips and chicken tenders? ›

A chicken finger is a strip that can be cut from any part of the chicken breast. On the other hand, a chicken strip can only be officially called a chicken tender (or tenderloin) when it comes from a muscle located beneath the breast that is called the pectoralis minor or inner filet.

What can I use instead of bread crumbs for chicken tenders? ›

Here's a closer look at the 10 best breadcrumb substitutes and how best to use them.
  1. Rolled oats. Rolled oats are the perfect gluten-free binding ingredient, replacing breadcrumbs in meatballs or meatloaf and many more recipes when you need to bind meat and eggs. ...
  2. Potato chips. ...
  3. Cornflakes. ...
  4. Almonds. ...
  5. Croutons. ...
  6. Crackers. ...
  7. Seeds.
Oct 18, 2022

What is another name for chicken strips? ›

Chicken fingers (also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken tenders, or chicken fillets) are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the animal. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major).

Why are they called chicken tenders? ›

Tenders are made from the pectoralis minor, or tenderloin, of the bird. In contrast, tenders — which were popularized at a New Hampshire diner in the 1970s — come from a specific part of a chicken: the pectoralis minor muscle, aka the tenderloin. "The chicken tenderloin is a white meat subset of the chicken breast.

Are chicken strips processed meat? ›

Doyle explains that these natural meats (including chicken and turkey) are still processed, and they're still made with nitrates. “They use natural sources of preservatives,” she says. “Many companies are using celery powder, celery juice or celery salt, which are high in nitrates.

Are chicken tenders all white meat? ›

Chicken tenders or chicken tenderloins are white meat and besides being smaller than the breast, taste exactly the same as breast meat and are tender and moist when cooked properly.

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