Crispy Lemon Pepper Fried Chicken Tenders with Lemon Pepper Sauce Recipe
This Crispy Lemon Pepper Fried Chicken Tender recipe features tender chicken coated in crunchy cornflakes and seasoned with a zesty lemon pepper sauce. Air-fried to perfection for a healthier twist, these chicken tenders are bursting with bold flavors from garlic, paprika, and a vibrant lemon-honey glaze. Perfect as an appetizer or main dish, this recipe is easy to prepare and delivers irresistible crispy texture with a tangy, slightly spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 500g (17.5oz) chicken tenders
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 4 tbsp plain flour
- 2–3 cups cornflakes, crushed into small pieces
Lemon Pepper Sauce
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 4 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 4 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp crushed chili
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp crushed black pepper
- 3 tbsp water
- ¼ tsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water (cornstarch slurry)
Instructions
- Season and Coat the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, combine chicken tenders with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, eggs, and plain flour. Mix everything well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning and flour.
- Prepare the Coating: Crush the cornflakes into small pieces using a rolling pin or by hand, placing them in a shallow dish. This will create a crunchy coating for the chicken.
- Dredge the Chicken: Take each seasoned chicken tender and coat it thoroughly in the crushed cornflakes, pressing gently to make sure the flakes stick well to every piece.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat the air fryer to 180°C (350°F). Lightly spray cooking oil over the air fryer rack. Place the coated chicken tenders on the rack in a single layer. Air fry for 12-13 minutes or until crispy and cooked through, flipping the tenders halfway through cooking and spraying more oil to help them crisp evenly.
- Prepare the Lemon Pepper Sauce: Heat a pan over low-medium heat and melt the butter. Add minced garlic and crushed chili, sautéing gently until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce the heat to low and stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, water, salt, and crushed black pepper. Add the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, stirring continuously until the sauce becomes slightly thick and glossy.
- Serve: Transfer the sauce into a serving bowl. Use it as a dip or toss each fried chicken tender in the sauce to coat. Garnish with finely chopped parsley if desired and enjoy your crispy, zesty lemon pepper chicken tenders!
Notes
- For extra crunch, make sure the cornflakes are crushed into small pieces but not powdered.
- Flip the chicken halfway through air frying to ensure even crispiness on all sides.
- You can adjust the amount of crushed chili in the sauce to control the spiciness.
- This recipe can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free flour and cornflakes.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken tenders in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Keywords: Crispy chicken tenders, lemon pepper chicken, air fryer chicken, fried chicken recipe, lemon honey sauce, healthy fried chicken
