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Give chicken tenders the ultimate makeover with this Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Tenders recipe. Breaded with pretzels and garlic powder and flavored with a delicious honey mustard blend, these tenders are nothing short of life-changing!
The most delicious way to enjoy pretzel chicken tenders
Raise your hand if you’ve fallen into the goes-to-a-restaurant-and-orders-chicken-tenders trap.
If that’s you, know that you’re not alone. We’ve all been there, because, let’s face it โ chicken tenders are always a good idea.
Today, we’re proving that fact with this insanely delicious hot honey pretzel chicken tenders recipe. To make them, we’re blending up a pretzel-based breading and then coating the tenders before baking them and topping them with a delicious hot honey drizzle.
It’s the perfect meal for sneaking in some protein while enjoying the satisfying crunchiness of your favorite comfort food!
Ingredients in hot honey pretzel chicken tenders
This hot honey chicken recipe is made with a breading consisting of pretzels, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. It’s a blend that makes for a perfect salty and crunchy outer layer!
- Chicken tenders: Start with 1.5 lbs of chicken tenders. If preferred, you can use thin slices of chicken breasts.
- Pretzels: For the pretzel base, you’ll need 3 cups of pretzels. You can use hard pretzels, pretzel thins, mini pretzels, pretzel sticks, etc.!
- Salt & Pepper: Season up the breading with 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper.
- Garlic powder: Follow the salt and pepper with 1 tsp of garlic powder.
- Onion powder: Then, take the seasonings one step further with 1 tsp of onion powder.
- Dijon mustard: Create the honey mixture by starting with 2 tbsp of dijon mustard.
- Yellow mustard: 2 tbsp of yellow mustard will complement the dijon perfectly.
- Honey: Use 2 tbsp of honey to create a delicious honey mustard flavor!
- Yogurt: 3 tbsp of yogurt will help us reach the perfect consistency. Use a plain flavor.
- Salt: Finally, finish off the honey mustard mixture with 1/4 tsp of salt.
- Hot honey: 1/2 cup of hot honey will be used to drizzle over the tenders. I like to use Mike’s Hot Honey!
Tools needed to make this recipe
These chicken tenders require 6-7 kitchen tools depending on how you plan to add the hot honey. You’ll simply need a baking sheet, parchment paper, a food processor, two bowls, a whisk, and optionally, a brush for spreading the hot honey.
To measure out ingredients, you’ll need the following sized measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup.
How to make hot honey pretzel chicken tenders
These chicken tenders are delightfully simple to make. After breading with the pretzel and honey mustard mixtures, simply bake and add the hot honey!
To begin, preheat the oven to 425ยฐF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Then, use a food processor to pulse together the pretzels, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Do this until the pretzels are in small pieces, and then pour the mix into a bowl.
In a small bowl, whisk together the dijon mustard, yellow mustard, honey, yogurt, and salt.
Dunk each chicken tender into the honey mustard mixture, and then completely coat in the pretzel mixture. Press down to ensure that each area of the chicken is covered. Repeat until all of the chicken is coated.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165ยฐF.
Heat the honey in a microwave-safe dish. Drizzle or brush over the chicken as soon as it comes out of the oven. Enjoy!
What to serve with hot honey tenders
When it comes to pairing these chicken tenders, the options are endless! Go with something hearty like scalloped potatoes or mashed cauliflower potatoes, or sneak in some greens with a leafy salad (this broccoli salad is an easy option!). If you want, you can even pair the tenders with a veggie dish like garlic green beans or green bean casserole!
Storing leftovers
Leftover chicken tenders can be enjoyed for up to 3 days when stored properly. Place them inside an airtight container or wrap them in tinfoil and refrigerate.
If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
In the mood for some more chicken dinners? Try one of these!
- Baked Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
- Easy Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe
- Best Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe
- French Onion Chicken
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Tenders
Give chicken tenders the ultimate makeover with this Hot Honey Pretzel Chicken Tenders recipe. Breaded with pretzels and garlic powder and flavored with a delicious honey mustard blend, these tenders are nothing short of life-changing!
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- 3 cups pretzels
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp plain greek yogurt
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup hot honey (I like Mike’s)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In food processor, pulse together pretzels, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until pretzels are small pieces. Pour into a bowl.
- In a small bowl, whisk together dijon mustard, yellow mustard, honey, yogurt, and salt. Set a little less than half aside for dipping cooked tenders in.
- Dunk each chicken tender into honey mustard mixture, then completely coat in pretzel mixture, pressing down to ensure each area of chicken is covered. Repeat until no more chicken is left.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until 165F.
- Heat honey in microwave safe dish. Drizzle or brush over chicken right out of the oven. Enjoy!
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Meagan says
I was a bit skeptical about the hot honey but these were delicious and a definite make again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meagan, so happy you loved them!
Mimi says
I don’t have a food processor but I do have an immersion blender…can I do batches in that for the pretzel mix? Or use something else?
Erin says
Hi Mimi, you can just crush them with something heavy like a rolling pin or pan! Put in a ziplock bag first. Hope that helps!
Amanda says
I am obsessed with these chicken tenders. I used gluten free pretzels and they turned out so well. I have a new found obsession with hot honey and will now put it on everything!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Amanda, so happy you loved them!! ๐
Nicole C says
These were soooo good!! My husband and I loved them!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Nicole, so glad you both enjoyed them!!
Catherine says
SO GOOD. The honey mustard sauce/dip is amazing!! Will become a staple in my refrigerator! The pretzels add the perfect crunch to the chicken!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Catherine, so happy you loved them! ๐
Dana says
I made these for my sisterโs family tonight and they devoured them! I actually used twice as much chicken but didnโt need 2x the pretzel mixture. I did 1.5x the honey mustard sauce though. Delicious!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Dana, so happy you loved them!!
Megan S says
These were a big hit with the whole family! The honey mustard sauce with the pretzel coating and the hot honey glaze was the perfect combo of sweet and salty and I love how everything Erin makes has good ingredients I can feel good about serving to my family. I even took her advice and paired them with the garlic green beans and a side of bread and it was a fancy meal that I threw together pretty quickly!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so glad you loved them and thanks for your kind words!! ๐
Megan says
These were a big hit with the whole family! The honey mustard sauce with the pretzel coating and the hot honey glaze was the perfect combo of sweet and salty and I love how everything Erin makes has good ingredients I can feel good about serving to my family. I even took her advice and paired them with the garlic green beans and a side of bread and it was a fancy meal that I threw together pretty quickly!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so happy you loved them so much and sounds like a great dinner! Thanks for sharing! ๐
Abby S. says
Soooo good! Made this the other day and everyone loved it. Our store didnโt have the spicy honey but regular honey was still just as good. Will definitely be making again. Keep the pretzel recipes coming!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Abby, so glad you liked them and made them your own!! Hope you can try them with hot honey next time!!
Heather says
So delicious! Made them Friday for dinner and we had it on Saturday too! Husband approved too. Definitely make extra sauce for dipping!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Heather, so glad you both loved them!
Alison Pasierb says
DELICIOUS and easy!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Allison, so happy you loved them!!
Cheryl Hicks says
Doubled and made for my family of 5 – so good! We all loved them! Perfect combo of salty and sweet, and great as leftovers the next day on salad for lunch!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Cheryl, so happy you all loved them!! ๐
Courtney says
These were absolutely delicious! The perfect combo of sweet and salty and they were so easy to make! Will definitely be making them again soon!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Courtney, so happy you loved them!!
Meaghan says
OBSESSED with these! We made with breadcrumbs since we didnโt have pretzels on hand, but coating in the homemade honey mustard instead of egg is a game changer! Absolutely loved and will make again soon!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meaghan, so happy you loved them and made them your own!! ๐
Megan J says
Sooooo yummy !!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Megan, so glad you loved it!
Beckie Maddox says
These are really good!!! So simple and delicious. That honey mustard marinade/dipping sauce is delicious!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Beckie, so happy you liked them!!
Casey Colodny says
Killed the salty and sweet combo!! Takes the chicken tender to a whole other level!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Casey, so happy you loved them!!
Nicole says
So absolutely delicious!The salty with sweet and a little spice. LOVED them!
Erin says
Hi Nicole, so happy you enjoyed them!!
Ally says
We’ve made these twice since you posted the recipe! So simple and so wonderful – so much flavor.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ally, so happy you loved them!! ๐
Jaclyn says
So easy and delicious!!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jaclyn, so glad you loved them!!