Description
A comfort food classic with a bold, spicy twist. Crispy fried chicken tenders coated in a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze, served with creamy mac and cheese.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Oil for frying
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1–2 tbsp hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup mozzarella
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: paprika + parsley for topping
Instructions
- Marinate tenders in buttermilk, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper for 30 minutes.
- Dredge tenders in seasoned flour and fry in hot oil until golden brown.
- Simmer honey, hot sauce, chili flakes, and vinegar in a pan. Toss fried tenders in the glaze.
- Cook macaroni. Melt butter, stir in flour, whisk in milk, and stir in cheese until smooth.
- Pour mac & cheese into a baking dish, top with extra cheese, paprika, and parsley. Broil until golden.
Notes
- Adjust hot sauce and chili flakes to control spice level.
- For extra crispiness, double-dredge the chicken tenders in flour.
- Use fresh honey for the best glaze consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Comfort Food
- Method: Frying/Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 70g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg