Crispy Hot Honey Lemon Feta Chicken Tenders with Herb Crust Recipe
This Crispy Hot Honey Lemon Feta Chicken Tenders recipe features tender chicken coated in a flavorful herb crust, baked to golden perfection, and topped with a spicy-sweet honey lemon feta mixture. Garnished with fresh parsley and optional lemon wedges, it’s an easy yet elegant dish bursting with bold Mediterranean-inspired flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 3 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the chicken tenders:
- 500g chicken tenders
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the herb crust:
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
For coating:
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp milk
For the hot honey lemon feta topping:
- 100g feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For garnish:
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Prepare the herb crust: In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and smoked paprika until evenly mixed for a flavorful crust.
- Coat the chicken tenders: In another bowl, whisk together the egg and milk. Season the chicken tenders with salt and black pepper. Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then press it into the breadcrumb herb mixture so it’s well coated.
- Bake the chicken: Arrange the coated chicken tenders in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with olive oil to help crisp the crust and bake in the oven for 18–22 minutes until the chicken is golden, crispy, and cooked through.
- Prepare the hot honey lemon feta topping: While the chicken bakes, mix the crumbled feta cheese, honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, crushed red pepper flakes, and olive oil together in a small bowl to create a spicy-sweet and tangy topping.
- Finish and serve: Once the chicken tenders are cooked and crisp, spoon the hot honey lemon feta topping over them. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve with optional lemon wedges for an extra burst of citrus flavor.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken tenders for the last 2 minutes of baking—watch closely to avoid burning.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if you want to make this recipe gluten free.
- Leftover hot honey lemon feta topping can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days and used as a salad dressing or dip.
- To make it easier to handle, pat the chicken tenders dry before seasoning and coating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 230g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken tenders, crispy chicken, hot honey, lemon feta, herb crust, Mediterranean chicken, spicy honey chicken