Some meals are made for busy weeknights, hungry families, and those evenings when you want something that feels a little more special than the usual chicken dinner. These Farmhouse Hot Honey Chicken Tenders with Baked Mac & Cheese check every box.
The chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and finished with a buttery hot honey drizzle that gives you that perfect sweet-and-spicy combination. Pair them with a creamy, cheesy pan of homemade baked macaroni and cheese and you’ve got the kind of farmhouse comfort-food supper everyone comes back for.
And don’t let the “hot honey” scare you away if you’re feeding kids. You can easily control the heat—or keep a few tenders plain and let everyone add their own drizzle.
Farmhouse Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Oil for frying
For the hot honey drizzle:
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1-2 teaspoons hot sauce, or more to taste
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
Tip: For a quick buttermilk substitute, use:
1 cup buttermilk =
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar
Stir them together and let it sit for about 5–10 minutes. It may look slightly curdled - - that’s exactly what you want. For the hot honey chicken tenders, you can use this substitute exactly the same way as regular buttermilk.
Instructions
Place the chicken tenders in a bowl or large zipper bag and pour the buttermilk over them. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. If you have time, you can let them marinate for a few hours.
In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, seasoned salt, black pepper, and salt.
Remove each chicken tender from the buttermilk, allowing the excess to drip off. Dredge well in the seasoned flour, pressing the coating onto the chicken.
Heat about ½ inch of oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Once hot, fry the chicken tenders in batches for approximately 3-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Transfer to a wire rack or paper-towel-lined plate while you prepare the hot honey.
In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the honey, butter, hot sauce, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Warm just until the butter melts and everything is combined.
Drizzle the warm hot honey over the crispy chicken tenders right before serving.
Farm Wife Tip: Keep part of the honey mixture mild and stir additional hot sauce into the remainder. That way everyone can choose their own heat level.
Creamy Farmhouse Baked Mac & Cheese
This is the kind of baked macaroni and cheese I want beside crispy chicken—creamy underneath with a cheesy golden top instead of a dry casserole-style macaroni.
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 cups milk
- 1 cup half-and-half, or use additional milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 cups shredded Colby Jack cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese for the top
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Cook the macaroni just until slightly under al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute.
Gradually whisk in the milk and half-and-half. Continue cooking and stirring until the sauce begins to thicken.
Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Add the 3 cups of cheddar and 2 cups of Colby Jack a handful at a time, stirring until melted and smooth.
Fold the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce.
Pour everything into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the additional ½ cup cheddar over the top.
Bake uncovered for approximately 20-25 minutes, until hot and bubbly around the edges.
For a slightly more golden top, place it under the broiler for a minute or two at the end. Watch it closely.
Making the Whole Meal Come Together
I like to get the macaroni and cheese assembled first and put it in the oven. While it bakes, fry the chicken tenders and make the hot honey drizzle.
By the time that pan of mac and cheese is bubbling, the chicken should be hot and crispy and ready for its honey drizzle.
Add a simple vegetable and supper is done.
A few easy sides that work well are steamed broccoli, green beans, roasted Brussels sprouts, corn, or a simple garden salad.
Want to Bake the Chicken Instead?
You can.
Prepare and bread the chicken as directed, then place the tenders on a greased wire rack set over a baking sheet. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
Bake at 425°F for approximately 18-22 minutes, turning once, until browned and cooked to 165°F.
They won’t have quite the same fried crunch, but that hot honey drizzle still makes them delicious.
Air Fryer Option
Place breaded tenders in a single layer in a lightly sprayed air fryer basket.
Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and air fry at 400°F for approximately 10-14 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of your tenders and air fryer.
Drizzle with the hot honey after cooking.
Make It Your Own
That’s one of the things I love about meals like this. You can easily adjust them for your family.
If you like things mild, use just a teaspoon of hot sauce in your honey.
If your crew loves heat, add more hot sauce and crushed red pepper.
Want extra crunch? Double-dip the chicken by putting it back into the buttermilk and flour mixture a second time.
And if you’re feeding a crowd, both recipes are easy to double.
Farmhouse Supper Made Simple
Crispy chicken, sweet heat, and homemade baked macaroni and cheese—it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
It feels like comfort food, but that little kick of hot honey keeps it from being just another chicken-and-mac-and-cheese dinner.
This is exactly the kind of meal I love sharing from my farmhouse kitchen: familiar ingredients, plenty of flavor, and food your family will actually look forward to eating.
From my kitchen table to yours, enjoy!
Kelley ~ Farm Wife Favorites 🤍
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