Teriyaki Chicken Tenders Recipe: Sticky, Sweet & Savory Japanese-Style Chicken Strips

Teriyaki chicken tenders are a delicious Japanese-inspired dish made with tender chicken strips coated in a glossy, sweet, and savory teriyaki sauce. This easy teriyaki chicken tenders recipe combines soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and honey to create a rich glaze that perfectly coats crispy or pan-seared chicken. Popular for quick meals and family dinners, teriyaki chicken tenders are loved for their balanced flavor, juicy texture, and restaurant-style taste at home.

Method

To begin, prepare the chicken by cutting the chicken breast into thick strips. Place these strips in a large mixing bowl and sprinkle the seasonings, which include onion granules, garlic granules, ground black pepper, ginger powder, and salt, over the chicken. Toss everything together to ensure each piece is well-coated in the spices. Next, for the dredging, take each seasoned chicken strip and dip it into the beaten egg mixed with a teaspoon of sriracha, making sure it’s fully coated. After that, roll the chicken strip in the crushed cornflakes to give it that crispy texture. Lay each coated chicken piece on a plate as you continue with the rest of the chicken strips.

Now, it’s time to air fry the chicken. Preheat your air fryer to 190°C (375°F), and lightly spray the tray with oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook the tenders for 16 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even crispiness. While the chicken is cooking, focus on making the teriyaki sauce. In a pan over low heat, combine soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, minced garlic, and finely grated ginger. Stir this mixture well, allowing it to blend into a rich sauce. As the sauce begins to simmer, mix the cornflour with a little water to form a slurry and add it to the pan. Keep stirring the sauce as it thickens, then remove it from the heat once it reaches the desired consistency.

After the chicken is cooked and crispy, it’s time to glaze the tenders. You can either dip each tender directly into the teriyaki sauce, roll it around, or brush the sauce on top for a lighter coat. If desired, garnish with sesame seeds to add a little extra flavor and texture. Your Teriyaki Chicken Tenders are now ready to serve and enjoy!

This method ensures that each piece of chicken is evenly coated, crisply air-fried, and perfectly glazed with the homemade teriyaki sauce. Enjoy!

Necessary Tools

• Air fryer – For cooking the chicken tenders until crispy and golden.
• Large mixing bowl – For seasoning and coating the chicken.
• Small bowl – For beating the egg and mixing it with sriracha.
• Shallow plate or bowl – For holding the crushed cornflakes for dredging.
• Saucepan or frying pan – For preparing and thickening the teriyaki sauce.
• Measuring spoons and cups – For accurately measuring the seasonings and sauce ingredients.
• Kitchen tongs – For turning the chicken tenders during cooking and coating them with sauce.
• Small bowl – For mixing the cornflour with water to make the slurry.
• Cooking spray or oil sprayer – For lightly coating the air fryer basket and helping prevent sticking.
• Grater – For finely grating the fresh ginger.
• Garlic press or knife – For mincing the garlic for the teriyaki sauce.
• Basting brush – Optional, for brushing teriyaki sauce evenly over the cooked chicken.

Teriyaki Chicken Tenders Recipe

Recipe by Troy Jorge

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: JapaneseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

16

minutes

Total time

36

minutes

Ingredients

• For the Chicken Tenders:

• 400g Chicken breast, cut into thick strips

• 1/2 tsp each – Onion granules, garlic granules, ground black pepper, ginger powder

• 1/4 tsp Salt

• For Dredging:

• 2 cups Cornflakes, crushed

• 1 Egg, beaten + 1 tsp Sriracha

• For the Teriyaki Sauce:

• 4 tbsp Brown sugar

• 1/2 cup Light soy sauce

• 1 tbsp Mirin

• 1 tsp Garlic, minced

• 1 tsp Ginger, finely grated

• 1 tbsp Cornflour mixed with 1/4 cup water

• 1/2 tsp Sesame seeds (optional)

Directions

• In a large bowl, add the chicken strips. Sprinkle all the seasonings over the chicken, making sure each piece is well coated.
• For the dredging, dip each seasoned chicken strip into the beaten egg mixed with sriracha, then roll it in the crushed cornflakes. Lay each coated chicken strip on a plate.
• Preheat your air fryer to 190°C and lightly spray the tray with some oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 16 minutes, turning the tenders halfway through for an even crisp.
• While the tenders are cooking, make the teriyaki sauce. In a pan over low heat, combine the soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Stir to blend. Once the sauce is simmering, mix the cornflour with water and pour into the sauce. Stir continuously as it thickens, then remove from the heat.
• Once the chicken is cooked and crispy, dip or brush each tender with the teriyaki sauce. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired, and you’re ready to serve!

Notes

• Make sure the chicken tenders are well-coated in the seasoning and cornflakes for that crispy exterior. The more even the coating, the better the crunch.
• When air-frying, do not overcrowd the tenders. They need room for air to circulate for that perfect crisp. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Stir the teriyaki sauce continuously while it thickens to prevent it from burning at the bottom of the pan.
• Check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it’s fully cooked. It should reach 75°C (165°F) to be safe to eat.

Serving Suggestions

These Teriyaki Chicken Tenders pair wonderfully with a variety of sides! Serve them with a bowl of steamed rice, stir-fried veggies, or a fresh cucumber salad for a balanced meal. You can even use them as a fun party appetizer, serving them with a side of extra sauce for dipping.

Fun Fact

Did you know that teriyaki sauce originated in Japan and was initially made using soy sauce, mirin, and sugar? It’s a great example of how simple ingredients can come together to create a truly delicious flavor!

Conclusion

In conclusion, teriyaki chicken tenders are a quick and flavorful dish that delivers the perfect combination of sweetness, savoriness, and tenderness in every bite. This homemade teriyaki chicken tenders recipe is easy to prepare and ideal for weeknight dinners, meal prep, or casual meals. With their sticky glaze and rich flavor, teriyaki chicken tenders are a must-try recipe for anyone who enjoys Asian-inspired chicken dishes.