Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken

Introduction

This Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken is the perfect combination of crunchy, spicy, and sweet. It’s a comforting dish that’s easy to make and sure to become a favorite for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings. With a crispy cornflake coating and a sticky hot honey glaze, every bite is packed with flavor.

Ingredients

• 4 pieces Chicken Breasts (Thighs can be juicier if preferred)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 0.5 tablespoon Nonstick Cooking Spray
• 1 cup Flour
• 0.5 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 large Eggs
• 2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
• 4 cups Cornflakes
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Seasoning Mix (salt, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper)
• 0.5 cup Honey
• 2 tablespoons Additional Hot Sauce
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 0.25 cup Light Brown Sugar (for sauce)
• 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Crush the cornflakes into small pieces using a food processor or rolling pin.
2. Step 2: Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour mixed with brown sugar, one with whisked eggs and hot sauce, and a third with the crushed cornflakes, paprika, and seasoning mix.
3. Step 3: Slice and tenderize the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Season each piece with salt and pepper.
4. Step 4: Coat each chicken piece in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg wash, and finally roll in the cornflake mixture to fully coat.
5. Step 5: Arrange the coated chicken on a greased baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray.
6. Step 6: Bake the chicken for 15-16 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
7. Step 7: While the chicken bakes, prepare the hot honey sauce by combining honey, additional hot sauce, butter, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until smooth and warmed through.
8. Step 8: Drizzle the baked chicken with the hot honey sauce before serving.

Tips & Variations

• For a gluten-free option, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour and use gluten-free cornflakes.
• Adjust the amount of hot sauce in both the egg wash and the honey sauce to control the heat level.
• Use chicken thighs for a juicier result, but make sure to adjust cooking times if pieces are larger.
• To make this dish vegan, try using flax eggs, plant-based butter, and maple syrup instead of honey.
• For extra crunch, double coat the chicken by repeating the egg and cornflake coating step.

Storage

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F until warmed through to help maintain crispiness. The hot honey sauce can be stored separately in the fridge for up to a week; gently warm it before drizzling over reheated chicken.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

Yes, but be sure to fully thaw the chicken and pat it dry before starting to ensure the breading sticks well and the chicken cooks evenly.

How can I make the chicken extra crispy?

Lightly spray the coated chicken pieces with nonstick cooking spray before baking and consider double-coating by repeating the egg wash and cornflake step. Baking at a high temperature (425°F) also helps achieve a crispy crust.

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★★★★★

4.7 from 81 reviews

Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken is a delicious combination of crunchy cornflake-coated chicken baked to golden perfection and drizzled with a sweet, spicy, and tangy hot honey sauce. This comforting meal balances the fiery kick of hot sauce with the natural sweetness of honey for an irresistible dish that’s perfect for dinner or entertaining.

• Author: Tim
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 16 minutes
• Total Time: 36 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Chicken

• 4 pieces Chicken Breasts (Thighs can be juicier if preferred)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
• 0.5 tablespoon Nonstick Cooking Spray

For the Breading

• 1 cup Flour
• 0.5 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 large Eggs
• 2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
• 4 cups Cornflakes
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 teaspoons Seasoning Mix (salt, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper)

For the Hot Honey Sauce

• 0.5 cup Honey
• 2 tablespoons Additional Hot Sauce
• 4 tablespoons Butter
• 0.25 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to prepare for baking the chicken to a crispy golden finish.
2. Crush Cornflakes: Crush 4 cups of cornflakes into small pieces using a food processor or by placing them in a bag and gently rolling with a rolling pin to achieve a crunchy coating texture.
3. Prepare Coating Bowls: Set up three shallow bowls – one with a mixture of 1 cup flour and 0.5 cup light brown sugar, the second with 2 whisked eggs combined with 2 tablespoons hot sauce, and the third with the crushed cornflake mixture seasoned with 1 teaspoon paprika and 2 teaspoons seasoning mix (salt, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper).
4. Prepare Chicken: Slice and tenderize the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness to ensure even cooking. Season each piece with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper.
5. Coat the Chicken: Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour and brown sugar mixture, then dip it into the egg wash with hot sauce, and finally coat thoroughly with the seasoned crushed cornflakes for maximum crunch.
6. Arrange and Spray: Place the coated chicken pieces on a greased baking sheet. Lightly spray them with 0.5 tablespoon nonstick cooking spray to help achieve a crispy texture during baking.
7. Bake the Chicken: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 15 to 16 minutes or until the coating is golden brown and the chicken is cooked through.
8. Prepare Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken is baking, combine 0.5 cup honey, 2 tablespoons additional hot sauce, 4 tablespoons butter, 0.25 cup light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon mustard powder in a saucepan over low heat. Stir gently until melted and well combined.
9. Serve: Once the chicken is done, remove from the oven and drizzle generously with the prepared hot honey sauce before serving for a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.

Notes

• Using chicken thighs instead of breasts will result in juicier meat.
• For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour and use gluten-free cornflakes.
• Adjust the amount of hot sauce in both the breading and sauce to control the spice level to your preference.
• Spraying the coated chicken with nonstick spray is key to achieving a crispy crust without frying.
• The hot honey sauce can be made ahead and reheated gently if desired.
• For a vegan adaptation, use flax eggs and plant-based butter, and replace honey with maple syrup.

Keywords: Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken, baked chicken, hot honey sauce, crunchy chicken, comfort food, spicy sweet chicken