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Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken – a family favorite loved by everyone! Simple cornflake-crusted chicken baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious. A double coat of crumbs is the secret. But my sauce…well it’s even more special. Sweet honey with the perfect combination of spices and sea salt. A delicious weeknight dinner to serve up to family and friends.
If there’s one recipe I was really excited to share this week, it’s this hot chicken. I know it’s not anything too out of the ordinary, but we love this recipe. My family always enjoys any kind of saucy baked chicken, but I usually do more of a buffalo-style sauce.
It’s a dinner everyone agrees on, so that makes my life easy!
Every so often, I’ll switch gears and do my version of a Nashville hot honey sauce. I’ve been making hot honey sauce for years and years, but this is my perfect sauce that came to be over trial and error.
Of course, it’s the simplest sauce, but I’ll never complain about simplicity when it comes to cooking!
Ingredients
- cornflakes
- grated parmesan cheese
- smoked paprika
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- large eggs, beaten
- tablespoons hot sauce
- chicken breast tenderloins
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
HOT HONEY
- honey
- hot sauce
- cayenne pepper
- chipotle chili powder
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- sea salt
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Details
The coating is key for this hot honey chicken recipe. Crushed cornflakes are the star, they give the chicken that perfect crunch. I’ve tested other cereals, but everyone in the family agrees cornflakes have the best taste and crunch.
I use Nature’s Path, Organic Corn Flakes Cereal, which is naturally gluten-free and non-GMO. I order online, but if you’re looking for something in-store, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are both good options.
And of course, you can use the box of regular ole’ cornflakes we all grew up with. Either one works, I just prefer the organic, no gluten, no sugar option.
Crunch the cornflakes up in a food processor with paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then add the parmesan cheese. It may sound odd, but the cheese adds a salty flavor that melts over the chicken tenders becoming crispy as it bakes.
Next, I dredge the chicken through eggs beaten together with hot sauce, then through the crumbs mixture. For a thicker coating, I’ll take the chicken and dip it back through the eggs, and the crumbs for a 2nd time. This takes slightly longer, but the thicker coating is always delish.
Next, olive oil on the chicken to help it crisp up…then bake! I don’t do anything fancy, just bake 25 minutes and this chicken comes out perfect every time.
Totally no fuss.
Before the chicken is done, warm the honey on the stove in a small saucepan with hot sauce, cayenne, and chipotle chili powder. The chili powder adds a very subtle smokiness to the sweet, spicy, salty sauce.
You can use as little or as much of the sauce as you’d like, but I end up drizzling every last drop of the sauce over the chicken. It’s SO DELICIOUS.
Herbs, then sea salt to finish. This really is the perfect hot honey chicken. Plus, I love how easy it is to prepare.
I serve this with sweet potato fries and my fav wintery salad. Highly recommend some crispy sweet potato fries on the side. So yummmy with the spicy sauce!
For leftovers, save the rest of your chicken in an airtight container and bake the next day or heat up in the air fryer.
Looking for more recipes? Here are a few to try:
Sheet Pan Buffalo Chicken Pizza
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Soft Pretzels
Fried Buffalo Goat Cheese Balls
Baked Buffalo Chicken Egg Rolls with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Buffalo Cauliflower with Spicy Tahini Ranch
Lastly, if you make this Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 403 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 6 cups cornflakes (use gluten free, if needed)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- sea salt
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a food processor, combine the cornflakes, parmesan, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Pulse until you have fine crumbs. Alternatively, you can crush the crumbs in a ziplock bag by stepping on them. Dump the crumbs into a shallow bowl.3. Beat the eggs in a bowl, add the hot sauce and chicken, and toss well to coat. 3. Dredge the chicken through the crumbs, covering fully. Place on the prepared baking sheet. For a thicker coating, dip the chicken back through the eggs, then through the crumbs a 2nd time. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp all around. 4. Just before the chicken is done cooking, make the sauce. In a sauce pot, warm together the honey, hot sauce, cayenne, chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, plus a pinch of salt. 5. Drizzle the warm sauce over the chicken. Top with herbs. If the sauce thickens, warm for 5 seconds in the microwave. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on January 4, 2023
Delicious! I made it according to the recipe. We like spicy and it was perfect (although a slightly less smoky paprika might be better–could just be my brand). I think the sauce would have been better with fewer spices so not compete so much with the sweetness of the honey. My family wants it again. Next time I will reduce the spices in the sauce to see if it has a better contrast of flavors. Thanks!!
Hey Andrea,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for giving this dish a try and your comment, I love to hear it was a hit! 😊
Just made this – followed the instructions to the letter (except for some extra tenderizing for the chicken breast I was using) and used the bare minimum of hot sauce and cayenne because my husband and I are wimps 🤣, it was AMAZING. We had them on brioche buns that were grilled with some thyme butter and root veggie fries on the side. I honestly could have upped the heat, as it was this is a new favorite of ours. The crunchy coating was delicious and perfect, and the hot honey was soooo tasty.
Hey Steph,
Happy Monday!!🌞 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
5 stars!! I did the double coating and loved it!! My husband doesn’t really loved baked chicken but this turned out perfectly! 22 minutes for the cook time and our chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! The sauce was good but I could personally do without all of the extra spices in it.
Next time I’ll just mix honey with franks hot sauce and a dash of cayenne. We will add this to our rotation when we are looking for a nice cheat meal. Thank you so much for sharing!!
Hey Stephanie,
Happy Sunday!!🍀 I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and sharing your comment! xT
Made exactly per recipe except the hot sauce in the egg mix as my husband find spices food hard. So more sauce for me. The chipotle powder was a great addition. He loved the crunch with just honey and I loved it as is. The cornflakes are great and really did coat well but I think Panko would work in a pinch. Great recipe.
Hi Tenley,
Happy Sunday!!🍀 I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it and sharing your comment! xT
This was really delicious — perfectly crunchy and very spicy! I used four boneless chicken breasts, the smaller Perdue pre-frozen ones, which are so convenient. We absolutely love hot and spicy, but when I saw the small amount of liquid in the hot honey, I only put one teaspoon of cayenne in it, and that was enough to make pretty fiery. Glad I didn’t put the entire three teaspoons in ;-). Definitely one I’ll be making again and again.
Hey Helen,
Fantastic!!🌺 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for making it! xT
Direct quote from my husband, “this is the best chicken you’ve ever made!”
I did the double dredge and I swear you could hear the crunch from down the street!
The herbs on top are a must…this is going into the rotation 💯.
Hey Ryan,
Fantastic!!🌺 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for making it! xT
Super yummy! I love hot and spicy, but the full amount of cayenne might have been too much – it was super spicy with 1.5 tsp.
Hey Christine,
Fantastic!!🌺 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for making it! Sorry about the spice! xT
I tried this and it was amazing! It came together very quickly, and I love how it tasted very similar to fried chicken while being much healthier. The sauce was delish! Thank you Tieghan
Hey Natalie,
Perfect!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
SO GOOD! Wow wow wow.
I used original Special K and sriracha as my hot sauce, and it turned out so delicious.
Really great weeknight meal.
Thanks so much Virginie!! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you! xT
This has quickly turned into a real family favourite. We’re now making it for tea and packed lunches for the kids (either a crispy chicken salad or a chicken wrap). Delicious
Hey Katy,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe so often and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it is always a winner! Have a great Wednesday! xx
Hi Tieghan! This was hella good. Do you think panko would work just as well as a sub for the corn flakes in this? Love your recipes so much! <3
Hey Renee,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Sure, panko should work well for you! Have a great Wednesday! xx
My daughter and daughter-in-law both turned me on to your recipes. I made this last night for our family Sunday dinner and everyone raved about it! I love your positivity. Keep up the great work!
Hey Jeanne,
Thanks so much for your kind message! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! xx
The only change I made was cooking it in the air fryer and it came out amazing. My boyfriend was obsessed with the sauce.
Hey Jennifer,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
Can you share how long and at what Temp you did in the air fryer!? I plan on making tonight!!
Loved the ease and flavor of this recipe! My husband doesn’t usually love “kick” but he loved this! We had it with the sweet potato fries one night for dinner and the following night I sliced up the leftovers and we put them in some tacos (tried your crispy shell technique) with fresh mango. Thanks for sharing all your recipes and for making them so easy!
Hey Suzanne,
Happy Monday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
This was so good, the spice level was perfect. I can’t wait to make it again.
Hey Dede,
Happy Sunday!!🌸 Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I love to hear that it was a winner! xT
Absolutely LOVED this recipe. My husband was a big fan too. Definitely adding this to my rotation!
Hey Nichole,
I appreciate you making this recipe and I’m thrilled to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great weekend! xx