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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
Do you think rice crispies would be a good substitute for the corn flakes? I’m guessing no…?
Hi Sarah,
So sorry, I’m not sure that would be the best option! I would try breadcrumbs. Let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
This looks delicious!
Is there a way to make this without eggs and dairy? (Allergy)
I personally would dredge in coconut or cashew milk, with the spices and use goat or sheep cheese instead of Parmesan.
Hi Julia,
You could try using a non-dairy milk in place of the eggs and a vegan cheese. Let me know if you give this recipe a try! xx
Went with a little less spice, but super good! Lots of flavor.
Hi Kacie,
Happy Monday!!⛅️ Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you:)
What cut of chicken are you using in the photos? Looks like regular chicken breasts, but then below the recipe calls for chicken tenderloins. Does that change the cook time?
Hi Emily,
You can use tenders or breasts, if you choose breasts just make sure they are pounded nice and thin:) I hope you love this recipe! xx
So delicious! Entire family loved it! Can simply leave off the hot honey sauce for the kids who don’t like spicy!
Hey Lauren,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Oh my goodness this is my fiancé’s new favourite meal! He has asked for it 3 times in the last month!
We’ve also substituted for quarter legs and it is equally delicious. Normally we’ll pair with Spanish rice, roasted brussel sprouts and potatoes and it is SO yummy and easy to make!
Thanks so much for the wonderful recipe Tieghan!
Hey An,
Happy Sunday!😃 Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was enjoyed:) xT
This was delicious! I used chicken breast that I cut very thin and it turned out perfect! Great recipe
Hey Jill,
Happy Friday!! ☘️🌈 So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
Hi, Can I use thin sliced chicken breast cutlets for this recipe?
Hi Allison,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
I’m planning to try this recipe tonight, but don’t have tenderloins. Would chicken thighs work well with this recipe?
Hi Hailey,
I’m not sure chicken thighs are going to bread as nicely, but you could definitely give them a try! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
****FYI**** Not a professional…but I did tweak this a touch. For breading I used panko breadcrumbs that I browned with bacon grease prior to breading.
Thanks so much for sharing Frazier! So glad you enjoyed this recipe! xT
This recipe was easy to follow and my whole family enjoyed it! That is always a win for me. Thank you!
Hi Lisa,
Happy Wednesday! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad to hear it was a winner!
Can this recipe be done in the air fyer?
Hi Natalie,
I’ve not tested this myself, but I bet it would work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
This was SO good! Made it as written and wouldn’t change a thing. Whole family loved it. Thank you for the recipe!
Hi Linda,
Happy Sunday! 😃 Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe out, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xx
This chicken was amazing!!! My boyfriend and I loved it and it’ll be in a constant rotation now, thinking of putting on a bun or over potatoes 😋
Hey Alyssa,
Happy Friday!!☘️ Thanks a bunch for testing this recipe out and sharing your review, I’m so glad to hear it was delish! xx
Made exactly as written and it was very good. The hint of smoke from the chipotle chili powder works very well with the sweet hot honey. I did find that I needed to use an extra egg with the double dip coating as 2 were not enough. Very crunchy and much less mess than frying. Highly recommend!
Hey Louann,
Happy Wednesday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xx
I made this last night and it is WONDERFUL!!! I used Siracha seasoning (from TJ) in the honey drizzle instead of hot sauce and used a bit of hot honey I had from a local market. This is the fourth meal I’ve made using your recipes and I have not been disappointed at all and they are easy to make. Thank you!
Hey Christina,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for giving this dish a try and your comment, I love to hear it was a hit! 😊