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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
Easy and really tasty. I hadn’t bought Cornflakes in a decade and wondered what I’d do with the leftovers. The answer is easy. I’ll make this recipe again and again.
Thanks so much, Kristi:) I’m so glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely and appreciate you making it! XxT
Wow! Made this tonight for dinner. Served it as sandwiches on toasted brioche rolls with special sauce, spicy pickles and a poppy seed dressed slaw. My husband and sons LOVED it! I may dial back the heat a bit (I was a bit generous with the cayenne) but I got no complaints. This will definitely be added to our monthly rotation!
Hey Tracie,
Happy Halloween! 🎃 Thanks a bunch for trying this recipe and your comment! Love to hear it was a winner! XxT
Can I make this early in the day and then pop it in oven when needed later or will it be soggy?
Hey Tracy,
Totally, that will work nicely for you! Please let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Soooo good! My husband had seconds and then thirds. I paired it with mushroom rice for an easy side, but it would be fantastic alongside coleslaw, our favorite pickles, and a carb (Nashville hot honey bowls, anyone?)
Your hot honey sauce recipe is heavenly and truly makes the dish!
Hey Laura,
That’s awesome! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, I’m so glad it turned out nicely for you! Xx
If I use pre-crumbed corn flakes (Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Crumbs), how many cups should I use? Or asked another way, how many cups of crumbs does 6 cups of corn flakes yield after processing?
Hi Chelsie,
You will need about 3 cups of crumbs. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
Yummy!!! We just harvested our own honey and I was looking for recipes to use with it. Made this just as recipe stated (except used regular paprika not smoked). It came out perfect! The tenders I bought were thin and only took about 15 minutes so definitely adjust cook time as needed so they’re not overcooked. I will probably make a batch of just the hot honey sauce to have on hand!
Hey Dawn,
Happy fall Sunday! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, so glad to hear it turned out well for you:) XxT
Hello, this recipe sounds absolutely delicious. I’m definitely going to try it out this weekend! I was wondering about the chicken. Did you pound the tenderloins, or are those breasts?
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks so much! These are chicken breasts that I just cut into smaller tenderloin pieces, use whatever you have available to you! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Followed the recipe exactly and it turned out wonderful! This is definitely a family favorite and on a regular rotation!
Hey Jillian,
Fantastic! So glad to hear this turned out well for you, I appreciate you making it! Happy Friday:) xT
Fantastic! I seasoned the chicken with salt , pepper , garlic and paprika powder before dipping it in the egg wash and corn flakes just because I feel like the chicken must be lightly seasoned before coating lol.
Hey Rena,
Happy Wednesday! So glad your family enjoyed this dish, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xT
Wow. Subbed smoked paprika for chipotle chili powder. New favorite!
Hey Doug,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have a great Monday! x
Does this recipe work well with chicken thighs? If so do you adjust cooking at all?
Hey Anna,
Yes, you can use chicken thighs! It just depends how big they are, but you may need to increase your bake time. I hope you love this recipe! xT
What would be your suggestions for a cornflake substitute for those with corn allergies?
Hi Amy,
Panko breadcrumbs would also work nicely for you! You could also do crushed pretzels or potato chips. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! x
I love this recipe so much, and my family loves it too every time I make it for them.
My only complaint is that it’s not quite as spicy as I’d like (though this is a blessing for my mother, who can’t handle spice at all lol). I didn’t have many ingredients on hand so I tried using some takis blended inside the mix, but either I didn’t use enough or it just wouldn’t work at all, because it didn’t change the taste too much 😓. It was still delicious though!
Hey Kittle,
Happy Friday! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, love to hear that it turned out well for you! You could add more cayenne for heat! Xx
This recipe is so delicious! Wondering if you can prepare and coat chicken ahead of time?
Serving to guests and would prefer just popping in the oven once they arrive. Thank you!
Hey Carolyn,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe turned out nicely for you! Thanks a lot for making it:) Totally, that will work well for you! xT
What kind of hot sauce would you recommend?
Hey Mandy,
I like to use Frank’s Red Hot sauce. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Hi, I’m excited to make this. Out of curiosity what hot sauce did you use? I was thinking of using Franks Hot sauce, but wanted an idea of hat type of hot sauce you used
Hey Lilli,
I used Franks Hot Sauce:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Just made it using franks hot sauce. Delicious!
Thanks so much, Lilli! Love to hear this!
I make this every week!! I love it! My boyfriend loves it too. We put it in salads, and it’s absolutely phenomenal! 🙂
Hey Gill,
Happy Friday! Thank you so much for making this recipe so often! So glad it is always enjoyed:) xT