Next Post
Baked Egg Crepes with Spring Herbs and Avocado.
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
This Oven Fried Chicken is a slightly healthier, and much easier, take on the famous Nashville Hot Chicken. Breaded in corn flakes, oven baked, and finished with a beyond perfect sweet and spicy honey butter sauce, this is a chicken dinner that’s sure to be loved by all!
So you guys, those sentences up there above this first photo? I know, they’re so cheesy, but let me explain some things about the food blogging world that others might not tell you. There’s this thing called SEO, and then there are your Google rankings. I will not get into details about what these really mean, because if I’m being honest, I’m still trying to figure them out in full myself.
Basically, all you need to know is that there is a certain way Google would like me to write out my blog post every single day. Yes, Google ranks how I write my blog, and yes, it’s annoying. So, why do I even care what Google thinks you ask? Well, it’s simple, I really want to share my recipes with as many of you as possible. I work so hard to create new and exciting recipes day in and out, and I want anyone who might be interested in finding them to see them.
When you search in Google, it’s Google who decides what shows up front and center. And you know how you get on Google’s good side? You listen to them, and write your blog post in a very straight forward, kind of boring, and impersonal way. It’s not that cool, and that’s just the truth.
What does all this mean? Well, it just means that sometimes I have to write some cheesy things within the post to stay on Google’s good side. Google would also prefer I limit my story telling. As you might guess, I’m not going to do that. I think one of the things that makes HBH unique is my stories, and how they connect to my recipes. I don’t want to lose that just because Google says I should.
Over the years I’ve learned that you just have to be YOU, and stick to what works for YOU. So I’m listening to Google to a point, but at the same time, I’m sticking with my own personal style. It’s all about balance, right?
I certainly think so…obviously.
Alright, my ranting is now done. Let’s chat about this chicken.
You guys might not know this, but I actually find cooking chicken to be a little boring, so when I do cook with chicken, I have to make sure it’s extra flavorful and delicious. Kind of like the way I do up my salads.
When my brother, Creighton was in town last week, I knew I needed a good chicken recipe to serve him. The man loves himself some fried chicken, so I thought I would throw him a curve ball and turn one of his favorite greasy foods into a healthier recipe that he’d love all the same.
Enter this southern fried hot honey chicken.
I swear, this is just as good as fried chicken. Bold, but it’s true.
The key is to soak the chicken in a little buttermilk before breading. The buttermilk tenderizes the chicken while adding flavor at the same time. From here, you’ll bread the chicken in crushed corn flakes seasoned with herbs, and then oven bake. It’s pretty simple and straight forward.
The flavor is all in the hot honey sauce. Oh this sauce, it’s genuinely just so good.
The sauce was inspired by the famous Nashville Hot Chicken. It’s spicy, but balanced with a touch of sweetness. The classic way to add sweetness to this spicy sauce is with brown sugar, but you guys know I prefer using honey whenever I get the chance, so I made a few swaps and came out with one of my favorite sauces to date.
As soon as the chicken comes out of the oven, brush the hot honey over the warm chicken and allow it to soak into the crunchy coating. Then eat.
It. Is. SO. GOOD.
And I swear, you can’t even tell it’s not fried.
When I finally had the chicken perfected, I sent the leftovers home with my brother knowing he’d love them. Thing is, you can’t trust brothers to do anything because the chicken somehow managed to get burnt in the oven while re-heating. Either he burned it or my dad did, the stories are unclear, but either way, no one got any of this delicious chicken…well at least not the way it was intended to be eaten.
YES. Totally serious. My family everyone. I love um, but man they cannot cook.
Oh well, bottom line is that this chicken is delicious and you really need to give it a try. Today, tomorrow, this weekend, or maybe even this summer. This chicken would be perfect for warm picnics and summer parties.
Or how about all of the above?
If you make this Oven Fried Chicken and love it, please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love, love, love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every one of you. Oh, and of course, if you do make this chicken, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram so I can see! I love looking at the photos of recipes you all have made. It makes my day!
Watch the How To Video:
Oven Fried Southern Hot Honey Chicken
Servings: 6 servings
Calories Per Serving: 651 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs (you can use skin on or off, but I used skin off)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 3 cups finely crushed corn flakes
- 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- extra virgin olive oil, for brushing
Hot Honey
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt
Instructions
- 1. Add the chicken to a gallon size zip top bag. Pour the buttermilk and salt over the chicken. Toss well, cover and refrigerate 20 minutes or overnight.2. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.3. Add the corn flake crumbs, flour, thyme, and a pinch of salt to a medium sized bowl. Stir to combine.4. Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, and dredge through the crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken has been used. Make sure not to crowd your pan, if necessary use two baking sheets. Lightly brush the chicken with olive oil. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, then flip the chicken over and continue cooking another 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. If using thighs, you may need to cook the chicken a little longer 5. Meanwhile, make the hot honey. Melt together the butter, honey, cayenne, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. 5. Brush or drizzle the chicken generously with hot honey and serve warm Enjoy!
Sounds good to me.
This post was originally published on May 2, 2018
My chicken stuck to the parchment paper so much so that the corn flake mix stayed stuck to the paper and the chicken came off the pan bare 🙁 was I supposed to spray the parchment paper before placing the chicken down? I did the right oven temp and time, and I drizzled the chicken with olive oil. What could’ve made this happen?
Hey Stella,
I am so sorry about this, I have never had this experience. I usually do not spray my parchment, but next time I would recommend doing so, or trying a different brand of parchment. I hope this helps, please let me know if you have any other question. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This recipe was fantastic!! Thank you so much!!
Thank you Hayden! I am glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Delicious and so easy to prepare. My family loved this chicken. The only change I would make next time is reduce the amount of salt in the cornflake mix. We found the breading a little salty. But this recipe is a keeper!!
Thank you so much Al! xTieghan
This recipe was one of my (and my other half’s) top favorites ever! Made this as a chicken sandwich with hawaiian rolls and a creamy coleslaw, and omg it was DELISH.. Will definitely make again. Thank you for your awesome recipe combos – so flavorful!
Thank you Annie! I am really happy this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I tried this recipe & overall it was very good! My only concern was the chicken crust burned in the oven…I wondered if 425 was too hot? Also my chicken breasts stuck to the parchment paper which made the coating come off. I’ll have to try & fix these things for next time, but I wanted to leave my comment! I love your recipes & will continue to try!
Hey Kate,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am sorry you had issues with the crust. I do cook mine at 425, but if you feel that is too hot for your oven you can always reduce the temp. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Flavor was awesome. However, used parchment paper and the chicken still stuck and I lost most of the breading when I flipped it. Any tips or tricks to avoid this?
Hey Phanann,
Thanks for trying the recipe! Next time I would skip the parchment paper:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This has become a household favorite! I find myself craving it with mashed potatoes – made again last night! the best flavor!
Thank you Samantha! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This is so yummy!! I used oat milk in place of buttermilk, and coconut oil in place of butter. Soooo good, I can’t wait to make it again.
Thank you so much Elise! xTieghan
I can’t comment ye about taste cause i havent made it yet but I’ve been eyeing this recipe for some time. I have made several of your recipes and none of them have ever let me down, so I can’t imagine this would. But do you have any suggestions for a corn flake replacement? I never, ever buy them or eat them so would hate to just buy it for this and then dump the rest! It’d be a waste! Thank you for always providing amazing recipes!
Hey Jen,
You can use potato chips in place of the corn flakes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Can I sub frosted flakes lol Is that a lame questions?
Hey Jaclyn,
Lol not lame, but I would not recommend Frosted Flakes for this recipe! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was surprisingly crispy! I couldn’t believe it tasted as if I fried it. I made it twice. The first time I used drumsticks. And tonight I made boneless skinless breasts. Delish!! I think next time I will use one teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Make this with a side of mashed potatoes & sautéed brussel sprouts! Great comfort food!
Yum! I am really glad this turned out so well for you, Tina! Thank you! xTieghan
Wow! What a winner winner, chicken dinner! 😉
I didn’t have cornflakes on hand so I just used normal breadcrumbs and it still turned out incredibly! I’m so in love with the sauce! I paired it with some fried mushrooms and a little bit of ranch. It was just the comfort food I needed as chilly weather settles in here in Germany.
Thank you!
Hi Cat! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! I love cozy meals like this when the weather gets cooler as well! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
This recipe was absolutely outstanding – the easiest and most successful oven (or fried) chicken recipe ever. I made it with skinless breasts sliced into three so they were more like tenders which was awesome, topped them with cheese and served them in toasted brioche buns. Such a total win and the hot honey butter is going on every bbq menu from now on! Thank you so much for another stellar recipe!! Xx
Thank you Polly! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I haven’t made the chicken part of this recipe but I made the hot honey butter sauce to put on some bland takeout fry chicken and it saved it! This sauce is the bomb (would be fantastic on chicken wings) and I will definitely be making the chicken part of this recipe as soon as I can.
Thank you so much Sandy!! xTieghan
I make this for my family probably twice a month; addictive doesn’t even cover it! My wee hack is making double the sauce in a small saucepan a few minutes before I pull the chicken out of the oven. I leave it slightly simmering on the stove and dunk each piece right into the sauce, and flip it over so it’s totally coated, just before I put it on the platter to take to the table. So freakin’ good!!!
Haha wow that is so amazing!! Thank you so much Tara! xTieghan