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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
Amazing dish!
It was quick and simple to prepare! The chicken was super crunchy & the sauce was out of this world, it was a great combo of sweet and spicy!
I reheated the leftover chicken for lunch the next day for a few minutes each side under the broil to not only revive the crunch of the crust but to warm it up slightly. It worked perfectly.
I will definitely be making this one again!
Thanks once again for another fantastic recipe Tieghan!
Hey Lori,
Wonderful! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a go, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have the best weekend:) xTieghan
Wow! This is so easy to pull together and so delicious. The hot honey is seriously amazing! Thanks Tieghan!
Hey Ashley,
Happy Friday! I am so glad that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xxTieghan
This dish was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! I loved the sweet & spicy sauce so much that I saved what extra I had leftover so I could enjoy it the next day. I will for sure be making this recipe again and using that sauce for other recipes. Thank you Tieghan for yet another easy simple delicious recipe!!
Hey Kristy,
Happy Wednesday! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it:) xTieghan
Does all purpose flour work? Or does it need to be whole wheat
Hey Kendria,
Yes, all purpose flour will work here. I hope the recipe turns out amazing for you. Please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
My husband WAS OBSESSED with this meal!! The hot honey is delicious with a slight kick, and somehow also savory. One of my chicken breasts didn’t hold the breading on when it started baking which I’m not sure why. But we loved this meal and will definitely be making it again, and I’ll also be using the honey recipe for other dishes as well!
Hey Holly,
Wonderful!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! ☀️xTieghan
Your recipes are so good they have their own Pinterest folder and I refer to your books constantly. Thanks!
Thank you so much Karen:) xTieghan
Such a good recipe, wouldn’t change a change. Pairs well with so many different sides and had always been well received. The perfect mix of hot and sweet! My only tip is I’d take it easy with adding in the cayenne depending on your tolerance. Taste it first, can always add more 🙂
Hey Marie,
Happy Monday! Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Looks good, I haven’t made it yet but what sides would you recommend? I’d like something healthy or light, I’m just not sure what would go well with this.
Made this tonight, it was AMAZING! Easy, fast, and spicy! I’ve had the hot chicken in Nashville and this was just as good, in fact it was better because I didn’t feel bad eating it because it’s not fried! How does someone so young have so many recipes in her head?!
Hey Joan,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Amazing!! Everyone loved this. Will add to my regular recipes. Thanks !!!
Hey Carolyn,
I am so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xxTieghan
This tasted great!! Any tips on preventing it from getting soggy though!?
Hey Lauren,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed. Have a great Wednesday! xTieghan
This is seriously one of the best chicken recipes I’ve ever had, amazing!! Thank you!
Hey Cynthia,
I really appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed.? xTieghan
This was delicious! I’ve tried a bunch of different oven baked chicken recipes and this is my favorite by far.
Hey Tori,
I am so glad that you liked this recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Friday? xTieghan
100% recommend you try this recipe!!! I made it last night for supper and looking forward to making it again soon. I do want to note if you are not a big fan of spicy foods to tone down the cayenne pepper. I personally used 1/2 teaspoon. Well done Half Baked Harvest!
Hey Linda,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! ☘️ xTieghan
Great recipe! Very yummy.
Thanks so much Julie!! xTieghan
I’ve made this before and loved it. I’ve had an air fryer for a while and have made some other chicken recipes in it, but never occurred to me until tonight to use the air fryer for this recipe!
I usually do 380 for 18ish minutes for boneless skinless thighs.
Hey Stacy,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled it was enjoyed! xTieghan