Introduction

Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken is a delicious blend of crunchy texture and spicy-sweet flavor. This easy-to-make dish combines a crispy cornflake coating with a sticky hot honey sauce that will excite your taste buds.

A crispy, golden-brown fried chicken breast piece lies on a shiny silver tray with a crunchy texture full of small flakes. A spoon is held above it, dripping a thick, shiny amber honey glaze onto the center of the chicken. In the background, another piece of fried chicken can be seen with a glass bowl filled with the same honey and a wooden honey dipper resting inside it. The tray surface is scattered with small crunchy crumbs and glossy honey spots, all set on a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

4 pieces Chicken Breasts (Thighs can be juicier if preferred)
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Black Pepper
0.5 tablespoon Nonstick Cooking Spray
1 cup Flour
0.5 cup Light Brown Sugar
2 large Eggs
2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
4 cups Cornflakes
1 teaspoon Paprika
2 teaspoons Seasoning Mix (salt, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper)
0.5 cup Honey
2 tablespoons Additional Hot Sauce
4 tablespoons Butter
0.25 cup Light Brown Sugar (for sauce)
2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Onion Powder
1 teaspoon Mustard Powder

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C). Crush the cornflakes into small pieces using a food processor or a rolling pin and set aside.
Step 2: Prepare three shallow bowls: one with flour and 0.5 cup light brown sugar mixed together, a second with whisked eggs combined with 2 tablespoons hot sauce, and a third bowl with the crushed cornflakes mixed with paprika and the seasoning mix.
Step 3: Slice and tenderize the chicken breasts to a uniform thickness. Season each piece with salt and black pepper.
Step 4: Coat each chicken piece by dredging it first in the flour mixture, then dipping it into the egg wash, and finally rolling it in the cornflake mixture until well coated.
Step 5: Arrange the coated chicken pieces on a greased baking sheet and lightly spray them with nonstick cooking spray to help achieve crispiness.
Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and crisp, and cooked through.
Step 7: While the chicken is baking, prepare the hot honey sauce by combining honey, additional hot sauce, butter, 0.25 cup light brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until the butter melts and ingredients are well blended.
Step 8: Once baked, drizzle the hot honey sauce over the crispy chicken before serving.

Tips & Variations

For a gluten-free option, substitute regular flour with almond flour and use gluten-free cornflakes.
Adjust the amount of hot sauce in the egg wash and sauce to tune the spiciness to your preference.
Using chicken thighs instead of breasts can make the dish juicier.
For a vegan version, replace eggs with flax eggs, honey with maple syrup, and butter with plant-based butter.

Storage

Store any leftover crispy hot honey chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes to regain crispiness. Avoid microwaving as it can make the coating soggy.

How to Serve

The dish features a white round plate with two pieces of crispy fried chicken. One piece is whole, golden brown with a rough, crunchy texture, topped with a drizzle of shiny, amber-colored sauce. The second piece is sliced into six thick strips, showing white juicy meat inside and the same crunchy crust outside also covered with sauce. To the right of the chicken, a small clear glass bowl holds bright orange sauce with a wooden honey dipper resting inside. Fresh green parsley leaves sit beside the bowl. The plate is set on a white marbled surface with a soft beige cloth partially visible at the top corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs can be used and often result in a juicier, more flavorful dish. Just be sure to tenderize and cook thoroughly.

How can I make this dish less spicy?

Reduce the amount of hot sauce in both the egg wash and the hot honey sauce, or omit it altogether for a milder, sweet honey chicken version.