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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 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 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!
Details
The coating is key. 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 becoming crispy as it bakes.
Next, I dredge the chicken through eggs beaten together with hot sauce, then through the crumbs. 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 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!
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.
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!
Can I use chicken cutlets? Thank you
Yep, definitely! xT
This was outstanding!!! Will make again and again. Perfect with a simple salad, including pears, Parmesan cheese and lemon and olive oil dressing.
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! So happy to hear you enjoyed it! xT
I’m in love with this chicken! I followed every instruction to the T and paired it with coconut rice and cilantro. It was savory and all of the spices blended well together.
Thank you so so much!! Love to hear that this chicken was enjoyed! xT
This was so good! Loved the crunch! I made sweet potatoes and sprinkled them with cinnamon. It was the perfect pairing with the hot honey!
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! So happy to hear you enjoyed it! xT
Made this recipe tonight and served with basmati, rice and broccoli… The chicken was absolutely delicious! Just when you think it might be too hot it calms down… Loved it!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe! Hope you’re having a lovely weekend! 🙂 xT
I followed recipe exactly and the chicken wasn’t crunchy at all?? The flavor was good though!
Oh no I’m so sorry about that! Hmmm I would maybe turn up the heat for a bit to get that nice crunch on it?
Such a great recipe. We love it!! I did the double coating and found that I needed twice the egg mixture.
I have a question. The sauce I felt like has a raw spice flavor. Should I have cooked it longer? TY
Hi there! I would maybe cook the sauce a little longer if you feel like the flavors didn’t fully develop! xT
Have made this twice now and we love it. It has the right amount of crunch and the heat is perfect. Will make again, again, again. Get the idea!
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! I’m SO glad you enjoyed it! xT
I have to be COMPLETELY honest, my wife just made these…..AND BOYYYY, THEY ARE 11 OUT OF 10! The only difference is she used a cast iron instead of the oven.
Awesome! Love to hear you enjoyed this chicken! xT
This recipe is AMAZING. We like to make sandwiches out of the chicken and toast the buns in the oven. We use Franks “XTra Hot” hot sauce to add more spice. Incredible and so easy to make – a family favorite!
Thank you so much Sydney! xT
This looks so good, can I swap chicken breasts with chicken thighs instead?
You might have to cook a bit longer, but that should work well! xT
This was fabulous!! My husband loves hot stuff and this was right up his alley. Easy peasey!!
Love to hear this! Thank you so so much! xT
How do we reheat?
Hi Tarik! I would recommend reheating in the oven to crisp up again or maybe try an air fryer if you have one! xT
I made this for dinner for myself and my boyfriend!! It was so good and pretty easy to make!!! It definitely has a kick to it!! I put the chicken in the oven for 25 minutes but honestly I think 20 minutes would be perfect!! We will definitely be making this again :))
Amazinggg! Love to hear this! Thank you! xT
This is the best fried/baked chicken recipe ever!!
Thank you so so much! xT