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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.
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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
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!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Such a great simple recipe that can be done on weeknights! We made this last week and are making it again this week. The olive oil trick really works with keeping the chicken crispy in the oven. My boys (2 & 4) loved it as well!
Hey Devon,
Perfect!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
Tasty recipe!
Thanks so much Becky!!
10/10 – absolutely loved! Reviewed this (and few other HBH recipes) in my What I Made This Week roundup! https://whatnatisdoing.com/recipe-roundup-what-i-made-this-week-1-22-23/
Thanks so much for making the recipes Natalie!! So glad to hear you enjoyed them:) Thanks for the review! xx
Made this tonight for my family because my mom saw it on TikTok and had to have it! It was an absolute smash hit. So delicious. I double breaded the chicken and it came out so crispy and flavorful. Will definitely be making it again.
Hey Caroline,
Perfect!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
So good! Spicy, so lower the hot sauce if you don’t want too much. But even for spicy sensitive person this was 10/10. Also easy to make with minimal mess.
Hey Allison,
Perfect!! I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
This has to be among our most favorite baked chicken recipes EVER! The crunch, the sauce, the flavors combined…absolutely wonderful! Paired with home made Tater planks and Balsamic Roasted Brussels! Thank you Tieghan😊
Hey Diane,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
Made this with a side of rice and some veggies. Sooo good. I used panko bc that’s all had on hand. Should have added a photo but non was left !
Hey Kathryn,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
So yummy! Thank you! I cut the chicken up and baked for 15 mins as the breasts I had were kind of large. Turned out great! Thank you!!
Hey Kate,
Perfect!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and thanks so much for making it! Happy Sunday! xx
Absolutely amazing recipe! I used this chicken for sandwiches on potato rolls with arugula and homemade ranch dressing. So yummy and I love the ease of it being baked ! I’ll definitely be making this one again!!
Hey Hayley,
Happy Sunday!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xT
Hello,
I don’t have hot sauce on hand and our family shys away from anything too spicy, could I leave out the hot sauce and still end up with great flavour?
Hey there,
You might like one of my other chicken recipes:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-chicken-nuggets/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-boneless-honey-bbq-chicken-wings/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-spicy-ranch-chicken-fingers/
I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Okay.. Yum! This recipe was so good. Have had it in mind for a few weeks and finally got around to it. I think next time I may skip the olive oil drizzle. Surprisingly, areas with olive oil were more soft than areas without when coming out the oven instead of crispy. Still phenomenal though. I also put them back in the oven for 2 mins after putting the honey sauce on.
Hey Alysia,
Happy Saturday!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out and sharing your feedback! xx
Yummy, yummy, yummy!!
Whole family loved it! (Not an easy task!) The chicken was crispy and delicious and the sauce was super yummy! Will definitely be putting this in the rotation!! Thanks as always for sharing!
Hey Rhonda,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:)
This recipe is delicious! I’m bringing some to my son tomorrow..he saw the photo and thought it looked really good! I made the honey hot sauce with Siracha by mistake so I made another batch with Frank’s hot sauce..both were actually very good..the Siracha one tasted a little smokier and was slightly thicker while the Frank’s hot sauce was a little bit more vinegary.
Thanks Tieghan for another wonderful recipe!!
Hey Barbara,
Perfect! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback on sauces, so glad to hear it turned out well! xx
So good! Plenty spicy using 2 instead of 3 T of hot sauce in the sauce. And no cayenne. served it over arugula with side of ranch dressing.
Hey Laura,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for trying it out! xT
Loved the chicken! My sisters made it and didn’t add as much hot sauce so that’s what I did! It was just spicy enough and the sauce was sooo good♥️ I was surprised how crunchy the cheese was!! Yummy
Hey Lisa,
Happy Friday!!⛄️❄️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT