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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 you prepare the chicken in advance and bake it the next day or will the corn flake coating get too soggy to crisp up?
Always looking for do ahead recipes.
Thank you!
Hey Emily,
That would be fine to do, I would keep the chicken on a wire rack in the fridge:) Let me know how this recipe turns out, I hope it’s delish! xT
I edited this recipe quite a bit because I’m vegetarian, but wanted to let you and any interested parties know that this breading and hot honey combination work beautifully with frozen-and-thawed tofu (which has a chicken-like texture from the freezing!). I pan fried those rather than baked them. Made for a fantastic dinner with some veggie sides!
Hey Peggy,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that this recipe worked for you and thanks for sharing the substitutes that you made! xT
All 5 of my kids loved this (some without the hot honey) but it’s a winner! Very easy and great for a quick dinner!
Hey Sarah,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and thanks so much for making it! xT
My husband surprised me on a week night with this dish. He said it was super easy to make and we both loved the flavor and the right amount of heat. Thank you!!!!
Hey Yvonne,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend! 🏈
Just so damn delicious. Thank you for this one!
Hey Erica,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you:)
Literally the best chicken dish I’ve ever eaten! OBSESSED! Not necessary to coat chicken twice. Use a baking sheet that has a grate so chicken can circulate and get crunchy top and bottom!
Lol thanks so much Marley!! Love to hear you have been enjoying this recipe:) xT
Could I substitute panko breadcrumbs?
Hey Mary,
Sure, that would work for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Loved this! Great flavor. My family loved this. Definitely double coat. 🙂
Hey Kelli,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that your family enjoyed this recipe, thanks for making it:) xT
I just made this tonight, and it was amazing! The perfect amount of crispiness and heat–and the chicken was so tender. Simple steps with good ingredients=perfect recipe. This is a keeper!
Hey Elizabeth,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this dish and thanks so much for making it! xT
This was delicious! My 15 year old son was able to make it himself and the chicken got rave reviews from the teenage boys. Thank you for the recipe!
Hey Amelia,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xx
Used this recipe with Panko and it was pretty slimy. I’m wondering if I used too much of the egg coating. Good taste though
Hi Caitlin,
Hmmm sorry to hear this! Could be too much egg, could be the panko, also possibly the chicken! Let me know if I can help at all! xT
Made this tonight… delicious & so easy! Highly recommend!
Hey Jake,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was tasty! xx
Hard to find good crispy chicken recipes! This was so good. We made into sandwiches with coleslaw and pickles on brioche buns. The whole family loved.
Hey Erin,
Awesome!!🌼 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
Awesome, Tieghan! The only change I made was very little hot in the egg mixture and sauce (I live with a couple hot sauce wimps lol) Oh, and lucky me, I found corn flake crumbs at my grocery store. Thanks for tip on the double dip. Good news, there was one left over which I warmed, put in a bun and it was even better than a Chick FilA sandwich.
You rock.
Hey Marilou,
Lol perfect!! So glad you were able to adjust this to everyone’s liking and that it was enjoyed! Thanks for trying the recipe! xT
Hey there,
I used sriracha instead of hot sauce and it was FAB. Served with your kale Caesar salad and salad dressing. My neighbour and I loved this. The double breading is definitely the trick, and the hot honey was incredible.
Hey Ryan,
Awesome!!🌼 I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! xT
This was so good! It was simple, delicious and a good alternative to eating fried chicken! Only thing I did differently was spice the chicken and let set in the fridge for a few hours before breading and baking. 💓
Hey Jess,
Love it!! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! xT