This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
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.
Half Baked Harvest At Home
20+ new recipes for wholesome comfort food made with everyday ingredients. Pre-order today! HBH At Home will be released on Tuesday, February 23rd!
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.
Hey! So excited to try this one— what would you recommend as a healthier alternative to the corn flakes to still give the chicken that crunchy feel?
Thanks so much!
Hi Emma,
You could do panko, that should work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
The chicken itself was incredibly delicious and crunchy but the sauce was just too spicy for my kids so I have made it several times, just skip the sauce! Even great reheated in the air fryer.
Hey Kayla,
Happy Friday!!🍍🥥 Thanks a bunch for making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! Sorry about the sauce! xT
Looks delicious! One of my kids has an egg allergy.. is there something you’d recommend as a substitute? Will definitely be making this for the others in the family for now though.
Hey Morgan,
I think buttermilk would work well for you in place of the eggs! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
I made this last night and it was amazing! I did double dip the egg and cornflakes for a thicker crunchy layer, which perfectly used up the cornflake crumbs. We ate ours on buns with creamy coleslaw and pickles. Highly recommend!
Hi Rebekah,
Amazing!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was tasty for you, thanks a lot for giving it a try!🥑🥝 xT
What kind of hot sauce do you use?
Hey Em,
For this recipe, I like to use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
This was so good!! Definitely a crowd pleaser! I’m hooked on Half Baked Harvest!
Hey Anja,
Happy Wednesday!! Thank you so much for making this recipe and sharing your review, I am so glad it was delish! xT
This is completely delicious!! Made it this evening as part of chicken and waffles… My husband has already requested to have it again next week!
Hey Gina,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xx
This recipe was AMAZING!!!! I made this last week, and everyone LOVED it. We’re making it again this coming week because I’ve been thinking about it ever since 😄😋
Hey Tina,
Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xT
Made this for son and hubby. Delicious! I put it on our smoker at 400. It turned out beautifully. And the hot homey, just the perfect amount of heat. Everyone was blowing their nose through supper. Everyone has asked to put this on the list to make again. Tha k you!
Love this idea Michelle! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your comment! Have a great weekend! xT
If I’m not serving this immediately after making it rather a few hours, should I wait to pour the hot honey until right before serving?
Hi Ali,
Yes, I would wait until serving:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Do you really use chicken tenderloins for this? Because the pictures make it look like chicken cutlets. Chicken tenderloins are small and skinny.
Hey Katherine,
You could really use either one, this the shape that my grocery store cuts them in:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Does it come out spicy?
Hey Bree,
You bet! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
This was the BEST thing I’ve made in awhile. holy shit it was the star of the show!
Lol love to hear this Tess!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and sharing your review! xT
What would be a good side dish to with this? Any suggestions in making this to go on top of a salad?
Hey Heidi,
Sure, I would just follow the recipe as written and slice over your favorite salad. If not, my family loves this served with white rice. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
My family loved this! The chicken turned out juicy and crispy, and the hot honey sauce put it over the top. Will definitely be adding this to our collection. Have you tried it in the air fryer?
Hey Kelly,
Fantastic!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I’m so glad it was delish! I personally have not tried the air fryer but I think it has worked well for others! Have a great weekend:) xx