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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!
Does this reheat well in the microwave? Wanting to make it for my husband to take to work!
Hi Carley,
I don’t think the coating will be as crunchy, but it will definitely still be yummy! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Absolutely delicious!!! I did use seasoned panko instead of the corn flakes.
Chicken came out crispy and the spicy honey sauce was delicious!!!
Thank you for the recipe !!!!!
Hi Kathy,
Fantastic!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, so glad to hear it was a hit! Have a great weekend😎
Total hit!
Hi Stephanie,
Happy Friday!!🍉🥭 I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks for making it and sharing your comment! xT
I was so excited to make this, but also worried because in the past I’ve been let down by recipes. But ooh my! This was a winner! I will be making this again without a doubt. The breading had a crunch even after the sauce was added and the breading stayed on pretty well! I did put it in the fridge after breading it before putting it in the oven for an hour though. I’ve found that helps breading from falling off when you got to eat. It had such a nice flavor too! This did not disappoint.
Hi Erika,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:)
We love this chicken, so easy and delicious. I spray the chicken with olive oil cooking spray before I put it in the oven. I find this is a little more even than drizzling with olive oil. Beware! This chicken is addicting!
Hi Patty,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great weekend:)
Love this crispy chicken – both with and without the sauce
Hi Mary,
Happy Wednesday!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! xT
the sauce was so bad 👎
Hi Lola,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, so sorry to hear the sauce was not enjoyed! Please let me know if there is anything that I can help with! xx
Just made this tonight! It was delicious!! I added red pepper flakes (which I may omit or use less of next time, since my bf is a pansy lol) and I subbed sriracha for the hot sauce. I don’t know how to cook so I rely on people like you posting recipes haha. Thanks! I’ll be sure to check out the others.
Hi Jae,
Happy Sunday!!🏖️🌤️ I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This has become a weekly, sometimes twice a week meal in my house! I’m a terrible cook so the fact that my husband asks me to make this is a big deal lol! I get lazy sometimes and just use good quality organic frozen chicken chunks and just make the sauce. We like to make chicken and waffles with it. The sauce is amazing for basting grilled chicken as well. And a good little dab on a Hawaiian burger isn’t bad either. We use it on everything. It’s the best!!
Hi Jenny,
Amazing!! So glad to hear that this recipe always turns out well for you and thanks for making it so often! Have a great weekend:) xx
Made this tonight- absolutely delicious. We want to save the leftovers to use for sandwiches- how would you suggest reheating to keep the outside crisp/crunchy(the best part in my opinion!)
Hi Chelsea,
Happy Friday!! I’m thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a lot for making it and your comment! You could pop it on a skillet to crisp it up!😎🍑 xx
My 9 year old loved this. He said he would have it for every meal. So yummy!
Hi Traci,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that you have been enjoying this recipe and appreciate your notes and feedback! xT
We really enjoyed this recipe! We cooked them in the air fryer at 360 for 8 minutes flip then 5-8 more minutes.
Hey Kayla,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xx
Yum!
Used Chex cereal.
a keeper.
thanks!
Hi there,
Happy Monday!!😎 I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Hey I was just curious what the macros would be for this? Only the calories is listed. Thank you!
Hi Noah,
So sorry, I do not have that info! Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
I always buy the cornflakes already crushed. How many cups of crushed should I use?
Hi Susan,
I would say about 3 cups. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT