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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!
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. 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!
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
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!
Absolutely delicious! This definitely will be a regular on our menu. My husband and I had it for dinner last night with tater tots. We will have leftovers today or tomorrow for lunch, but use the chicken for sandwiches. Then we thought we could use leftovers in salads. What a delicious recipe! Thank you!
Hi Rita,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! Have a great Monday! xT
Made last night with boneless , skinless chicken thighs and it was delicious !
Hey Jean,
Happy Wednesday!!🫐🍒🍓 I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and your feedback! xT
Delicious!! Curious what sides you are all doing with this?
Thanks so much Cynthia!! I like to do white rice or homemade French fries! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
So crunchy & delicious! It’s a family “go-to” now!
Hi Jenn,
Love to hear this!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad it was enjoyed! xT
Love it! I made it again yesterday for the “hundredth” time. So easy, tasty and without frying. I love spice and what is nice is that if you are making for a few people you can adjust the spice level per cutlet for those who don’t like the heat.
Hi Dennie,
Happy Monday!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for trying it and your comment!🌼🌸 xx
Hey! Any way to make this dairy free? Can I sub the cheese?
Hi Helen,
Sure, you could just skip the cheese, no big deal:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This look delicious!
Can I substitute chicken breasts for the tenders?
Hi Julie,
Sure, you will just want to bake them longer to ensure they are fully cooked:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xT
This was amazing– I made extra to put in the freezer for quick dinners with the grandkids
Hi Kate,
Happy Friday!!🫐🍓 I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for your comment and making it! xT
So Yum! My husband really enjoyed this recipe! I’ll be putting it on the menu often!
Hi Rebekah,
Happy Friday!!🫐🍓 I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for your comment and making it! xT
Sooo delicious!! Will be making again! Curious if there’s a way to keep it crispy after I add the sauce? Also, I made half with one coating of breading, and half with two coats. The bottoms of the chicken with one coating were a bit soggy. Then with the sauce the tops got soggy as well. Still delicious but is there a way to prevent this?
Hi Cait,
Thanks so much for making this recipe! I would try baking on a wire rack on top of the baking sheet, that will help with keeping everything crispy. Let me know if that helps at all! xx
Found this on Pinterest, and had to come on here and write a review! It was so good, I’m going to be making that hot honey for everything!
Thanks so much Teagen! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and I appreciate you making it! xT
I LOVE your recipes! Since my husband is vegan and my kiddos are vegetarian, I am wondering if you think this would work for tofu or seitan. Thanks!
Hi Audrey,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
I made this for dinner tonight with the sweet potato fries. It was delicious! My husband loved it too! He went for seconds! A keeper!
Hi there,
Wonderful!! I am thrilled to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Have a great weekend:)
Winner! Fast, easy and packed with flavor!
Thanks so much Carol!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you making it! Happy Friday!
Looks amazing! Do you think this will work well in the air fryer?
Thanks Yassmeen!! Yes, this recipe should be great to do in the air fryer! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
How long would you recommend cooking the chicken in the air fryer? And at what temp? I’ve made before in the oven and it was delicious!
Hi Lucy,
So sorry, I honestly don’t know a time or temp with the air fryer as I have never tested that. It should work well for you though! Let me know how it works! xT