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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.
Super easy and beyond delicious. This chicken dinner had my Mother-In-Law asking for the recipe…that’s a win in my book! 🤌🏾😅
Loveee to hear that! That’s definitely a win haha!
Discovered a new love for corn flakes. Definitely going to use them again. This recipe was absolutely delicious. The honey made it extra tasty!!!
Yay! So happy this recipe was enjoyed! xT
Could I use chicken thighs? The recipes calls for tenders but these pieces look more like thighs? Thanks!
Hi! I usually use tenders or breasts that are pounded out a bit! But I’m sure thighs would be fine as long as they are boneless! xT
This was delicious! I overcooked the chicken a smidge but the flavors were great! I did a double breading like you suggested. So crunchy! The sauce is one I’ll use for other recipes! Thanks for sharing this!
So glad you enjoyed this chicken Emily! xT
Loved this! I didn’t make the hot honey, I bought a jar of it. Worked perfectly and it was delicious!
Awesome, so glad you enjoyed this chicken! xT
This chicken has a great crunch even though it’s baked. I like spice but will probably reduce the heat the next time I make this
Thank you Carol! xT
I’d like to use up some hot honey I already bought at the store for this recipe…..would I just mix a couple tablespoons of the store bought hot honey with olive oil or something and pour over the chicken at the end?
Hey Linda! I think that should be fine, let me know if you give it a try! xT
I have made this dish twice now and dare i say it was even better the second time.
Thank you Jessica! xT
this was delicious! Definitely a keeper! Everyone loved it!
Thanks so much! Glad to hear this recipe is a keeper! xT
This recipe was so delicious and easy to make! A few things we did differently – filleted the chicken, and used the chicken for a sandwich in a burger bun. We also added pickles for a little salty tangyness and it was a great addition! We even made extra chicken without the hot honey to save for pasta and salads. Very good!
Hey! So happy to hear this recipe was enjoyed! Thanks for giving it a try! xT
I have to be COMPLETELY honest, my wife just made these…..AND BOYYYY, THEY ARE 11 OUT OF 10! The only difference is she used a cast iron instead of the oven.
These look amazing. But the chicken looks so round to be a chicken tender, which are normally long. Did you pound them out?
Hi there! They were chicken breasts that I pounded out a bit! xT
I used thighs and accidentally cooked them a tad too long but this came out very tasty regardless and was an easy weeknight meal that everyone enjoyed!
So glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed! Have a great day! xT
Hi tieghan. The recipe says to add the hot sauce and chicken in a bowl I’m confused as too how much? Because then it says to make the sauce separately adding more hot sauce so just trying to make sure I make this correctly! Thank you
Hey Taylor! So sorry for the confusion! You put 2 tablespoons of hot sauce with the chicken, and then another 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce to make the hot honey sauce! Hope that makes sense! xT
I also didn’t understand the chicken with the hot sauce. Didn’t you beat it up with the eggs?
It sounds delicious and I look forward to making it. 😋
Sounds yummy…it reminds me of a Cooking Light recipe from the 90s called Honey Pecan Crusted Chicken.
Thank you! xT
hi teigan.. i dont have chicken breast tenderloins but can i use chicken thighs for this?
thanks and cant wait to make it:)
Hey, you can use chicken thighs but you just might have to change the cook time a little bit! xT
I made this recipe last night for a group of ten. I prepared the chicken as described a couple of hours before baking it. I stacked the corn flake chicken in a 9×13 pan and placed in the refridgerator. When guests arrived I carfully put corn flake coated chicken on sheet pans and baked per directions. They turned out better than perfect. I don’t like to be in the kitchen preparing while entertaining. I would like any tips you have for preparing meals in advance. Greetings from Westlake, Ohio
Hey Donna! Thank you so so much, I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for all the details with how the recipe turned out for you! xT
I too always love to know what can be done in advance for all recipes. I entertain & have over night guests a lot so I’m always looking for make ahead recipes. I wish all recipes would include these tips. I’m making this recipe tonight and look forward to it. Thank you!
Thanks for your make ahead tips!