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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!
Hello. Do we use pounded chicken breast and if so roughly how thin should they be please? Many thanks!
Hi Tina,
I did not pound my chicken breasts, but if yours are super thick, you could definitely pound them out a touch! I hope this helps! xx
Made this so many times and it’s a hit at our house! But tonight I went to make it and didn’t have Cornflakes! 😳 Panko breadcrumbs to the rescue! It was so yummy and delicious and didn’t make a huge difference.
Hey Kelly,
Awesome!! Thanks for making this recipe so often, love to hear that the panko breadcrumbs worked for you! Happy Friday! xT
This was one of the first hot honey chicken recipes I have ever made. I enjoyed it, but have tried many others over the years to compare. I keep coming back to this one, as it is the best! I cannot find anything as good as this one, love it as a sandwich or with a side. Time and time again this recipe comes out on top.
Hey Patrick,
Thanks so much for making this recipe so often and sharing your feedback, love to hear that it is always a hit! xT
I want to make these but confused on what chicken to use. It says tenderloin but those are skinny strips and your photos look like a chicken breast? Did you just use a breast and cut it thin ?
Hi there! You can use chicken breasts or tenders! 🙂 xT
Used chicken thighs cut into pieces and followed directions completely. Crunchy, tender, delicious meal. Everyone enjoyed it. Will make this one again. Thanks for another winner, winner chicken dinner!
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe! 🙂 xT
This recipe was easy and delicious! That honey sauce could be used for so many things. The sweet potato fries were a perfect match as a side dish. I have marked this recipe as a favorite and will be making it again for years to come.
Thanks so much for trying out the recipe!! Have a great week! xT
Looks fantastic! What would you suggest time and heat wise with an air fryer? Hoping for extra crunch!
Hey Laura! I don’t have an air fryer so I’m really not too familiar with them! So sorry! xT
My partner and I thoroughly enjoyed this!! The coating was super crisp and the inside of the chicken was super juicy. I added a bit more honey on top right before eating since I love extra sweetness with anything and everything. My partner ate it without the additional honey and absolutely loved the heat. I served it with sweet potato fries and it was perfect. We typically do not go for chicken dinners but this is one we will continue to make again and again. Thanks Tieghan!
Thank you so so much Tory! xT
Happy first day of October!! We just finished eating these. Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken.! We made them as sandwiches with bacon and Swiss cheese and we did pair them with sweet potato fries as suggested. Happy to report, this will become one of our go to dishes for Sunday football games! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Thank you so much! Have a great fall season! xT
So I forgot the olive oil, but this recipe is so good, that I have to remake it with the olive oil for that extra crunch because HOLYYYY. Plus I’m going to double the amount of sauce made. Just because I’d love to soak everything in it. It’s so delicious. I served it with loaded Mashed taters & *chef kiss* it was gorgeous. Thank you so much for this delish recipe
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
YUMMY!!! Absolutely loved it! For me the heat in the honey was a bit too much so would dial it back a bit but can’t wait to make it again!
Thank you for taking the time to try out this recipe! So glad to hear you enjoyed it! xT
This was an absolute hit! Will definitely keep in the line up. I added a little butter to the sauce to help the spices meld a bit.
Thanks so so much for trying out this recipe! Have a lovely day! xT
How do you get the under side of the chicken crispy?? Every time I use parchment paper the top gets crisp but the bottom is sogged out?
Hi there! You could try cooking directly on the sheet pan, sometimes that helps it get crispier! xT
I def can’t wait to make this recipe, it sounds awesome!
Question, the video makes it look like cutlets, not tenderloins. Does it matter, or would u think there’d be a difference in cooking time? Ty!
Hi there! Either works just fine! 🙂 xT
SO delicious! I have used this recipe twice now and it has quickly become one of my boyfriend and I’s favorites 🙂
Thank you so so much for trying out the recipe! I really hope you loved it! 🙂