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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.
I’m not usually one to make a comment, however this recipe was exceptional. It’s one of our favorites. Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much, Carly:) So glad your family enjoys this recipe, thanks for making it so often! xT
What kind of hot sauce?
Hey Linda,
I like to use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
So good, have made this twice now and the family loves it! I just use Mike’s Hot Honey because we always have that in the house.
Thanks so much, Kristina! So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thank you for giving it a try! Enjoy the short week:) x
Have you ever tried this as a pasta or do you think it would be good?
Hi Brook,
So sorry, I’ve never tried this as a pasta, I’m not sure how that would work! Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xT
Can you cook this with an Air Fryer? If so, what temp. and time would you recommend?
Hey Natalie,
Sure, I bet that would work well for you, but since I haven’t tested this I don’t know the exact time or temp. Please let me know if you give this recipe a try! xT
This is on my weekly rotation! So aamzing and full of flavor! You can totally tailor the amount of cayenne to your liking. Such a crowd pleaser! Make it!!
Hey Lauren,
Amazing! Thanks for making this recipe so often and your feedback, so glad to hear it is always enjoyed! xT
This is such an easy and yummy recipe. I often substitute the chicken with Dorado fillets, and it is always a big crowd pleaser.
Hey Corryn,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out nicely for you, thanks for making it! xT
Yummy! But what a waste of cornflakes. I had like half of the cornflake breading leftover. I recommend only doing half of what the recipe calls for. Also, I love spice and 1-3 tsp of cayenne is way too much. I would say start with 1/4 tsp.
Hi Katherine,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback! Sorry to hear you had so many leftover cornflakes. Glad you enjoyed the flavors! xT
So easy and delicious! The hot honey sauce was amazing!
Hey Katie,
Love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thank you so much for making it and your comment! xT
Would using chicken thighs work as well?
Hi Sarah,
Yes, you may just need to add some cook time to the thighs. I hope you love this recipe! xT
Love this chicken and so easy to make. The hot honey sauce is perfect.
Hey Denise,
Wonderful! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your comment! So glad to hear it turned out well! x
This was freaking delicious! My whole family loved it and we will be making this a regular in our house! 🤤 I made it mild for my kids, but they said they would love some heat next time! Yay!
Lol thanks so much, Michelle! Love to hear that your family enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! xT
I’ve made this recipe for my family twice now. WoW!!!! So good!!! Even my daughter, who is the pickiest eater on the planet, enjoyed it!
Hey Cherie,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Happy Monday! xx
Would this still be yummy without the spice? My kiddos will NOT like the space lol
Hey Rebecca,
Totally, that would be just fine for you to do! Your kiddos might also like these recipes:
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-chicken-nuggets/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/baked-boneless-honey-bbq-chicken-wings/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/pretzel-honey-balsamic-chicken/
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/crunchy-maple-dijon-chicken/
I hope this helps! xT
Looks amazing! Could we substitute Cornflakes for Panko, and is it a 1:1 ratio?
Hey Whitney,
Sure, I would use an equal amount of crushed corn flakes. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
I make it without adding the hot sauce or the honey sauce and my kiddo eats it!
This was loved by the whole family. Chicken was so crunchy but moist on the inside. Sauce was delicious.
Hey Jenn,
Happy Sunday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xx
Hi Tieghan! Was curious what chicken you used. The recipe says chicken tenderloins but the pic looks more like chicken breasts, were they boneless and skinless?
Hoping to make this tonight! Looks so good.
Thank you 😊
Hi! I was curious what chicken you used? The recipe calls for chicken tenderloins.. but the pic looks more like chicken breast? Were they boneless and skinless? Just looking for the same result 😊 thanks!
Hi Tagen,
You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xT