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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.
Do you think Frosted Flakes would work? The only kind of gluten free corn flakes I can find is frosted ones…
Hey Rachel,
Hmmm, they will work, but they will definitely make this chicken sweet. You could also use potato chips! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
I made this for my husband and he was so impressed! It was very yummy! Spicy and bold! Love the recommendation of the sweet potato fries to go with it. This is the 2nd variation I’ve made of your ranch and it really does make a difference! No store bought ranch for me anymore! Thank you!
Hi Cindy,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xx
So delicious! Three teenagers & my husband all raved about it. “Tastes like it’s from a restaurant, mom!”
Hey Susan,
Happy Sunday!!❄️ I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for trying it out and sharing your feedback! xx
We made these last night using Sriracha for the hot sauce. I went on the high side for all the heat additions & will tone it down next time, but it was delicious! For a simple on-the-go take next time, I might just drizzle some Mike’s Hot Honey instead of dirtying another pot. Thank you for all your delicious recipes.
Hey Julie,
I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
So good!! I used frosted flakes instead of cornflakes. (My fave chicken from a restaurant is Cap’n Crunch crusted.) They turned out so crunchy, so delicious.
Hey Sarah,
I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
This was very good! Just had for dinner tonight. Make sure to make the hot honey sauce. The family enjoyed!
Hey Holly,
I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
Did you thin your chicken breasts before coating them?
Hey Monica,
I didn’t just because I used small chicken breasts, but if your chicken is large you can totally thin it or slice in half! Let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Made this recipe tonight!!! Sooo delicious !
Hey Krista,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
Karen, you most likely reduced the serving size adjustment. The default should be for 6 servings. If you reduce the serving size it will reduce the eggs and other ingredients in a wonky way sometimes.
What’s with 0.70 tsp etc?? I wanted to make this tonight, but not if I have to convert hundredths to teaspoons and cups! Fix please!
Adjust the servings to show 6 servings.
Hi Patricia,
So sorry, for which ingredient are you seeing this measurement? None of the measurements are 0.70 tsp. Please let me know how I can help! xT
I’m not getting these measurements!!! WHY are they like this?? 0.33 egg??????
Where does it say that?
The recipe says 2 large eggs, beaten. I didn’t see it say .33 egg anywhere in this.
It says 2 eggs. Where did you see the .33 measurements?
I’m confused as well. I hope someone can help with this. I want to try this.
Hi Katherine,
So sorry, I have checked this recipe on the back end and on multiple browsers and I am not seeing these measurements. Did you reduce the serving size from 6? If so, I would use 1 full egg:) I hope this helps! xx
Hi Karen,
So sorry, I am not sure where you are seeing these measurements, but this recipe calls for 2 eggs:) Please let me know if I can help in any other way! xx
Can this be made in an air fryer? If so, what temp and how long? Thanks
Hi Cathy,
I’ve not tested this recipe in the air fryer so I can’t say for sure on the temp and time, but I bet it would work well for you! Let me know if you give it a try! xx
I am wondering the same thing!! Please share if you try it!
Any suggestions on
How to make it without egg? We have a bad egg allergy in the house and I know he would love this if I could find a way to make it without. Thanks!
Mayo works great as a binder and leaves no taste. If you have an eggless kind you like.
Hey Jessica,
I think buttermilk will work well for you in place of the egg. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this recipe! xx
Made this tonight. The flavour was amazing. Would very
much recommend this recipe!!
Hey there,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! I love to hear that it was enjoyed and appreciate the feedback:) xT
Made this tonight. So good! So glad I took the extra minute to make the hot honey to drizzle on top. We loved that sweet heat. All of your recipes are home runs in our house…thank you!
Hey Shawna,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making so many recipes and giving this one a try, so glad to hear it was enjoyed! xx
Loved this dish! After weeks of family traditional holiday dishes (yummy), I was anxious to get back to my Tiegand night dishes. This was perfect! Thank you!! E-
Hey Eileen,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you trying this recipe and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit!⛄️ xT