Description
This Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken is the ultimate sweet, spicy, and crispy dish that’s easy to make and perfect for any meal. Oven-baked with a crunchy cornflake coating, it delivers the texture of deep-fried chicken without the extra oil. The homemade hot honey sauce, infused with cayenne, chipotle, and garlic, adds a delicious sticky-sweet heat that makes every bite irresistible. Serve it with rice, salad, fries, or as a sandwich for a satisfying meal!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crispy Chicken
- 6 cups cornflakes, crushed
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for drizzling
For the Hot Honey Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 2–3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1–3 teaspoons cayenne pepper (adjust for spice)
- ¾ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- Fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a wire rack.
- Crush the cornflakes in a food processor or ziplock bag and mix with Parmesan, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt.
- Whisk the eggs in a bowl and stir in the hot sauce.
- Dredge the chicken in the egg mixture, then coat with the cornflake mixture. For extra crispiness, double dip by repeating the process.
- Arrange the coated chicken on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken bakes, heat honey in a saucepan over low heat, then stir in hot sauce, cayenne, chipotle chili, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Simmer for 2 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and drizzle generously with the warm hot honey sauce.
- Garnish with fresh herbs and serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- For extra crunch, broil the chicken for 2 minutes at the end.
- To make it less spicy, reduce the cayenne and use mild hot sauce.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat in the oven at 375°F for 10 minutes or in an air fryer at 375°F for 5-7 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American