Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

If you’re craving a crispy, sweet-and-fiery dinner that everyone will rave about, this Hot Honey Chicken is about to become your new obsession! With a crunchy cornflake coating and a lip-tingling drizzle of hot honey sauce, every bite is a little celebration of bold flavors and comfort.

this …

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredient list for this Hot Honey Chicken might look classic, but each element is key to nailing the irresistible crunch and flavor explosion. From crisp cornflakes to runny honey, here’s how every component works its magic.

• Chicken breasts: Sliced into thin steaks for quick, even cooking and max surface area for that incredible coating.
• Plain (all-purpose) flour: Helps the coating stick and gives the chicken its crave-worthy crust.
• Salt & black pepper: The simple, can’t-skip seasonings that bring out all the flavors.
• Garlic powder & paprika: Garlic adds savory depth, while paprika brings subtle warmth and gorgeous color.
• Dried thyme: Adds a lovely herbal note that pairs beautifully with honey.
• Eggs: Whisked and used to bind everything together before breading.
• Cornflakes: Crushed for unbeatable crunch; don’t use pre-crumbed—they’re not nearly as crispy!
• Neutral oil (avocado or rapeseed): Mixed into the crumbs for golden oven-baked perfection.
• Runny honey: The base of your spicy-sweet sauce—choose good quality for the best flavor.
• Hot pepper sauce: Brings that signature heat and tang; adjust the type and amount to suit your spice tolerance.
• Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps the sauce cling seductively to the chicken.
• Smoked paprika & cayenne pepper: For smoky-sweet depth and fire—more cayenne means more heat!
• Maldon salt flakes (optional): For a salty finishing touch and a little crunch.
• Pickled gherkins (optional): Serve on the side for a bright, tangy contrast to the sticky chicken.

Variations

Hot Honey Chicken is endlessly versatile; it’s easy to tailor for dietary needs, preferences, or whatever you have in the pantry. Here are some fun twists to play with—make it your own!

• Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken: Instead of the oven, cook the chicken in batches in your air fryer for extra speed and supreme crispiness.
• Gluten-Free: Swap in gluten-free flour and cornflakes for a completely gluten-free experience—no flavor sacrifice required.
• Extra-Spicy: Amp up the cayenne in the sauce, or add hot sauce to the flour mixture for a fierier bite.
• Chicken Thighs: Use boneless, skinless thighs for extra juicy results—the technique and timings stay the same.

How to Make Hot Honey Chicken

Step 1: Prep the Chicken

Start by preheating your oven to 200°C/400°F (fan) and lining a large baking sheet with parchment. Then, carefully slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 8 thin steak-like fillets—don’t worry if they’re not perfectly even, as the thinness is what delivers ultra-crispy edges!

Step 2: Set Up Your Dredging Station

Grab three shallow bowls: in one, mix flour with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and thyme. In the second, whisk the eggs. In the third, add your crushed cornflakes, then drizzle in the oil and stir to coat—the oil helps your coating crisp up beautifully while baking.

Step 3: Coat the Chicken

Working one piece at a time, dredge the chicken first through the flour mixture (tap off excess!), then into the egg, and finally into the oily cornflake crumbs. Press lightly so the coating sticks to every nook. Lay coated chicken on your prepared tray in a single layer.

Step 4: Bake to Crispy Perfection

Bake your chicken for 20–25 minutes, until it’s deeply golden and the coating is shatteringly crisp. You’ll be tempted by fragrant spices and the aroma of baked cornflake crunch—trust me, this is the anticipation stage!

Step 5: Make That Hot Honey Sauce

While the chicken bakes, combine honey, hot pepper sauce, butter, smoked paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder in a saucepan. Warm over medium heat, stirring until the butter melts and everything mingles into a glossy, fiery elixir. Turn off the heat—your sauce is ready to drizzle!

Step 6: Plate Up and Sauce Generously

As soon as that Hot Honey Chicken emerges, arrange the fillets on plates. Drizzle with plenty of hot honey sauce (serve the rest on the side for serious dip lovers). If you’re feeling fancy, sprinkle with Maldon salt flakes and offer a couple of pickled gherkins for a perfect tangy finish.

How to Serve Hot Honey Chicken

Garnishes

Go for a sprinkle of flaky sea salt, a finishing drizzle of the hot honey sauce, and a scatter of freshly chopped parsley or tiny thyme leaves. For a fun twist, serve with a wedge of lemon or a few thinly sliced pickled gherkins to cut the richness.

Side Dishes

This Hot Honey Chicken absolutely sings alongside creamy mashed potatoes, a crisp green salad, coleslaw, or buttery corn on the cob. If you’re feeling cozy, try it with fluffy rice or toss it into wraps with shredded lettuce for an easy crowd-pleaser.

Creative Ways to Present

Try piling the slices onto a platter for family-style sharing with a bowl of extra hot honey sauce on the side. Or, for parties, cut the cooked chicken into strips and serve as fun “Hot Honey Chicken dippers” with toothpicks and dipping bowls—a guaranteed hit at any gathering!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftover Hot Honey Chicken? Lucky you! Simply let the chicken cool fully, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep the sauce in a separate container in the fridge—it stays good for up to a week and makes a delicious condiment for other dishes, too.

Freezing

For longer storage, freeze the crispy cooked chicken in a single layer, then transfer to an airtight bag or container once solid. Defrost overnight in the fridge, and reheat in the oven (or air fryer) at 180°C/350°F until sizzling and crisp, about 15–20 minutes. Freezing the sauce isn’t recommended, but it keeps so well in the fridge that you won’t need to.

Reheating

To restore that glorious texture, always reheat Hot Honey Chicken in an oven or air fryer, uncovered. Ten to fifteen minutes at 180°C/350°F usually does the trick. Give the sauce a gentle reheat in a saucepan or even the microwave, stirring often to keep it silky.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

I truly hope you’ll give this Hot Honey Chicken a try—the crunchy coating and sweet-heat drizzle are total showstoppers. Gather friends or family, serve up a platter, and get ready for empty plates and lots of happy smiles. Enjoy every spicy, sticky, joyful bite!

Print