Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 cbuttermilk
- 1 tspsalt
- 2 lbboneless
skinless chicken breasts, or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 3 ccornflakes
finely crushed, or panko breadcrumbs
- ½ call-purpose flour
- 2 tspsalt
- 2 tsppaprika
- 1 ½ tspgarlic powder
- 1 tspground mustard powder
- 1 tspfreshly ground black pepper
- ½ choney
- 1 tspcrushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tbspapple cider vinegar
Directions
- 1
Add 1 cup buttermilk and 1 teaspoon salt to large bowl. Whisk to incorporate ingredients, then submerge 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts in buttermilk mixture and cover bowl. Place bowl in refrigerator and let chicken marinate at least 1 hour, but no more than 8 hours.
- 2
Toward end of marinating time, preheat oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- 3
Add 3 cups cornflakes, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to shallow bowl. Mix with fork to blend cornflakes and spices together.
- 4
One by one, remove chicken from buttermilk mixture. Let any excess buttermilk drip back into bowl, then dredge chicken in cornflake mixture. Lightly press down on chicken to make sure breading covers completely, then flip chicken over and repeat on other side. Transfer coated chicken to baking sheet and repeat until all chicken has been coated.
- 5
Lightly spray tops of breaded chicken with cooking spray. Place baking sheet in preheated oven and bake 15 minutes.
- 6
After 15 minutes, carefully remove baking sheet from oven. Use tongs to flip chicken breasts over. Return baking sheet to oven and bake 10 to 15 minutes more, or until chicken reaches internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit.
- 7
While chicken bakes, heat small saucepan over medium-low heat. When saucepan is warm, add ½ cup honey, 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes, and ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar to saucepan. Whisk constantly until mixture begins to simmer, then remove saucepan from heat. Set saucepan aside to cool, or transfer honey to small bowl or glass jar and let cool.
- 8
Once chicken reaches internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit, remove baking sheet from oven and set aside. Let chicken rest on baking sheet 5 minutes, then divide chicken into desired portions. Top with hot honey sauce and serve with desired sides.
Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 2 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Dreaming of incredibly crispy chicken with a tantalizing sweet and spicy kick, all made easily in your own kitchen? This Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken recipe is your answer, delivering restaurant-quality flavor and texture from the oven, making it a perfect lighter option for any night of the week.
This recipe stands out by transforming a classic fried chicken concept into a healthier, oven-baked masterpiece without sacrificing a bit of flavor or crunch. The brilliance lies in using finely crushed cornflakes for the breading, which creates an exceptionally crispy crust that rivals its deep-fried cousins. This technique, combined with the bold, simple hot honey sauce made from just three key ingredients, ensures a dish that’s both easy to make and utterly delicious, delivering that craveable sweet and spicy kick in every bite.
When you pull this Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken from the oven, you'll be greeted by beautifully golden, incredibly crunchy chicken, each piece shimmering with that irresistible glaze. The inside remains wonderfully moist and tender, a perfect counterpoint to the shatteringly crisp exterior. The hot honey sauce delivers a delightful balance of sweetness from the honey, a subtle tang from the apple cider vinegar, and a gentle warmth from the crushed red pepper flakes, adjustable to your preference. It’s a truly satisfying main course that's surprisingly simple to master.
One of the joys of this recipe is its flexibility. If you prefer, boneless, skinless chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts, offering a slightly richer flavor profile. For the breading, if cornflakes aren't on hand, panko breadcrumbs make an excellent substitute, providing a similar satisfying crispness. Don't be shy about adjusting the crushed red pepper flakes in the hot honey sauce to match your personal spice preference – from a gentle warmth to a more fiery kick.
Serve this flavorful Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken as the star of your next family dinner. It pairs beautifully with a fresh, vibrant green salad to cut through the richness, or alongside roasted sweet potatoes for a complete and comforting meal.