Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken (Printable)
Golden crispy chicken with sweet spicy honey glaze delivers irresistible crunch and bold flavors in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Crunchy Coating
05 - 2 cups cornflakes, crushed (about 2.5 oz)
06 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (about 4 oz)
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
09 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
10 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
→ Dredging
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1/4 cup water
→ Hot Honey Drizzle
13 - 1/2 cup honey
14 - 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
15 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
16 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
17 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
02 - Whisk buttermilk, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken breasts, turning to coat thoroughly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours refrigerated for deeper flavor.
03 - Combine crushed cornflakes, panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Mix well to distribute spices evenly.
04 - Beat eggs and water together in a separate bowl until fully combined.
05 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dip each piece into egg wash, then press firmly into the coating mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
06 - Place coated chicken pieces on the prepared wire rack. Lightly spray or brush with oil for enhanced crispiness.
07 - Bake for 25-30 minutes until crust is golden brown and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
08 - While chicken bakes, combine honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, red pepper flakes, and salt in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth and slightly runny. Avoid boiling.
09 - Remove chicken from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle generously with hot honey sauce immediately before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The crunch stays perfect even after the honey hits it, no soggy mess here
- That sweet heat combo makes people pause mid-bite and ask whats in it
02 -
- Soggy coating usually happens when you skip the wire rack, air needs to circulate underneath
- That honey drizzle thickens as it cools, so warm it slightly if you made it ahead
03 -
- Make extra hot honey and keep it in the fridge for drizzling on pizza, biscuits, or even vanilla ice cream
- If the coating starts browning too fast, tent with foil for the last 10 minutes