Description
Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken combines a perfectly seasoned, crunchy cornflake crust with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce for an irresistible comfort meal that’s baked to golden perfection, making it a healthier alternative to fried chicken without sacrificing flavor or texture.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 4 pieces Chicken Breasts (Thighs can be juicier if preferred)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 0.5 tablespoon Nonstick Cooking Spray (or light oil spray)
- 1 cup Flour (or almond flour for gluten-free)
- 0.5 cup Light Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar)
- 2 large Eggs
- 2 tablespoons Hot Sauce
- 4 cups Cornflakes (gluten-free varieties optional)
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Seasoning Mix (salt, chili powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper)
Hot Honey Sauce
- 0.5 cup Honey (or maple syrup for vegan alternative)
- 2 tablespoons Additional Hot Sauce
- 4 tablespoons Butter (or plant-based butter)
- 0.25 cup Light Brown Sugar (or cane sugar)
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (or lemon juice)
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 teaspoon Mustard Powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s hot enough to create a crispy crust on the chicken.
- Prepare Cornflakes: Crush the cornflakes into small pieces using a food processor or rolling pin to create the crispy coating texture.
- Set Up Breading Stations: Arrange three shallow bowls: one with the mixture of flour and light brown sugar, the second with whisked eggs combined with 2 tablespoons of hot sauce, and the third with the crushed cornflakes mixed with paprika and seasoning mix.
- Prepare Chicken: Slice and tenderize the chicken breasts to an even thickness to ensure even cooking. Season each piece with salt and black pepper.
- Bread the Chicken: First coat each piece of chicken in the flour and brown sugar mixture, then dip it into the spicy egg wash, and finally roll in the cornflake mixture until fully coated.
- Arrange for Baking: Place the coated chicken pieces on a greased baking sheet. Lightly spray the top of the chicken with nonstick cooking spray to help with browning.
- Bake the Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-16 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and cooked through.
- Prepare Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine honey, additional hot sauce, butter, light brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder in a saucepan over low heat. Stir continuously until smooth and heated through.
- Serve: Drizzle the hot honey sauce generously over the baked chicken pieces just before serving for a perfect balance of heat and sweetness.
Notes
- Chicken thighs can be substituted for breasts if you prefer juicier meat.
- To keep this recipe gluten-free, use almond flour and certified gluten-free cornflakes.
- Use maple syrup and plant-based butter to make this dish vegan-friendly, but you’ll need to replace eggs with flax eggs and adjust cooking accordingly.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce in both the breading and sauce to your preferred spice level.
- Ensure uniform chicken thickness for even cooking and optimal crispiness.
- Lightly spraying the chicken before baking helps achieve a crunchy exterior similar to frying without excess oil.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crispy baked chicken, hot honey chicken, baked chicken recipe, spicy honey chicken, cornflake crust chicken
