Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

Introduction

This Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken recipe offers a perfect balance of crispy coating and a sweet, spicy glaze. It’s an easy and flavorful dish that’s sure to become a family favorite for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 1.5 lbs)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (adjust to your preferred heat level)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (optional)
• Fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
• Sesame seeds or crushed peanuts (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.
2. Step 2: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to ensure the coating sticks well.
3. Step 3: In a shallow dish, mix the flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika if using.
4. Step 4: In a separate shallow dish, beat the eggs until smooth.
5. Step 5: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
6. Step 6: Coat each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally press into the panko breadcrumbs to coat thoroughly.
7. Step 7: Arrange the breaded chicken on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil to help crisp the coating.
8. Step 8: Bake for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F/74°C) and the crust is golden and crispy.
9. Step 9: While the chicken bakes, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, and red pepper flakes if using. Heat over medium, stirring occasionally, until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
10. Step 10: Stir in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice if you prefer a tangy note in your sauce.
11. Step 11: When the chicken is done, remove from the oven and drizzle the hot honey sauce over each piece. For extra coverage, toss the chicken gently in the sauce.
12. Step 12: Garnish with chopped parsley and sesame seeds or crushed peanuts if desired.
13. Step 13: Serve immediately with your favorite sides such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad.

Tips & Variations

• For an even crunchier coating, double-dip the chicken in egg and panko before baking.
• Adjust the heat by varying the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to suit your taste.
• Use chicken thighs for juicier meat or breasts for a leaner option.
• Try substituting honey with maple syrup for a different sweetness profile.

Storage

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes to help retain crispiness. The hot honey sauce can be stored separately in the fridge for up to a week and reheated gently before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

It’s best to use fully thawed chicken to ensure even cooking and proper coating adhesion. If using frozen, thaw completely in the refrigerator before preparing.

Is it necessary to bake the chicken or can I fry it?

Baking provides a healthier alternative with less oil while still achieving a crispy crust. However, you can shallow-fry or deep-fry the chicken for an even crunchier texture if preferred.

Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

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4.5 from 717 reviews

This Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken recipe offers a perfect balance of crispy, golden-brown coating and a sweet, spicy hot honey sauce. The chicken is breaded with a seasoned flour mixture and panko breadcrumbs before baking, resulting in a crunchy texture without deep-frying. The hot honey sauce, made with honey, hot sauce, butter, and optional red pepper flakes and vinegar, adds a flavorful kick that complements the savory chicken. This dish is easy to prepare and ideal for a delicious weeknight dinner or casual gathering.

• Author: zara
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
• Total Time: 40-45 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

For the Chicken:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs (about 1.5 lbs)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (optional)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (for extra crunch)

For the Hot Honey Sauce:

• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce (adjust to your preferred heat level)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (optional, for tang)

For Garnish (optional):

• Fresh chopped parsley
• Sesame seeds or crushed peanuts (for added crunch)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.
2. Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps the coating stick better.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika if using. This seasoning mix will flavor the chicken and help the breading adhere.
4. Beat Eggs: In another shallow dish, beat the eggs thoroughly; this acts as the moisture base to help breadcrumbs stick.
5. Prepare Breadcrumbs: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish, which will provide the chicken’s crunchy crust.
6. Bread the Chicken: Coat each chicken piece first in the seasoned flour mixture, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat evenly with panko breadcrumbs. Press gently to ensure breadcrumbs adhere well to the chicken.
7. Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the breaded chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray them with cooking spray or drizzle olive oil over to help achieve a crispy crust during baking.
8. Bake: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until fully cooked, with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The crust should be golden brown and crunchy.
9. Make Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, prepare the sauce by combining honey, hot sauce, unsalted butter, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
10. Add Tang (Optional): For a slight tang, stir in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice into the hot honey sauce; mix well.
11. Coat Chicken: After baking, remove chicken from oven and drizzle the hot honey sauce over the pieces. For extra coverage, toss the chicken gently in the sauce to coat thoroughly.
12. Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and sprinkle sesame seeds or crushed peanuts if desired. Serve with preferred sides such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a fresh salad.

Notes

• Patting the chicken dry before breading helps the coating stick better and ensures crispiness.
• You can use either chicken breasts or thighs depending on preference; thighs may be juicier.
• Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control the heat level in the sauce.
• Using panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs provides a lighter and crunchier texture.
• Cooking spray or a drizzle of olive oil before baking promotes a crispy coating without frying.
• Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it’s fully cooked and safe to eat.
• The hot honey sauce can be made ahead and warmed when ready to serve.
• Garnishes like chopped parsley and sesame seeds add flavor contrast and visual appeal.

Keywords: baked chicken, hot honey chicken, crunchy chicken, panko chicken, spicy honey chicken, baked crispy chicken, easy dinner recipes