Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken (Printable View)
Golden crispy chicken with sweet spicy honey glaze
# Ingredient List:
→ 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
06 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
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 Prepare:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set a wire rack on top.
02 - Whisk buttermilk, 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 penetration.
03 - Combine crushed cornflakes, panko breadcrumbs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish. Mix evenly.
04 - Beat eggs and water together in a separate bowl until fully incorporated.
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 on all sides.
06 - Place coated chicken on the prepared wire rack. Lightly spray or brush with oil to enhance crispiness.
07 - Bake for 25–30 minutes until crust is golden brown and chicken reaches 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 pourable. Do not boil.
09 - Remove chicken from oven and let rest for 5 minutes to retain juices. Drizzle generously with hot honey immediately before serving.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The oven method gives you that satisfying crunch without splattering oil all over your stovetop
- The hot honey creates this incredible sweet-heat combination that keeps everyone coming back for seconds
- Buttermilk marinade ensures every bite stays juicy while the exterior gets perfectly crispy
02 -
- Don't skip the wire rack—baking directly on the sheet makes the bottom soggy instead of crispy
- The hot honey thickens as it cools, so warm it slightly if you've made it ahead
- Over-crushing the cornflakes into fine crumbs will make your coating too dense and less crunchy
03 -
- Double-coating the chicken by repeating the egg wash and coating steps creates an even thicker, crunchier crust
- Room temperature chicken marinates more evenly, so let it sit out for 20 minutes before starting