Description
Baked Hot Honey Chicken delivers a crispy, spicy-sweet dinner sensation that sizzles right from your own kitchen. Crackling golden chicken pieces glazed with a honey kick make weeknight meals totally delicious and surprisingly simple to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup crushed cornflakes
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Liquid and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon melted butter
Instructions
- Whisk 1 cup buttermilk with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder in a medium bowl. Submerge 2 chicken breasts completely in the marinade, ensuring full coverage. Refrigerate for 45 minutes.
- Heat the oven precisely to 400°F. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper and position a wire rack on top for optimal crispiness.
- Blend 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup crushed cornflakes, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Drain chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip away. Roll each piece thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to create a dense coating.
- Spritz chicken lightly with cooking spray to enhance golden browning. Arrange pieces on the wire rack without touching.
- Bake at 400°F for 22 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through cooking. Confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Prepare hot honey sauce by combining ¼ cup honey, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring constantly.
- Remove chicken from oven. Brush generously with hot honey sauce, ensuring complete coverage. Serve immediately while crisp and warm.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for even deeper flavor if time allows, ensuring the buttermilk penetrates the chicken thoroughly.
- Check the chicken’s internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee perfect doneness and food safety.
- Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to help air circulate around the chicken, creating an extra crispy coating from all sides.
- For gluten-free adaptation, swap panko and cornflakes with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice cereal to maintain the crunchy texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 760 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 1450 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 69 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 66 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg