Description
Southern hot honey chicken sizzles with spicy-sweet charm straight from your kitchen skillet. Crispy, golden-brown chicken drizzled with fiery honey makes dinner an irresistible Southern comfort feast.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 cups finely crushed corn flakes
- 1 cup buttermilk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅔ teaspoons cayenne pepper
Supporting Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Submerge each chicken breast or thigh in 1 cup buttermilk mixed with 2 teaspoons kosher salt. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Combine 3 cups finely crushed corn flakes, 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour, and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme in a shallow dish. Thoroughly coat each buttermilk-soaked chicken piece in the mixture, pressing firmly to ensure complete coverage.
- Arrange coated chicken pieces on a baking sheet, leaving space between them. Lightly brush each piece with extra virgin olive oil to help achieve a golden, crispy exterior.
- Slide the baking sheet into a preheated 400°F oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- While chicken bakes, prepare the hot honey glaze. Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons honey, 2-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of kosher salt.
- Simmer the glaze for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly to blend flavors and create a smooth consistency. Remove from heat once ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Remove chicken from the oven and immediately brush each piece generously with the hot honey glaze. Serve immediately while crisp and warm.
Notes
- Marinate your chicken for at least 1 hour, but overnight works even better for deeper flavor and more tender meat.
- Crush corn flakes coarsely to create a crispy, textured coating that will give your chicken a satisfying crunch.
- Use a wire rack on your baking sheet to help air circulate and keep the chicken coating crisp instead of getting soggy.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free blend, and use gluten-free corn flakes.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Oven-Fried
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg