Oven-Baked Spicy Honey Chicken

Welcome to your new favorite weeknight dinner! This extraordinary recipe brings together the comforting crunch of oven-baked, breaded chicken with the vibrant, irresistible kick of a homemade hot honey sauce. The result? Perfectly cooked, incredibly tender, and gloriously crispy hot honey chicken that’s bursting with flavor. It’s a dish so delectable, it’s worthy of special occasions, yet so straightforward to prepare that it fits effortlessly into even your busiest evenings. Forget bland and dry chicken; this recipe promises a juicy interior, a golden, crunchy exterior, and a sweet-spicy glaze that will have everyone reaching for seconds. Get ready to elevate your chicken game and impress your family and friends with this sensational creation.

Hot honey sauce being drizzled over a crispy baked chicken breast, creating hot honey chicken.

Contents

Why This Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken Recipe Shines

Unforgettable Flavor and Texture: This is far from your average, often disappointing, baked chicken. We’ve meticulously crafted this recipe to ensure every bite is a revelation. The chicken breasts emerge from the oven unbelievably tender and moist, a stark contrast to the dry chicken often associated with baking.
Perfectly Crispy Breading: Say goodbye to soggy coatings! Our unique breading, made with finely crushed cornflakes and a robust blend of spices, bakes up beautifully crisp and golden. It forms a delightful shell that locks in moisture and delivers a satisfying crunch with every mouthful.
The Ultimate Hot Honey Sauce: The star of the show, our hot honey sauce, is a masterpiece of balance. It’s the ideal fusion of sweet golden honey and fiery red pepper flakes, with a touch of apple cider vinegar to cut through the richness. This three-ingredient wonder coats the crispy chicken in a glossy, tantalizing glaze that’s utterly addictive.
Effortless Preparation: Don’t let the gourmet taste fool you; this dish is surprisingly simple to make. The process involves a quick buttermilk marinade to tenderize the chicken, a speedy coating in the flavorful breading, and then an oven bake. While the chicken cooks to perfection, you’ll whip up the hot honey sauce on the stove in minutes. It’s a truly uncomplicated culinary experience that yields exceptional results.
Family and Crowd-Pleaser: This recipe is a guaranteed hit with everyone. The familiar comfort of crispy chicken combined with the exciting sweet and spicy notes of the hot honey sauce appeals to a wide range of palates, making it perfect for family dinners, gatherings, or casual entertaining.

Chef’s Expert Tips for Perfect Hot Honey Chicken

Achieving restaurant-quality hot honey chicken at home is easier than you think with these professional insights:

Ensure Even Cooking: For chicken that cooks uniformly and perfectly, consistency is key. Make sure your chicken breasts are roughly the same size and thickness. If you have thicker breasts, you can easily slice them in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets or gently pound out any thick spots with a rolling pin or a meat tenderizer. This simple step prevents some parts from drying out while others are still cooking.
Embrace Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs: While chicken breasts are fantastic, boneless, skinless chicken thighs are an excellent alternative. They are naturally juicier and more forgiving than breasts, making them incredibly resistant to drying out in the oven. They may require an additional few minutes of baking time, but no other significant adjustments are needed. The rich flavor and tender texture of thighs pair wonderfully with the hot honey sauce.
Smart Freezer Stocking Option: Planning ahead can save you time and effort on busy days. To prepare this hot honey chicken for future meals, cook it as instructed, then allow the baked chicken to cool completely. Once cooled, arrange the pieces on a clean baking sheet and place it in the freezer for about an hour, or until the chicken is firm. This prevents the pieces from sticking together. Transfer the frozen chicken to a freezer-safe bag or an airtight container and store it for up to two months. When you’re ready to enjoy, reheat the chicken in the oven or air fryer until thoroughly warmed through and crispy again.
Pat Your Chicken Dry: Before marinating or breading, always pat your chicken dry with paper towels. Excess moisture can dilute the buttermilk marinade and prevent the breading from adhering properly, leading to a less crispy result.
Maximize Breading Adhesion: When dredging the chicken in the cornflake mixture, apply gentle but firm pressure. This helps the breading stick to the chicken and creates a thicker, more satisfying crust. Ensure both sides are thoroughly coated for ultimate crispiness.
Achieve Extra Crispiness with a Wire Rack: For even crispier results, especially on the underside of the chicken, consider placing a wire rack on top of your parchment-lined baking sheet. This allows air to circulate around the chicken, promoting uniform crispness.
Adjust the Heat in Your Hot Honey Sauce: The amount of crushed red pepper flakes in the hot honey sauce is entirely customizable. If you prefer a milder kick, start with 1 teaspoon. For those who love a fiery sensation, go with 2 teaspoons or even more! Taste and adjust to your personal preference.
Don’t Overcrowd the Baking Sheet: Give your chicken pieces space to breathe on the baking sheet. Overcrowding can lead to steaming instead of baking, which will prevent the breading from getting properly crispy. If necessary, use two baking sheets.

Close-up view of hot honey chicken on a plate lined with parchment paper.

Discover More Delicious Chicken Dishes!

If you’re a fan of flavorful chicken, explore these other fantastic recipes from our collection:

Crispy Chicken Fries in the Air Fryer
Smoky Mesquite Grilled Chicken
Elegant Chicken Rollatini
Chick-fil-A Style Keto Chicken Nuggets (with Keto Chick-fil-A Sauce)
Delectable Crusted Chicken Romano
Hearty Buffalo Chicken Soup

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For more delicious recipes, visit our sister sites, 40 Aprons and Easy Cheap Recipes.

Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 30 minutes

Marinate: 1 hour

Total: 1 hour 45 minutes

Tender chicken breasts breaded with cornflakes and a blend of spices, oven-baked until crispy, then smothered with an incredible and simple hot honey sauce.

Sam Guarnieri

Print Recipe

Yields 6 servings

Ingredients

For the Chicken

1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs

For the Breading

3 cups cornflakes, finely crushed (or panko breadcrumbs)
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard powder
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Hot Honey Sauce

½ cup honey
1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Equipment

Large bowl with lid or plastic wrap to cover
2 whisks
Oven
Large baking sheet
Parchment paper
Shallow bowl
Fork
Cooking spray
Tongs
Internal meat thermometer
Small saucepan
Stovetop

Instructions

Prepare the Marinade: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup buttermilk and 1 teaspoon salt. Whisk vigorously until the ingredients are well incorporated. Submerge the 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) into the buttermilk mixture, ensuring all pieces are fully coated. Cover the bowl tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, but no more than 8 hours. Marinating for at least an hour ensures maximum tenderness and flavor.
Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Towards the end of the marinating time, preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit (220°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze. Set the prepared baking sheet aside.
Create the Breading Mixture: In a shallow bowl, combine the 3 cups of finely crushed cornflakes, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon ground mustard powder, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper. Use a fork to thoroughly mix the cornflakes and spices together, ensuring an even distribution of flavor.
Bread the Chicken: One by one, remove the chicken pieces from the buttermilk mixture. Allow any excess buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Immediately dredge the chicken in the cornflake breading mixture. Gently press down on the chicken to ensure the breading adheres completely, then flip the chicken over and repeat on the other side. Transfer each coated chicken piece to the prepared baking sheet. Continue this process until all chicken pieces are coated.
Initial Bake: Lightly spray the tops of the breaded chicken with cooking spray. This helps the breading achieve a beautiful golden brown color and extra crispiness in the oven. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.
Flip and Finish Baking: After 15 minutes, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using tongs, gently flip each chicken breast over to ensure even cooking and browning. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit (71°C) when measured with an internal meat thermometer. The temperature will rise slightly during resting.
Prepare the Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, heat a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once warm, add the ½ cup honey, 1-2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to your preferred spice level), and ½ tablespoon apple cider vinegar to the saucepan. Whisk constantly until the mixture just begins to simmer. Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat to prevent the honey from burning. Set the saucepan aside to cool slightly, or transfer the hot honey to a small bowl or glass jar.
Rest and Serve: Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 160° Fahrenheit (71°C), remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the chicken rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring the chicken remains incredibly tender. After resting, divide the chicken into desired portions, generously drizzle with the prepared hot honey sauce, and serve immediately with your favorite sides.

Notes

Make it Keto-Friendly: To adapt this recipe for a keto diet, make the following substitutions: instead of buttermilk, use 1 cup of whole milk mixed with 1 teaspoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to create a faux buttermilk. Replace the cornflakes in the breading with finely crushed pork rinds, which offer a similar crispy texture and are low in carbs. Finally, substitute regular honey with a honey-flavored keto sweetener to maintain the sweet and spicy profile without the added sugar.
Spice Level Customization: Feel free to adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes in the hot honey sauce to suit your taste. For a milder sauce, use less; for an extra kick, add more! You can also experiment with a pinch of cayenne pepper for a different kind of heat.
Buttermilk Substitute: If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can easily make a substitute. Add 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice to a liquid measuring cup, then fill the rest of the cup with regular milk (dairy or non-dairy) until it reaches the 1-cup mark. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until it curdles slightly, then use as directed.

Serving Suggestions

This Crispy Baked Hot Honey Chicken is incredibly versatile and pairs well with a variety of side dishes. For a complete meal, consider serving it with creamy mashed potatoes, fluffy white rice, a crisp green salad, steamed green beans, roasted asparagus, or even some tangy coleslaw to balance the richness and spice. For a heartier option, mac and cheese or sweet potato fries would also be excellent companions.

Storage and Reheating

Leftovers of this delicious hot honey chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, the best method for maintaining crispness is to use an oven or air fryer. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) or air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the chicken on a baking sheet or in the air fryer basket and heat for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and crispy. Avoid microwaving, as it can make the breading soggy.

Nutrition Information

Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.