Description
Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken is a flavorful, oven-baked dish featuring juicy chicken with a crispy, golden crust and a sweet, spicy hot honey drizzle. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or sharing with friends, this recipe brings the satisfying crunch of fried chicken with less mess and less oil, all while delivering a bold kick of heat.
Ingredients
Scale
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 the Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or lemon juice (optional)
For Garnish (Optional)
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Sesame seeds or crushed peanuts
Instructions
- Prep the Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat for easy cleanup.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to help the coating adhere.
- Mix the Flour Coating: In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
- Prepare the Egg Wash: Beat the eggs in a second shallow dish until well combined.
- Ready the Breadcrumbs: Spread the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish.
- Bread the Chicken: Dredge each piece of chicken first in the flour mixture, coating all sides, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure the crumbs stick well.
- Arrange and Prep for Baking: Place the breaded chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil to encourage crispiness.
- Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until an internal thermometer in the chicken reads 165°F (74°C) and the crust is golden brown and crunchy.
- Make the Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, and red pepper flakes (if using) in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Add Tang (Optional): If desired, stir in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice for a touch of tanginess.
- Drizzle the Sauce: When the chicken is done, remove from the oven and drizzle the hot honey sauce over top. For extra flavor, toss or brush the chicken thoroughly with the sauce.
- Garnish: Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and sesame seeds or crushed peanuts if you like an extra crunch and burst of flavor.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately with your favorite sides such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, or a simple salad.
Notes
- For even crispier chicken, use a wire rack on top of the baking sheet to let hot air circulate all around.
- Adjust the hot sauce and red pepper flakes in the honey sauce to fit your preferred spice level.
- Chicken thighs stay especially juicy, but chicken breasts work great too.
- Leftover chicken can be reheated in the oven to maintain its crispiness.
- If you prefer, you can use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast or thigh with sauce
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 39g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
Keywords: baked chicken, crunchy chicken, hot honey chicken, oven baked, spicy chicken, easy dinner, crowd pleaser
