This easy hot honey chicken brings the perfect mix of sweet and spicy to your dinner table. The crispy cornflakes coating, juicy center, and sticky-sweet glaze make this dish one that gets requested again and again.
Baked hot honey chicken breasts
So whether you’re serving it with mashed potatoes or slicing it over a crispy chicken salad, this baked hot honey chicken adds bold flavor with very little fuss.
It’s a simple way to bring restaurant-style flavor to a weeknight meal.
Loving our hot honey recipes? Try our air fryer hot honey chicken tenders or our hot honey wings next!
The wings are made in the slow cooker, making them perfect for feeding a crowd. They’re finished in the oven for that caramelized, sweet-and-spicy, crispy texture everyone loves.
Recipe Highlights
- Sweet and spicy flavor: The honey and hot sauce combo makes the kind of glaze that sticks in the best way.
- Baked, not fried: You still get a crispy coating without the mess of deep frying.
- Great for meal prep: These chicken breasts hold up well for lunches or leftovers.
- Versatile: Serve it on its own, over a salad, or as a spicy chicken sandwich.
Ingredients
For the chicken
- Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work great for this recipe. Slice them in half lengthwise for thinner cutlets that cook faster and stay juicy.
- Cornstarch: Helps create that golden, crispy crust.
- Buttermilk: This helps the breading stick and also adds moisture.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper keep things flavorful without overpowering the glaze.
- Olive oil spray: A light spray helps the breading crisp up in the oven without extra oil.
Hot Honey sauce ingredients
- Hot sauce: Any vinegar-based hot sauce like Frank’s or Crystal works great here.
- Honey: Go with a mild, smooth honey that blends well with the hot sauce.
- Butter: Adds richness to the hot honey glaze and helps it coat the chicken.
* Need to print out this recipe? You’ll find a printable recipe card at the end of this post. Enjoy!
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- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Kitchen tongs
How to make
Prep the chicken: Slice the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thin cutlets. Pat them dry with paper towels.
Marinate the chicken: Pour some buttermilk in a bowl, add 1 teaspoon each of salt, pepper, and paprika. Add the chicken make sure it's well covered. Chill for 30 minutes or overnight.
Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
Bread Chicken: Mix crushed cornflakes, cornstarch, and remaining seasonings. Coat cutlets.
Bake: Place coated chicken on the sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake 15–20 minutes, until crispy and cooked through (internal temperature should be 165°F).
Make Sauce: Melt butter in the microwave then stir in honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes.
Sauce the Chicken: Drizzle with hot honey sauce. Slice if desired. Your crispy hot honey chicken is ready for any recipe you want to use it for.
What to serve with crispy hot honey chicken
- A simple green salad or hot honey chicken salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing
- Buttery mashed potatoes including Colcannon mashed potatoes or baked sweet potatoes
- Roasted vegetables or corn on the cob
- A toasted bun for a crispy hot honey chicken sandwich
- You can slice it up and make simple hot honey chicken and rice bowls.
Storing and reheating leftovers
Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Reheat: Warm in a 375°F oven or air fryer for 5–7 minutes until heated through and crisp again. Avoid microwaving if you want to keep the coating crispy.
Helpful Tips
- Slice the chicken evenly so everything cooks at the same time.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch—it’s key to getting that crispy, golden texture.
- If you like extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne to the flour or the glaze.
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes before adding the glaze so it stays crisp.
FAQs
It’s mild to medium depending on the hot sauce. You can adjust the heat by adding more or less sauce to the glaze.
Yes! Boneless skinless thighs also work well. You may need to bake them a few extra minutes until fully cooked.
Yes—slice it up and toss it over mixed greens for a delicious hot honey chicken salad. Add crumbled cheese, cucumbers, and your favorite dressing.
Yes, cook breaded chicken in a preheated air fryer at 400°F for 10 - 12 minutes, flipping halfway. Internal temperature should be 165°F (74°C). Cook for a couple more minutes if it needed. Brush on the hot honey glaze on the chicken after cooking.
If you want it sticky, brush the honey glaze in the last 2 mins of cooking.
Try our crispy hot honey chicken recipe today!
This hot honey chicken is sweet, spicy, crispy, and easy to make any night of the week.
So whether you’re serving it with classic sides or slicing it over a salad, this crispy baked chicken with hot honey brings bold flavor with minimal effort.
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Oven baked Crispy Hot honey chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast cutlets (2 chicken breasts sliced into cutlets)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups cornflakes (crushed)
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
Hot honey sauce ingredients
- ¾ cup honey
- ¾ cup hot sauce
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 1 Tablespoons chili flakes
Instructions
- Add buttermilk to a mixing bowl, mix in ½ teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon each salt, pepper, and paprika. Add the chicken and coat with the buttermilk marinade. Cover and chill for 30 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat the to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- Mix crushed cornflakes, cornstarch, and remaining seasonings. Coat each cutlet in the mixture and place on the sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil (or spray with oil spray) and bake for 15–20 minutes, or until crispy and cooked through (internal temperature should be 165°F or 74°C)
Make hot honey Sauce
- Melt butter in the microwave, stir in honey, hot sauce, and chili flakes.
- Drizzle hot honey sauce over chicken. Slice if desired.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for best flavor.
- Do not crush cornflakes finely to give the coating some texture.
- Broil for 1–2 minutes if more crisp is needed.
- Adjust hot sauce to taste.
