Description
This Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken recipe offers crispy, golden chicken tenderloins coated in a flavorful cornflake and parmesan crust, enhanced with smoky and spicy seasonings, and finished with a sweet and spicy hot honey drizzle. Perfect for a quick, satisfying meal with a balance of heat and sweetness.
Ingredients
Scale
Crunchy Coating
- 6 cups cornflakes
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- sea salt, to taste
Chicken and Egg Wash
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1-3 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Garnish
- fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Crunchy Coating: In a food processor, pulse the cornflakes, grated parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt until fine crumbs form, creating a flavorful and crispy coating mixture.
- Make Egg Wash: In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of hot sauce to create a spicy egg wash that will help the coating stick to the chicken.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each chicken breast tenderloin into the egg wash to fully coat, then dredge it thoroughly in the cornflake crumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs well.
- Prepare for Baking: Arrange the coated chicken tenderloins on the parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil to aid browning and crispiness.
- Bake Chicken: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown, crispy on the outside, and cooked through internally (165°F internal temperature).
- Make Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine honey, 2-3 tablespoons hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally until heated through and flavors meld.
- Serve: Once the chicken is baked, drizzle the warm hot honey sauce over the crispy chicken pieces. Garnish with fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley before serving for a fresh touch.
Notes
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity in the honey sauce based on your desired spice level.
- For extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken for the last 2 minutes of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
- Use gluten-free cornflakes if you need a gluten-free version of this recipe.
- Make sure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it is fully cooked.
- Fresh herbs like thyme, cilantro, or parsley add brightness and contrast to the rich honey sauce.
