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Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

4.6 from 94 reviews

Crispy baked Hot Honey Chicken thighs coated in a crunchy cornflake crust and drizzled with a spicy, sweet hot honey glaze. This flavorful dish combines smoky paprika, tangy hot sauce, and a kick from chili flakes, creating a perfect balance of heat and honey sweetness, ideal for a satisfying dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Breading

  • 5 cups corn flakes
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

Hot Honey Glaze

  • ¾ cup honey
  • 1½ tablespoons chili flakes
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Prep the oven and baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
  2. Crush the corn flakes. Place the corn flakes in a sealed plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin until they reach the desired flake size, either finely crushed or slightly chunky, depending on your preferred coating texture.
  3. Mix dry and wet components. In one bowl, combine the crushed corn flakes with smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce to create a spicy marinade.
  4. Bread the chicken. Dip the chicken thighs first into the egg and buttermilk mixture, ensuring they are fully coated, then dredge each piece thoroughly in the cornflake mixture. Place the breaded thighs on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer for even baking.
  5. Bake the chicken. Bake the coated chicken thighs in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F (74°C) inside the thickest part of the chicken. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
  6. Prepare the hot honey glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together honey and chili flakes, bringing it just to a boil. Then remove from heat and whisk in hot sauce and apple cider vinegar. Let the mixture infuse for about 10 minutes to develop the flavors.
  7. Serve. Drizzle the hot honey glaze generously over the baked chicken thighs just before serving for a perfect balance of crispy texture and sweet heat.

Notes

  • You can adjust the amount of hot sauce and chili flakes based on your heat preference.
  • Using boneless, skinless chicken thighs keeps the chicken tender and juicy while baking evenly.
  • Allowing the chicken to rest after baking helps retain moisture.
  • Crushing corn flakes to your preferred flake size affects the crunch level of the coating.
  • The hot honey glaze can be made ahead and reheated gently before serving.

Keywords: Hot Honey Chicken, cornflake crusted chicken, spicy honey chicken, baked chicken thighs, crispy chicken recipe, sweet and spicy chicken