Description
Crispy Hot Honey Chicken is a flavorful, crunchy baked chicken dish featuring a spicy-sweet hot honey drizzle. Perfectly seasoned and coated with cornflakes for extra crunch, this oven-baked chicken tender recipe is quick to prepare, making it an ideal weeknight dinner that pairs wonderfully with ranch or honey mustard for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 lbs. Chicken Tenders or Chicken Breasts
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
Dredging Mix
- 1/2 cup Flour
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)
Coating & Wash
- 2 large Eggs
- 5 cups Cornflakes, crushed
Additional
- Olive Oil (for drizzling or light brushing)
- Hot Honey (for drizzling over cooked chicken)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking crispy chicken tenders.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken tenders dry thoroughly using paper towels to help the coating stick better and become crispier.
- Set Up Dredging Stations: Prepare three shallow bowls – one with the seasoned flour mixture (flour, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper), one with beaten eggs, and one with crushed cornflakes.
- Coat the Chicken: Dredge each chicken tender first in the flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip it into the egg wash, and finally coat it thoroughly with the crushed cornflakes, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Arrange and Bake: Place coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet. Lightly drizzle or brush with olive oil to enhance crispness. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning.
- Drizzle with Hot Honey: Once the chicken tenders are golden and cooked through, remove from the oven and immediately drizzle generously with hot honey for a perfect spicy-sweet finish.
- Serve: Serve hot, ideally with ranch dressing or honey mustard on the side for dipping, making each bite delightfully flavorful.
Notes
- You can use chicken breasts cut into strips instead of tenders if preferred.
- For extra spice, increase cayenne pepper or add smoked paprika to the flour mixture.
- Lightly spraying or drizzling olive oil before baking helps achieve a better crisp without frying.
- Hot honey varies in heat level; adjust the amount to taste or substitute with a mix of honey and hot sauce.
- Leftover chicken can be reheated in the oven briefly to maintain crispiness.
