Description
This Hot Honey Crunch Chicken recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors with a delightfully crispy cornflake crust. Featuring tender chicken breast tenderloins coated in a crunchy seasoned cornflake coating and baked to golden perfection, then drizzled with a warm, fiery hot honey sauce. An easy, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Crunchy Coating
- 6 cups cornflakes (gluten-free if needed)
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- Sea salt, to taste (pinch)
Chicken and Egg Wash
- 2 lb chicken breast tenderloins
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tbsp hot sauce
- 1-3 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to heat preference)
- 3/4 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Sea salt, to taste
Garnish
- Fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and help with easy cleanup.
- Prepare the cornflake crust: In a food processor, pulse together the cornflakes, grated parmesan, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt until they form fine, breadcrumb-like crumbs. This mixture will give your chicken a flavorful and crunchy coating.
- Coat the chicken: In a bowl, beat the eggs and stir in 2 tablespoons of hot sauce for a spicy kick. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the prepared cornflake crumbs to coat completely. Arrange the coated chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
- Drizzle and bake: Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the coated chicken pieces to help them crisp up in the oven. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crispy.
- Make the hot honey sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine the honey, 2-3 tablespoons of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, until well blended and fragrant—this will be your sweet and spicy finishing sauce.
- Finish and serve: Once the chicken is baked and crispy, remove from the oven and immediately drizzle the warm hot honey sauce over the chicken tenders. Garnish with fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley to add a fresh herbaceous note. Serve hot and enjoy your crunchy, sweet, and spicy chicken treat!
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, be sure to use gluten-free cornflakes.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amounts in the sauce according to your preferred heat level.
- You can substitute chicken breast tenderloins with chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts, but adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Use fresh herbs for garnish to brighten the overall flavor and presentation.
- If you want extra crispiness, you can broil the chicken for 1-2 minutes at the end of baking, watching closely to prevent burning.
