Amazing 3-Step Hot Honey Chicken Flavor

Name: Amazing 3-Step Hot Honey Chicken Flavor
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 6 cups cornflakes; 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 large eggs, beaten; 2 tablespoons hot sauce (for coating); 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins; Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling; 1/2 cup honey; 2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce (for sauce); 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (for sauce); 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (for sauce); Pinch of sea salt (for sauce); Fresh thyme or parsley for serving

By anna Boncoeur On December 5, 2025

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Tired of messy frying but craving that incredible sweet-and-spicy crunch? Well, get ready, because this Hot Honey Chicken recipe is about to change your weeknight dinner game! We’re talking perfectly baked, unbelievably crispy chicken bathed in a sticky, fiery glaze—all without the oil splatter.

Hi, I’m Anna! I’m just a passionate food lover who believes that amazing food shouldn’t require hours of complicated work. I’m here to share simple, flavorful chicken recipes designed to make your everyday cooking easier and way more joyful. This baked version of Hot Honey Chicken gives you all the flavor payoff of the takeout favorite, baked right on a sheet pan.

The secret here is the cornflake crust—it locks in all the moisture while delivering that satisfying crunch you want. Trust me, once you try this, you won’t look back. It’s fast, family-friendly, and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand!

Table Of content

Gathering Ingredients for Perfect Hot Honey Chicken

Getting ready to make this fantastic Hot Honey Chicken is half the fun! Since we aren’t frying, precision in our coating is key to getting that legendary crunch. We’re using simple pantry staples to build layers of flavor both on the chicken and in that amazing glaze we drizzle on top at the end. Don’t skip the Parmesan in the crumbs; it really helps the crust brown up beautifully.

Make sure you have everything measured out before you start dredging. Once you start dipping the chicken, things move fast, and you don’t want to be hunting for the cayenne pepper! Here is exactly what you need for this simple, flavor-packed dinner.

Coating Components for Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken

6 cups cornflakes (pulsed fine!)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 large eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons hot sauce (for coating the wet mix)
2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling

Ingredients for the Spicy Honey Glaze

1/2 cup honey
2 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce (use more for extra fire!)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (for sauce)
1/2 teaspoon onion powder (for sauce)
Pinch of sea salt

Essential Equipment for Baking Hot Honey Chicken

Even though this recipe is super easy, having the right tools makes the process seamless! You definitely need a good, sturdy baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Don’t skip the parchment; it saves on cleanup later! For the crust, your food processor is your best friend for crushing those cornflakes into the perfect fine crumbs—it’s much faster than a rolling pin, trust me.

You’ll also need a small saucepan for warming up that gorgeous honey glaze. Most importantly, grab an instant-read thermometer. Checking that internal temperature is the only way to guarantee your chicken is perfectly cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit without drying out. That little tool is non-negotiable for safe, juicy chicken!

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Hot Honey Chicken

Alright, let’s get cooking! This recipe moves quickly once you get started, so have your dredging stations ready to go. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit right away and get that baking sheet lined up. We want everything hot and ready for that beautiful Hot Honey Chicken to hit the heat!

Preparing the Crunchy Cornflake Crust

First things first, we need that crust! Take your cornflakes, Parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder and pulse them all together in your food processor. You don’t want dust, but you want fine crumbs—think slightly coarser than sand. Dump that mix into a shallow bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk those two eggs with the 2 tablespoons of hot sauce until they are nicely combined. This is your wet dredge!

Coating and Baking the Chicken Tenderloins

Now for the fun part! Dip each chicken tenderloin first into the egg mixture, letting the extra drip off. Then, you’re going to dredge it thoroughly in the cornflake crumbs. Really press those crumbs onto the chicken so they stick well. For extra crispiness—and you know I always recommend this—you can double dip: back into the egg, and then back into the crumbs again!

Lay the coated tenders on your prepared baking sheet. If you have a wire rack, put it on the sheet first; it helps the bottoms crisp up. Drizzle everything lightly with olive oil—this helps everything brown nicely. Bake this for about 20 to 25 minutes. You absolutely must check the internal temperature with your thermometer; you are looking for 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safety and juiciness!

Creating the Warm Hot Honey Sauce

While the chicken is baking and getting golden, let’s make that amazing glaze. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine your honey, the 2 to 3 tablespoons of hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and that tiny pinch of salt. You only want to warm this gently until everything melts together and it becomes runny. Give it a taste! If you like it spicy, toss in a little more hot sauce or cayenne until it’s perfect for your family.

Finishing and Serving Your Hot Honey Chicken

The second those tenders come out of the oven and are piping hot, you need to drizzle that warm hot honey sauce all over them immediately. The heat of the chicken helps the glaze set up just right. Garnish with some fresh thyme or parsley if you have it—it just brightens everything up. Serve this immediately while that crust is at its absolute crunchiest!

Tips for Achieving the Best Baked Hot Honey Chicken

Baking chicken to get that deep-fried crunch takes a couple of little tricks, but I promise they are worth the extra thirty seconds of effort. If you want truly shatteringly crisp Hot Honey Chicken, my absolute number one tip is to use a wire rack placed on top of your parchment-lined baking sheet. This allows air to circulate completely around the chicken, so the bottoms don’t steam—they get crispy too!

Remember that double-dip suggestion I mentioned earlier? Go for it! Dipping the chicken back into the egg and then the crumbs again creates a thicker crust that holds up better to that sticky glaze. Also, don’t be shy with the olive oil drizzle; that fat is what helps the cornflakes achieve that deep golden color. If you enjoy unique chicken preparations, check out this Nashville Hot Chicken with Pickles recipe for another flavor adventure.

When it comes to the sauce, warm it up just before you pull the chicken out of the oven. If the honey sits too long, it gets stiff. If your sauce thickens up while you’re waiting, just give it 10 seconds in the microwave to make drizzling easy. Following these little steps ensures your baked Hot Honey Chicken is just as satisfying as any fried version. For more baked chicken inspiration, take a look at this Easy Creamy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hot Honey Chicken

I know you might have questions before diving into this recipe, especially if you’re trying to fit it into a busy schedule! This Hot Honey Chicken is designed to be simple, but knowing these little details helps guarantee success. Here are a few things folks ask me most often when they first try making it.

Can I prepare the chicken ahead of time?

You absolutely can prep the chicken coating assembly ahead of time! Dredge all your chicken pieces, place them on the rack, and cover them tightly. You can keep them in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Just remember two things: don’t drizzle the olive oil until just before baking, and keep that glorious hot honey sauce separate at room temperature until you pull the chicken out of the oven. You want to drizzle the fresh sauce immediately after baking!

What is the right internal temperature for this chicken?

This is the most important question for any chicken recipe! Since we’re baking and not frying, precision matters for juiciness and safety. You must make sure the thickest part of the chicken tenderloin reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit, or 74 degrees Celsius, when checked with an instant-read thermometer. If it hits that number, it’s done, safe, and ready for that sweet glaze!

How can I make this Hot Honey Chicken recipe gluten-free?

It’s super easy to make this recipe work for gluten-free diets! The main swap is in the coating. Instead of regular cornflakes, just grab a box of gluten-free cornflakes. You can also pulse up rice cereal—that works wonderfully too! Keep everything else the same, and you’ll still get that amazing crunchy texture for your Hot Honey Chicken.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Hot Honey Chicken

Oh man, if you have any leftovers of this Hot Honey Chicken, hold onto them! They are delicious the next day, but you have to store them correctly if you want to keep that crunch. The biggest mistake people make is storing the sauce on the chicken overnight; the crust gets soggy fast!

The trick is separation. Keep the leftover cooked chicken in one airtight container. Keep the leftover hot honey sauce in a separate, smaller container at room temperature. The sauce doesn’t need the fridge, and keeping it separate protects the crust!

When you are ready to eat them later, do not use the microwave! That steam is the enemy of crispiness. Instead, reheat the chicken in an air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for just 3 to 5 minutes. This brings back the crunch beautifully. Here’s a quick guide:

Chicken: Airtight container, refrigerator, up to 3 days.
Hot Honey Sauce: Small container, room temperature, maintain consistency.

Sharing Your Experience with This Hot Honey Chicken

Now that you’ve had a chance to whip up this fantastic baked Hot Honey Chicken, I really want to hear about it! Did you go heavy on the cayenne, or keep it mild for the kids? Drop a comment below and let me know how it turned out. If you snapped a picture of that beautiful golden glaze, share it on social media and tag me! You can find more inspiration on our Pinterest page.