Description
Irresistible Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken offers a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and savory flavors with a satisfying crispy texture. This recipe bakes chicken thighs or drumsticks to perfection, coating them in a flavorful mix and finishing with a sticky hot honey glaze. It’s a healthier alternative to fried chicken that’s easy to prepare and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any family meal or gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken thighs or drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornmeal
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup hot honey (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh herbs (such as parsley or cilantro) for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
- In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk until combined.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the egg and buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off.
- Coat each piece in the flour mixture, pressing down to ensure a good layer of coating.
- Place the coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- During the last 5 minutes of baking, drizzle the hot honey over the chicken, allowing it to caramelize while finishing the cooking process.
- Once out of the oven, let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired for added flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Use quality chicken for the best results.
- Adjust cayenne pepper for your preferred spice level.
- Allow chicken to rest after baking to maintain juiciness.
- Experiment with flavored honey for variations.
- Gluten-free option: Use a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free breading.
- Can substitute cornmeal with breadcrumbs.
- Chicken breasts can be used, but adjust cooking time.
- Chicken can be grilled instead of baked.
- Store cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Freeze baked chicken for up to 3 months, wrapping well. Reheat from frozen at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 120mg