Baked Crunchy Chicken with Hot Honey Sauce Recipe
Baked Crunchy Chicken features tender chicken breast tenderloins coated in a crispy, flavorful crust made from seasoned crushed cornflakes and parmesan cheese. Baked to golden perfection and drizzled with a spicy hot honey sauce, this recipe balances savory, smoky, and sweet heat notes for a deliciously satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 40 mins
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 6 cups cornflakes (use gluten free if needed)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 lb chicken breast tenderloins
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey Sauce
- ½ cup honey
- 2–3 tbsp hot sauce
- 1–3 tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ tsp chipotle chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Sea salt, to taste
- Fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and aid cleanup.
- Prepare Coating: In a food processor, pulse the cornflakes, parmesan, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt until fine crumbs form. Alternatively, crush the cornflakes in a sealed ziplock bag by stepping on them. Transfer the crumbs to a shallow bowl for coating.
- Coat Chicken: Beat the eggs in a bowl, stir in the hot sauce, then add the chicken tenderloins and toss to coat evenly. Dredge each piece in the cornflake crumb mixture, ensuring full coverage. For an extra crunchy coating, dip the chicken back into the egg mixture and then again into the crumbs before placing them on the baking sheet. Drizzle a little olive oil over the coated chicken pieces.
- Bake: Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is crisp and the chicken is fully cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Make Hot Honey Sauce: Just before the chicken finishes baking, combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of sea salt in a small saucepan. Warm gently over low heat until well mixed and warmed through.
- Serve: Drizzle the warm hot honey sauce over the baked crunchy chicken. Garnish with fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley. If the sauce thickens while sitting, warm it briefly in the microwave before serving. Enjoy immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For gluten-free, ensure cornflakes are certified gluten-free.
- Double dredging the chicken in egg and crumbs results in a thicker, crunchier coating.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity in the hot honey sauce to control spice level.
- Use fresh herbs like thyme, cilantro, or parsley to add a fresh brightness to the dish.
- Make sure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
Keywords: baked chicken, crunchy chicken, hot honey chicken, cornflake chicken, gluten free chicken, baked chicken tenderloins, spicy honey chicken