Baked Hot Honey Chicken is the perfect dinnertime recipe for the family! This panko-breaded chicken gets nice and crispy in the oven, so you can have a hands-free and easy meal on the table in about 20 minutes.
No fryer, no big vat of oil, and no cornflakes - this recipe for oven-baked chicken is going to be a mainstay for your family. The hot honey sauce brushed on top has the perfect balance between sweet and heat. Serve with staple side dishes like creamy mashed potatoes and green beans.
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $2.45
- Total Cost (4 servings): $9.81
- Those Other Guys: $16.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts - Butterfly the thick pieces of thicken into smaller cuts of meat.
- Panko Breadcrumbs - We're not a fan of cornflakes for breading over here. You can get a super crispy coating using panko! Grab the unseasoned kind so you can control the spices yourself.
- Spice Blend - This recipe uses a few staple seasonings like salt and garlic, and adds a kick of flavor with Italian seasoning and chili powder.
- Egg & Buttermilk - A binding agent for the breading.
- Homemade Hot Honey Sauce - Nowadays, they sell hot honey sauce in the stores. But it's so easy to make your own! With just 4 ingredients and a couple minutes on the stove, you'll have a super tasty and customizable hot honey sauce that goes great on everything.
Variations and Substitutions
Honey Soy Chicken: Instead of hot honey, brush some of my popular Garlic Honey Soy Sauce on top. Serve with rice and edamame for a balanced and flavorful meal.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Wraps: Chop baked chicken into pieces and stuff inside a tortilla with fresh lettuce, cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing. So good!
How to Make Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken
- Start off by getting your dredging bowls together. One bowl will have plain flour, another bowl will have our eggs/milk, and the last bowl will hold the seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Don't forget to season the chicken - we want flavor all throughout each bite.
- Dip your seasoned chicken breasts in the plain flour, then the liquid mixture, then the panko breadcrumbs. I like to pat the breadcrumbs into the chicken to really get a good crust.
- Let the chicken sit for just a few minutes while you preheat your oven.
- Bake for 20 minutes, flipping just once. Once the chicken is done, slather them with your hot honey sauce and keep a bit extra for dipping.
Recipe Pro Tip
- Let the chicken rest. After breading, let the chicken rest for about 5 minutes before baking. This helps the breading stick and an even layer. I usually preheat my oven and clean up the kitchen a bit while waiting!
Recipe FAQs
Chicken breasts fully cook when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, or 74°C. You can always use an instant-read thermometer to be sure!
Boneless chicken thighs will work in this recipe as well. I recommend pounding them into an even thickness so they cook quickly, without the crust beginning to burn.
Other Easy and Delicious Dinners You'll Crave!
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Baked Hot Honey Chicken
Equipment
- Chef's Knife
- 3 Wide, Shallow Bowls
- Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
- Cooking Spray
- Tongs
Ingredients
Crispy Baked Chicken
- 1.5 lbs large chicken breasts (2 pieces)
- 1 tablespoon Adobo seasoning
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
Panko Breading & Other Binders
- 1 ¼ cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 count eggs
- 2 teaspoons hot sauce
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
Hot Honey Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch chili powder
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Butterfly the chicken breasts to make 4 thin pieces of chicken.1.5 lbs large chicken breasts
- Season with the adobo seasoning and chili powder, then set aside to marinate for at least 10 minutes.1 tablespoon Adobo seasoning, ½ tablespoon chili powder
- Meanwhile, prepare your bowls for breading.
- In one bowl, mix together the panko breadcrumbs and the listed seasonings.1 ¼ cups panko breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- In another bowl, whisk together your eggs, hot sauce, and buttermilk.2 count eggs, 2 teaspoons hot sauce, ¼ cup buttermilk
- In the last bowl, pour in the flour.⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- Dip the seasoned chicken into the plain flour bowl, then the egg bowl, and finally the panko breadcrumbs.
- Press the breadcrumbs into the chicken so you get an even coating. Let the breaded chicken sit while you continue cooking.
- Preheat the oven to 400℉.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment paper, then add the chicken. Spray some cooking oil on top.
- Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway.
- With just a couple minutes left in the cooking time, add the honey, cayenne, chili powder, and hot sauce to a sauce pot.Stir the sauce while cooking on medium-low heat, until it has thinned.¼ cup honey, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 pinch chili powder, 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- Finally, brush the hot honey on the chicken breasts. Add back to the oven for another 2 - 3 minutes, then serve with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!