Description
This Hot Honey Crunch Chicken recipe features crispy baked chicken tenderloins coated in a flavorful cornflake and parmesan crust, drizzled with a spicy, sweet hot honey sauce. Perfect as a crowd-pleasing entree, it combines crunchy texture and balanced heat for a delightful meal in just 40 minutes.
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, a pinch
Chicken and Dredging
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 lb chicken breast tenderloins
- Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2-3 tbsp hot sauce
- 1-3 tsp cayenne pepper
- 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 Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Cornflake Crust: In a food processor, pulse together cornflakes, parmesan cheese, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt until the mixture forms fine crumbs for the crunchy coating.
- Coat the Chicken: In a bowl, beat the eggs and mix in the hot sauce. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the egg mixture, then dredge thoroughly in the cornflake crumb mixture. Place the coated chicken pieces onto the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle lightly with extra virgin olive oil to promote crispiness.
- Bake the Chicken: Bake the coated chicken tenderloins in the preheated oven until they are golden brown and crispy, usually about 15-20 minutes, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Make the Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken bakes, combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chipotle chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt in a small saucepan. Warm the sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally until well blended and heated through.
- Finish and Serve: Once the chicken is baked and crispy, drizzle the warm hot honey sauce evenly over the chicken pieces. Garnish with fresh thyme, cilantro, or parsley as desired. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the cornflakes are certified gluten-free.
- Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and hot sauce according to your spice preference.
- Drizzling olive oil before baking helps to achieve a crispier crust without frying.
- Use a food processor for the cornflake crust to achieve fine crumbs and even coating.
- Make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
