Spicy Honey Chicken is a mouthwatering dish that combines the sweetness of honey with a spicy kick, all coated in a crispy breading. Perfect for dinner parties, family gatherings, or a delicious weeknight meal, this chicken recipe is sure to impress.
Spicy Honey Chicken
Why This Spicy Honey Chicken Is the Best
- Sweet and Spicy Sauce: The sauce adds a perfect balance of sweetness from the honey and a spicy kick that tantalizes your taste buds.
- Crispy Breading: The breading on the chicken provides a delightful crunch that contrasts with the tender meat inside.
- Juicy Chicken: The chicken is cooked to perfection, ensuring it remains juicy and flavorful.
- Easy to Make: This recipe is straightforward and can be made in under 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Perfect for Any Occasion
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, preparing a weeknight meal, or looking for a dish to impress, Spicy Honey Chicken is the perfect choice. The combination of sweet honey, spicy kick, and crispy breading makes it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredient Notes
Crispy Baked Chicken Strips
- All-Purpose Flour: Helps coat the chicken strips, allowing the seasoning and cornflake coating to adhere better.
- Smoked Paprika, Garlic Powder, Ancho Chili Powder, and Onion Powder: A blend of spices that adds depth, smoky flavor, and mild heat to the chicken.
- Eggs: Act as the binding agent, ensuring the cornflake coating sticks to the chicken.
- Crushed Cornflakes Cereal: Provides a crispy, crunchy coating for the baked chicken strips, mimicking the texture of fried chicken but with a lighter, baked version.
- Olive Oil: Helps crisp up the cornflake coating in the oven while adding a hint of richness.
- Chicken Breasts: Lean protein, cut into strips for quicker, even cooking. Seasoned with salt and black pepper for added flavor.
Hot Honey Sauce
- Honey: Adds sweetness that balances the heat of the hot sauce and enhances the crispy coating on the chicken strips.
- Sriracha Hot Sauce: Brings a spicy kick to the sauce, with a bit of garlic and tang for complexity.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and smooths out the hot honey sauce, making it glossy and flavorful.
- Salt: Enhances the flavors of the sauce, balancing the sweetness and spiciness.
Tips for Making the Best Spicy Honey Chicken
- Use Fresh Ingredients: For the best flavor, use fresh, high-quality chicken and honey.
- Don’t Overcook: Cook the chicken just until it is done to ensure it stays moist and tender.
- Generous Sauce Coating: Make sure to coat the chicken generously with the spicy honey sauce for the best flavor.
- Garnish Generously: Top the cooked chicken with finely chopped herbs like parsley for a burst of color and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
- With Rice: Serve Spicy Honey Chicken over a bed of steamed white or brown rice for a complete meal.
- With Steamed Vegetables: Add some steamed broccoli or green beans on the side for a nutritious touch.
- With a Side Salad: Pair it with a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
- With Garlic Bread: Enjoy it with garlic bread for an extra touch of flavor.
- With Quinoa: Serve it with quinoa for a healthy and satisfying meal.
- With Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes make a perfect complement to the spicy chicken.
- With a Fresh Salsa: Pair it with a fresh mango or pineapple salsa for a tropical twist.
A Must Try
There’s nothing quite like the taste of homemade Spicy Honey Chicken. This dish is the perfect way to treat yourself or your loved ones to something special. Sweet, spicy, and packed with flavor, it’s sure to become a favorite in your home.
Be sure to check out these other delicious dinner recipes!
Spicy Honey Chicken
Whether you’re hosting a dinner party, preparing a weeknight meal, or looking for a dish to impress, Spicy Honey Chicken is the perfect choice. The combination of sweet honey, spicy kick, and crispy breading makes it a crowd-pleaser that everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients
Crispy Baked Chicken Strips
- 2 lbs chicken breasts cut into strips around 1-inch thick, cut large chicken breasts on a bias
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 5 1/2 cups cornflakes cereal crushed
- 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 large eggs
- 2 Tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper
Hot Honey Sauce
- 1 /3 cup honey
- 3 1/2 Tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce or to taste, this is spicy!
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon unsalted butter cut into pieces
- Salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly coat a large oven-safe cooling rack with non-stick spray and place it over a rimmed 18x13-inch baking sheet. Set aside.
- In one shallow dish, combine the flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, ancho chili powder, and onion powder, whisking to mix.
- In a separate shallow dish, whisk the eggs until fully combined and smooth.
- In a third shallow dish, use your fingertips to toss the cornflakes with olive oil, ensuring the cornflakes are evenly coated.
- Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper on both sides of the chicken pieces. Then, taking one piece at a time, coat it thoroughly in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour afterward.
- Next, dip the coated chicken into the egg, ensuring all sides are well covered. Then, move it to the crushed cornflakes, coating both sides thoroughly. Press down gently and scoop some cornflakes over the top to create a generous and even layer that sticks well.
- Place the coated chicken strips on a cooling rack and continue the process with the remaining pieces.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the chicken is fully cooked, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F in the thickest part, which should take approximately 15 to 20 minutes. If the chicken starts to brown too much toward the end, loosely place a sheet of foil over the top without sealing it.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the honey and butter, heating for about 30 seconds or until the butter is almost melted. Remove from the microwave, then add sriracha and season with salt to taste, stirring until well blended.
- Drizzle the hot honey mixture over the chicken and serve immediately. For an extra crispy option, consider serving the hot honey sauce as a dip; you might want to double the quantity for this.
Notes
- To crush cornflakes, place them in a gallon-sized resealable bag. Seal the bag, pressing out any excess air, then use a rolling pin to crush the cornflakes until they resemble small bits, similar in size to panko bread crumbs.
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Spicy Honey Chicken