Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

 Hot Honey Chicken is the perfect mix of sweet, spicy, and crispy. Juicy chicken is coated in a golden, crunchy crust and drizzled with warm honey infused with chili for a fiery glaze that keeps you coming back for more. It’s a crowd-pleaser that works for dinner, parties, or game nights — simple to make yet packed with bold flavor.

1. Cooking Time: 35 minutes

2. Serving: 4 servings

3. Ingredients:

  • 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup cornstarch

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

  • Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)

For the Hot Honey Sauce:

  • ½ cup honey

  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (like Sriracha or cayenne sauce)

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • ½ teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

4. Instructions:

  1. Marinate the chicken: Place the chicken in a bowl and cover with buttermilk. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for more tenderness).

  2. Prepare the coating: In a shallow bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.

  3. Coat the chicken: Remove chicken from buttermilk, shake off extra liquid, and dredge each piece in the flour mixture until evenly coated. Set aside on a plate.

  4. Fry: Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Once hot, fry the chicken pieces for 6–8 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack or paper towels to drain.

  5. Make the hot honey: In a small saucepan, heat honey, butter, hot sauce, and chili flakes over low heat until warm and well mixed.

  6. Glaze and serve: Drizzle the hot honey over the fried chicken right before serving or toss the chicken in the sauce for a full coating.

5. Nutrition (per serving):

  • Calories: 410

  • Protein: 29g

  • Fat: 18g

  • Carbohydrates: 35g

  • Fiber: 1g

  • Sugar: 12g

6. Tips:

  • For a lighter version, bake the coated chicken at 425°F (220°C) for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through, then drizzle with hot honey.

  • Add extra chili flakes or hot sauce for more kick.

  • Serve with waffles, coleslaw, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

  • The hot honey can be stored in a jar for up to 2 weeks and used on biscuits, roasted veggies, or pizza.

  • For an air fryer version, cook at 390°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway.