Description
This Hot Honey Chicken recipe features crispy, juicy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze. Perfectly balanced with heat and sweetness, this dish is an easy and flavorful dinner option that pairs well with rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
For the Coating
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
For the Hot Honey Glaze
- ½ cup honey
- 1–2 tbsp hot sauce
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, combine buttermilk, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to create the marinade mixture.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring they are fully submerged, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours for maximum flavor and tenderness.
- Mix the Coating: In a shallow dish, whisk together all-purpose flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to prepare the seasoned flour coating.
- Coat the Chicken: Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade and dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture until fully coated, setting them aside on a plate.
- Heat the Oil: Pour about 1 inch of oil into a large skillet and heat it to 350°F (175°C), suitable for frying the chicken to a golden crisp.
- Fry the Chicken: Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches for 5 to 7 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through internally.
- Drain the Chicken: Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack to drain and maintain crispiness while you prepare the glaze.
- Make the Hot Honey Glaze: In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, red pepper flakes, butter, and apple cider vinegar. Warm over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture is smooth and well blended.
- Glaze the Chicken: Drizzle or brush the hot honey glaze generously over the fried chicken pieces just before serving for a perfect sweet and spicy finish.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to control the heat level to your preference.
- For a lighter version, bake the coated chicken at 425°F (220°C) for 25–30 minutes or air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes instead of frying.
- Serve this hot honey chicken with sides like coleslaw, biscuits, or cornbread to complete your meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
