Hot Honey Chicken is made with crispy cornflake-crusted chicken cutlets cooked in the air fryer and drizzled with a sweet and spicy homemade hot honey sauce. The chicken gets a crunchy Parmesan coating while honey, hot sauce, cayenne, and seasonings give the sauce the perfect combination of sweet and heat.
I like this recipe when I want crispy chicken without frying it in a pan of oil. The cornflake coating gets nice and crunchy in the air fryer, and I can easily adjust the hot honey sauce depending on how spicy I want it.
Why I Love Hot Honey Chicken:
About the Ingredients ⭐
- Cornflakes: Crushed cornflakes create the extra-crispy coating on the chicken. Don’t crush them completely into powder; you want some texture.
- Parmesan Cheese: Adds savory, cheesy flavor to the crispy cornflake coating.
- Paprika: Adds mild flavor and helps give the coating a nice golden color.
- Onion & Garlic Powder: Season the breading without adding extra moisture.
- Eggs: Help the cornflake mixture stick to the chicken.
- Hot Sauce: A little goes into the egg mixture, while more is used to make the hot honey sauce.
- Chicken Breasts: Slice two boneless, skinless chicken breasts into four thinner cutlets so they cook quickly and evenly.
- Olive Oil: A light drizzle helps the coating brown and crisp in the air fryer.
- Honey: Creates the sweet base for the homemade hot honey sauce.
- Cayenne & Chili Powder: Add extra heat and flavor to the sauce. Adjust the cayenne if you prefer it milder.
- Parsley or Green Onion: Optional for a fresh garnish just before serving.
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken
- In a shallow dish, combine the crushed cornflakes, grated Parmesan cheese, paprika,
onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well and set aside. - In another shallow dish, whisk together the beaten eggs and hot sauce.
- Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off,
- then coat with the cornflake mixture, pressing gently to adhere the breading to the chicken.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
- Carefully place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer and drizzle
them lightly with olive oil. - You may have to fry the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through, flipping them halfway through the cooking time for even browning.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan over
low heat, combine the honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder,
and onion powder. - Stir well and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened.
- Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Drizzle the hot honey sauce over the cooked chicken or serve it on the side for dipping.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onion.
Tips I Found Helpful 💙
- Don’t crush the cornflakes too finely: Leave some small pieces for extra crunch instead of turning them into fine crumbs.
- Use thin chicken cutlets: Slicing the chicken breasts into thinner cutlets helps them cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer.
- Press on the coating: Gently press the cornflake mixture onto the chicken so it sticks well during air frying.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer: Arrange the chicken in a single layer with space around each piece. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Add the hot honey after cooking: Air fry the chicken until crispy, then drizzle the hot honey sauce over it just before serving so the coating stays crunchy.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yield: 4
Hot Honey Chicken
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Hot Honey Chicken is crispy air-fried chicken coated in crunchy cornflakes and drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce.
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Time
35 minutes
Ingredients
For the Hot Honey Chicken:
- 2 cups cornflakes, crushed
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (sliced into 4 cutlets)
- Olive oil (for drizzling over the breaded chicken before air frying)
For the Hot Honey Sauce:
- 3/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons hot sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Fresh parsley or green onion, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- 1. In a shallow dish, combine the crushed cornflakes, grated parmesan cheese, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well and set aside.
2. In another shallow dish, whisk together the beaten eggs and hot sauce.
3. Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, then coat it with the cornflake mixture, pressing gently to adhere the breading to the chicken.
4. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for 5 minutes.
5. Carefully place the chicken breasts in the air fryer basket in a single layer and drizzle them lightly with olive oil. You may have to fry the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.
6. Air fry the chicken at 375°F (190°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through, flipping them halfway through the cooking time for even browning.
7. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir well and simmer for a few minutes until the sauce is heated through and slightly thickened.
8. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes.
9. Drizzle the hot honey sauce over the cooked chicken or serve it on the side for dipping. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onion.
Notes
Keep the cornflakes slightly coarse for the crispiest coating. Arrange the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer and cook in batches if needed. Drizzle with the hot honey sauce just before serving to keep the coating crispy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 553Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 1148mgCarbohydrates: 75gFiber: 4gSugar: 45gProtein: 36g
