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Tasty Hot Honey Chicken

Section: Evening Favorites

This dish tosses juicy chicken pieces in buttermilk and hot sauce before dunking them twice in a seasoned flour and panko mix. After frying until wonderfully golden and crunchy, the chicken gets coated in a warm blend of honey, butter, lemon juice, and hot sauce for just the right mix of sweet and spicy. Perfect for stacking in a sandwich with your favorite fresh fixings, it’s a crunchy treat with loads of flavor.

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Lindsey
Created By Lindsey
Most recently updated on Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:03:57 GMT
A sandwich packed with crispy hot honey chicken. Save
A sandwich packed with crispy hot honey chicken. | cookbing.com

Crunchy and a little spicy this Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich is the perfect combo when you want something tasty and comforting for dinner. It’s that kind of sandwich that hits the spot when you want a little excitement on your plate.

I whipped this up on a slow Sunday thinking about combining honey and spicy fried chicken. It instantly became a go-to treat in my kitchen.

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts: cut thin for quick cooking and easy sandwiches
  • Eggs plus seasoned flour and panko mix: make a golden crunchy coating
  • Vegetable oil: frying oil that crisps without soaking if you keep it hot enough
  • Hot honey sauce: sticky, sweet, and a bit spicy with lemon and butter
  • Paprika and garlic powder: add extra flavor to the breading
  • Frank’s Red Hot Sauce: brings tang and spice but you can tweak the heat
  • Buttermilk: mixed with hot sauce for a tender, flavorful soak
  • Slap Yo Momma seasoning: gives a southern flavor or swap for your fave Cajun mix

Steps

Make The Marinade:
Cut chicken breasts into two thinner pieces each so they cook fast and stack well. Mix hot sauce and buttermilk in a bowl then dunk the chicken in. Let it sit for 30 minutes to soak in the flavor and stay juicy.
Set Up Coating Bowls:
Have two bowls ready: one with eggs that are beaten and another with flour, panko, Slap Yo Momma seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, baking powder, pepper, and seasoning salt. This helps keep the chicken crispy and tasty.
Coat The Chicken:
Take each piece from the marinade and cover it in the flour mix. Then dip into the eggs and back into the flour mix again for extra crunch. Shake off extra flour so the crust isn’t clumpy.
Heat The Oil:
Pour about two inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan and warm over medium-high heat until 350°F. Getting the temp right keeps the chicken crispy without being greasy.
Fry The Chicken:
Cook the pieces in batches so the oil stays hot and they don’t stick together. Fry about 5 to 7 minutes turning carefully until they’re deeply golden. Take them out and let drain on paper towels.
Whip Up The Hot Honey Sauce:
Melt butter in a pan on medium heat. Add Frank’s hot sauce, lemon juice, honey, and some Slap Yo Momma seasoning. Stir it for about two minutes until it looks thick and shiny.
Put It Together:
You can toss the fried chicken in the warm sauce or just drizzle it on the sandwich. Place the chicken on toasted buns and add crunchy lettuce, pickles, or creamy slaw if you want more texture.
A crispy hot honey chicken sandwich.
A crispy hot honey chicken sandwich. | cookbing.com

The sauce is hands down my favorite part. I first tried hot honey years ago at a festival and knew I had to make it at home. The mix of sweet and spicy just makes every bite unforgettable.

Keep It Fresh

Store leftover crispy chicken in the fridge up to two days. Keep the sauce apart so the chicken doesn’t get soggy. Warm up the chicken in an oven or air fryer to bring back the crunch before saucing it.

Swap-Outs

No buttermilk? Just mix regular milk with a spoon of lemon juice or vinegar for that tang. Instead of panko, crushed cornflakes or tortilla chips work for crunch. You can try agave if you want a vegan sweetener instead of honey.

Serving Tips

Pair this with fries, salad, or pickled veggies. Cold drinks like iced tea or beer go great too. For a fun twist, turn it into a hot honey chicken burger with melted cheese and crispy bacon.

A crispy hot honey chicken sandwich.
A crispy hot honey chicken sandwich. | cookbing.com

This sandwich balances the sweet and spicy flavors with a crispy crunch that hits the spot every time.

Frequently Asked Cooking Questions

→ How can I get chicken extra crunchy?

Coat the chicken twice in a spiced flour plus panko breadcrumbs. Fry it at about 350°F to get that even crispy color without it soaking up too much oil.

→ Is it okay to bake instead of fry?

Definitely, baking’s a healthier switch. Place the coated chicken on a rack over a baking sheet and bake at 425°F for around 20 to 25 minutes. Flip halfway to keep it crisp.

→ What’s the trick to balancing sweet and spicy in the sauce?

Play with how much hot sauce you add to control the spice, while honey takes care of the sweetness. Letting it simmer a bit helps the flavors come together nicely.

→ What toppings go best with this chicken?

Crunchy lettuce, tangy pickles, and smooth coleslaw are great choices. They bring a fresh bite that pairs well with the rich chicken.

→ How long should I marinate the chicken for the best flavor?

About 30 minutes in buttermilk and hot sauce is perfect. It softens the meat and adds a gentle spicy kick that really lifts the taste.

Hot Honey Chicken

Crunchy chicken with a sweet and spicy honey coat that hits the spot.

Preparation Time
30 minutes
Time to Cook
20 minutes
Overall Time
50 minutes
Created By: Lindsey

Type of Recipe: Dinner

Cooking Difficulty: Intermediate Skill Needed

Cuisine Style: American

Servings Yielded: 4 Number of Servings (4 sandwiches)

Diet Preferences: ~

Ingredients List

→ Chicken Soak

01 Cut 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts into 2 pieces each
02 480 ml buttermilk
03 30 ml hot sauce (Frank’s Red Hot works great)

→ Coating Mix

04 2 large eggs, whisked
05 120 g panko bread crumbs
06 120 g all-purpose flour
07 15 ml Slap Yo Momma spice
08 7.5 ml seasoning salt
09 5 ml paprika
10 5 ml garlic powder
11 2.5 ml baking powder
12 2.5 ml ground black pepper
13 Vegetable oil for deep frying

→ Sweet Heat Sauce

14 120 ml Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
15 60 ml fresh lemon juice
16 90 ml honey
17 28 g unsalted butter
18 5 ml Slap Yo Momma spice

Detailed Cooking Steps

Step 01

Put chicken pieces into a bowl and pour the buttermilk and hot sauce over them. Let it chill for half an hour.

Step 02

Get two bowls ready: one with beaten eggs and the other with a mix of flour, panko, and spices.

Step 03

First dunk each chicken piece in the flour mix, then the egg, and back in the flour again to cover it well.

Step 04

Shake off extra flour gently and spread the pieces out evenly on a baking sheet.

Step 05

Fill a deep pan with two inches of vegetable oil and heat it to about 175°C (350°F) over medium-high heat.

Step 06

Fry the chicken in small batches for 5 to 7 minutes until it’s golden and cooked through. Let it drain on some paper towels.

Step 07

In a heated skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add hot sauce, honey, lemon juice, and seasoning. Stir all the time and let it simmer for 2 minutes until a bit thicker.

Step 08

You can toss the fried chicken right in the sauce or pour the sauce into a bowl and dip the chicken in.

Step 09

Build your sandwiches using the coated chicken and your favorite fresh add-ons like brioche buns, coleslaw, pickles, or lettuce. Eat while it's hot.

Helpful Hints

  1. Change up the amount of hot sauce if you want it more or less spicy. For a lighter version, try baking the chicken instead of frying.
  2. Put it all together on toasted brioche buns with crunchy toppings like pickles, coleslaw, or lettuce for a nice crunch.

Necessary Kitchen Tools

  • Deep frying pan or fryer
  • Bowls for mixing
  • Skillet
  • Baking tray
  • Thermometer

Allergy Information

Always check ingredient labels for allergens and ask a doctor if unsure.
  • Includes eggs, wheat (gluten), and dairy

Nutritional Info (Per Serving)

These nutritional values serve as a guide and don’t replace advice from healthcare experts.
  • Calorie Count: 650
  • Fat Content: 30 grams
  • Carbohydrate Content: 50 grams
  • Protein Amount: 45 grams