Delicious Hot Honey Thighs

Golden baked chicken thighs with a crunchy cornflake crust, topped with a spicy-sweet honey glaze, make for an easy weeknight meal that feels a bit fancy. The mix of crisp coating and sticky glaze hits the spot when you want something tasty without a lot of hassle.

I whipped this up on a night when I wanted something crispy and a bit spicy. It quickly won over my family as our go-to easy and flavorful dinner.

What You Need

• Chicken thighs without bones or skin: stay juicy and tender when baked. Bone-in’s fine too, just watch your cooking time.
• Honey: brings natural sweetness that pairs well with the heat in the glaze. Raw or local honey works best.
• Apple cider vinegar: adds a bright tang that balances the glaze.
• Hot sauce: mixed with the eggs adds a bit of heat from the inside. Pick your favorite kind to change up the spice.
• Corn flakes: give a crunchy crust and are a simple alternative to traditional bread crumbs. Choose plain ones without sugar for better taste and texture.
• Eggs: help stick the coating to the chicken and make the crust crisp. Large eggs work well.
• Smoked paprika: adds smoky flavor that works with the glaze’s spice. Fresh jars are more flavorful.
• Chili flakes: bring the heat to the glaze and can be adjusted based on your spice tolerance.
• Salt: essential for highlighting all the flavors—kosher salt makes it easy to control.
• Buttermilk: tenderizes the chicken and adds a slight tang to balance the glaze. No buttermilk? Mix some lemon juice or vinegar into regular milk.
• Garlic and onion powder: add savory depth to the crust. Fresh spices work best.

How To Make It

Heat The Oven:

Set your oven to 425°F and get a baking sheet ready with parchment paper so cleanup is quick and food won’t stick. The high heat crisps the chicken without drying it out.

Smash The Cornflakes:

Put cornflakes in a plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. You can go fine or leave bigger bits for more crunch—your call.

Mix The Dry & Wet:

In one bowl, mix crushed cornflakes, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and salt. In another, whisk eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce. The wet mix adds flavor and makes the crust stick.

Coat The Chicken:

Dip chicken thighs into the wet mix first, then press into the cornflake mix so it sticks well. Lay them evenly on your baking sheet.

Cook Until Crisp:

Lightly spray the coated chicken with oil for extra crispness. Bake about 25 minutes until golden and cooked inside. Check for 165°F internal temp.

Make The Glaze:

While chicken bakes, warm honey, chili flakes, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar together in a small pan or microwave safe bowl until runny and mixed well.

Finish And Serve:

Drizzle the spicy-sweet glaze all over those crispy thighs before serving. It adds a sticky, flavorful punch.

The best part for me is the sticky hot honey glaze. It reminds me of discovering that perfect sweet-and-spicy combo that I had to make at home again and again. It’s become a favorite for game nights and late meals in my family.

Keeping Leftovers

Switching Things Up

Serving Suggestions

That golden crust covered in sticky hot honey glaze makes this chicken look and taste amazing. Whether it’s a casual family dinner or impressing guests, it always hits the spot.

Frequently Asked Cooking Questions

→ What’s the best way to make the chicken extra crispy?

Give the breaded chicken a quick spray of cooking oil before putting it in the oven. This helps the cornflake crust turn golden and stay crispy.

→ Can I cook this with other parts of the chicken?

Sure, bone-in thighs or breasts can be used but watch the cooking time. Thighs stay juicy, but breasts might dry out if not cooked carefully.

→ Where does the spicy-sweet taste come from?

The glaze blends honey’s sweetness with chili flakes and hot sauce for a nice spicy kick that goes great with the crispy coating.

→ Is crushed cornflakes better than breadcrumbs for crunch?

Crushed cornflakes make the crust lighter and crunchier than breadcrumbs or flour, giving the chicken a crisp texture after baking.

→ How do I change the spice level?

You can add more or less chili flakes and hot sauce in the glaze to make it as mild or hot as you want.