Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken

This Hot Honey Chicken is the perfect combination of flavors: sweet, spicy, and savory. Cooked in the air fryer, it’s a quick and hassle-free recipe that turns out perfectly golden brown with an irresistible crunch. Serve it in sandwiches, on salads, or even just on its own!

Why I Love This Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

I love air frying chicken. Whether I make chicken breasts, chicken thighs, chicken tenders, or chicken legs, they always come out delicious. 

Cooking with an air fryer makes the most crispy chicken. It’s also way healthier than deep-frying and is super easy to make. Not only that, it cooks the chicken quickly and evenly, making it a great option when times are busy.

Everyone is into that spicy honey chicken flavor these days, so you know I had to give it a go myself! This air fryer hot honey chicken is coated in sticky honey, tangy hot sauce, and crunchy cornflakes for a delicious twist on a classic chicken dish. 

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders: I like to use chicken tenders since they cook quick. You can use any cut of chicken you’d like, though!
• All-purpose flour: This will help create a crispy exterior for the chicken.
• Spice mix: Onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper form the perfect seasoning for the chicken.
• Eggs: Used to create an adhesive for the cornflake crust.
• Cornflakes: Make sure to crush these into coarse crumbs so they still have some texture.
• Cooking oil spray: For greasing the air fryer basket.
• Honey: Use a good quality honey for the best flavor.
• Hot sauce: I’m all about sriracha, but feel free to grab your favorite hot sauce. Add as much or as little as you like based on your preferred spice level.
• Butter: A rich base for your hot honey sauce.
• Red pepper flakes: Adds that extra kick of spice to the sauce.

How to Make Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken 

Bread the Chicken

Start by patting your chicken tenders dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Next, set up your dredging stations:

• In one shallow bowl, mix the flour with onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• In a second bowl, beat the eggs.
• In a third bowl, add the crushed cornflakes.  

Now it’s time to bread the chicken! Take one piece at a time. 

First, dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour and shake off any excess. 

Then dip it into the egg, and finally press it into the crushed cornflakes until it’s fully coated. Once done, place the breaded chicken on a plate.

Air Fry

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Give the basket a quick spritz of oil and lay your chicken out in a single layer.  

Spray the tops of the chicken with oil if desired to help crisp the coating.

Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and browned around the edges.

Make Hot Honey Sauce

While the chicken cooks, it’s time to whip up the hot honey sauce! 

In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, butter, and red pepper flakes. Stir until the butter has melted and the mixture is smooth. 

Give it a quick taste and add more hot sauce if you want to turn up the heat. 

Serve & Enjoy

When the chicken’s ready, drizzle or brush that hot honey goodness all over while it’s still warm. 

Don’t forget to serve some extra sauce on the side for dipping! Enjoy!

Delicious Ways to Serve Hot Honey Chicken

You can enjoy this hot honey chicken on its own, or elevate your meals by adding it to recipes like my Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Summer Salad or Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches! I love these two recipes as they’re perfect for summer and great options to serve up at a picnic, BBQ, or potluck. 

Storage & Reheating

If you have any leftover hot honey chicken, it can be stored in an airtight container and kept in the fridge for 2-3 days. To reheat, just place it back in the air fryer for a few minutes until it’s heated through and crispy again.

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