Easy Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken: Your New Favorite Weeknight Meal!
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The first bite into a crispy, juicy, golden-brown piece of chicken is a truly captivating experience. For a moment, it feels as if the world around you fades away as the crunch and subtle spice hit your taste buds. It never gets old! Now, imagine that bite smothered in the sweet and spicy liquid gold that is hot honey. That’s the recipe we’re going to share with you today.
This crispy, cheesy, hot honey chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you’re rushing to make dinner. The prep work is clean, easy, and efficient, and the chicken is assembled and baked on one sheet pan.
Baking the chicken also allows the melty cheese to combine with the breadcrumbs to cover it in a crispy, crunchy, and savory coating that will make this hot honey chicken dish your new quick and easy go-to meal! Top it off with an extra kiss of hot honey to bring it to the next level. You can use whichever brand you prefer, but if you’d like to make your own, check out our [homemade habanero hot honey recipe]!
Here’s What You’ll Need
This dish only requires a few essential ingredients and seasonings. You can add or remove some based on your taste or dietary preferences, but here is a general overview.
Breadcrumb Mixture:
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup extra sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Hot sauce
Yogurt Mixture
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp hot honey
- Hot sauce to taste
- Salt and pepper to taste
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken: Step by Step
Prep work for this dish is quick and straightforward. Let’s cover each step in detail below:
Slice the Chicken
Begin by slicing the chicken breast into two cutlets. This will help it cook quicker in the oven. Pat the chicken dry and lay it flat on a cutting board, then press the palm of your hand firmly on top of the chicken to hold it in place. Slice through the middle of the chicken breast with a sharp knife to create two thin cutlets. Season the cutlets all over with salt and pepper.
Yogurt Mixture
Combine Greek yogurt, hot honey, hot sauce to taste, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. This mixture will be used as an adhesive that helps the breadcrumbs and cheese stick to the chicken while baking.
Spread the mixture over the top and sides of the chicken with a spoon until it forms a thin layer. There is no need to coat the bottom of the chicken, as it will remain in contact with the pan when cooking.
Cheesy Breadcrumb Mixture
Mix breadcrumbs, shredded cheese (reserve a bit of shredded cheese to top the chicken before baking), seasonings, olive oil, and a few dashes of hot sauce in a separate bowl. Mix the ingredients well, then spread over the chicken, pressing down to form an even coating on the top and sides where you spread the yogurt. Top with the remaining cheese.
That’s all the prep work for this dish! The final step is to put the pan in the oven and bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This takes about 15 to 20 minutes. When the chicken is baking, I like to do the dishes so the mess is completely cleaned when dinner is ready.
Once the chicken is finished baking, drizzle it with hot honey and serve immediately.
What’s on the Side? A Few of Our Favorite Pairings
One of the best parts of this meal is how easy it is to cook your sides with the chicken all in one sheet pan. I can get too ambitious in the kitchen sometimes and spend hours making one dish, so this meal is always a relaxing change of pace.
Here are a few side dishes I like to make with this meal:
Lemon Pepper Broccoli
This lemon pepper broccoli has quickly become one of my favorite veggie dishes because it’s quick and easy to prepare, I always keep the seasonings in my cabinet, and the tanginess from the lemon pepper is so addicting!
Place broccoli florets on the tray and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and lemon pepper. If you want to add a kick—which I always do—try adding crushed pepper flakes or cayenne pepper powder. Mix it on the tray, and there you have it! A zesty, delicious, and nutritious side dish that cooks alongside your chicken at the same time and temperature.
If you don’t have lemon pepper, leave it out or substitute a squeeze of fresh lemon juice after the broccoli comes out of the oven. And, of course, I always drizzle it with some hot honey.
Garlicky Green Beans
Green beans are a go-to veggie option in my kitchen because they’re quick and easy and develop a delicious crispy char when roasted in the oven. I also like adding sliced shallots for additional flavor. Cut the shallot into slivers about ¼ inch thick, place on a baking sheet with your green beans, and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mix well. Add your chicken to the sheet and assemble, then bake everything in the oven at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes. They’re delicious!
Fluffy Baked Potato
These will take longer to make, so we recommend cooking them before the chicken on a separate baking sheet. Wash the raw potatoes (I use russet potatoes) and puncture them with a fork about 5-10 times.
Place the potatoes on a baking sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 425. Brush all over with melted butter and a light sprinkle of salt. Place the trays with the chicken and potatoes back in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
Once the potatoes are finished, use a knife to slice them open. Be sure your knife is not cutting through the bottom of the potato. Using a pair of tongs, squeeze the potatoes firmly from each end to open them and fluff the inside with a fork.
Mix in butter, salt, pepper, cheese, sour cream, or any other toppings you like. Serve and enjoy!
Easy Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Recipe
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Total Time: 30 min
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- One whole boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced lengthwise into two thin cutlets
- ½ cup plain panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup extra sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp hot honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Your favorite hot sauce
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Pat the chicken breast dry and lay it out on a cutting board. Place the palm of your hand firmly over the top of the chicken breast to hold it flat on the board. Slice the chicken breast down the middle lengthwise to leave you with two cutlets. Season all over with salt and pepper.
- Combine Greek yogurt, hot honey, salt and pepper, and a few dashes of hot sauce in a small bowl. Use a spoon to scoop the yogurt mixture over the top of the chicken, spreading to cover the top and sides as best you can.
- In a separate bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese (save a few pinches for topping the chicken before baking), garlic and onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper, olive oil, and a few more dashes of hot sauce to taste. Mix well.
- Transfer the chicken to the baking sheet so the yogurt-covered side faces up. Use a spoon or your hand to spread the breadcrumbs and cheese mixture over the chicken, pressing down so it sticks to the yogurt. Make sure to coat the sides. Top the chicken with the remaining cheese.
- Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drizzle with more hot honey to taste. Serve and enjoy!
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Did you make this recipe? Leave a comment below and tell us how you liked it!