Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts Recipe
This Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts recipe features juicy, flavorful chicken breasts baked to golden perfection and smothered in a spicy, sweet hot honey sauce. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of spices, marinated for enhanced flavor, and baked in the oven, creating a delicious balance of heat and sweetness perfect for an impressive yet easy meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes plus marinating time
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes (including 3 hour marinating time)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasonings
- 2 lbs. organic chicken breasts
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tsps On Everything All-Purpose Blend
- 1 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- 1 tsp sea salt
Hot Honey Sauce
- 6 Tbsps unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup organic raw honey
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- Pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Prep + Season Chicken: In a large bowl, combine freshly cleaned and rinsed chicken breasts with olive oil, sea salt, On Everything All-Purpose Blend, and smoked paprika. Toss thoroughly to ensure each piece is fully coated with the seasoning.
- Score Chicken: Place the seasoned chicken breasts on a clean cutting board and make small 1-inch slit-like cuts on top of each breast, spacing them evenly across the surface. This allows the marinade and sauce to penetrate better.
- Marinate: For best flavor, transfer the coated chicken breasts into a securely sealed ziplock bag and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, ideally overnight. Before cooking, let the chicken come to room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Make Hot Honey Sauce: In a medium 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Then add honey, cayenne pepper, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of sea salt. Stir continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and thick. Remove from heat.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or alternatively prepare a skillet for baking.
- Arrange Chicken: Place the seasoned and scored chicken breasts side by side on the prepared baking sheet or skillet, leaving some space between each. Spoon half of the hot honey sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
- Bake: Bake the chicken for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown, crispy on the outside, and fully cooked through internally (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 75°C).
- Serve: Remove chicken from oven and let it rest briefly. Spoon the remaining hot honey sauce on top before serving. Enjoy with your favorite sides such as salad, pasta, basmati rice, or brown rice.
- Bon Appetit! Your flavorful hot honey baked chicken breasts are ready to enjoy.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken overnight intensifies the flavor and tenderizes the meat.
- Scoring the chicken breasts helps the sauce penetrate deeply for more flavor.
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper and red pepper flakes to control the spice level.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for safety.
- Leftover hot honey sauce can be stored in the refrigerator and used to enhance other dishes.
Keywords: baked chicken breasts, hot honey chicken, spicy honey chicken, easy chicken recipe, baked chicken, dinner recipe, sweet and spicy chicken
