Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken | Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
Crispy, spicy, sweet, and seriously satisfying, this Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken is the kind of recipe you’ll want to make on repeat.
Thin chicken cutlets are marinated in seasoned buttermilk, coated in crunchy cornflakes, air fried until golden and crisp, then finished with a warm, buttery hot honey sauce. Eat the chicken on its own, serve it with your favorite sides, or pile it onto a soft bun with coleslaw and pickles for the ultimate hot honey chicken sandwich.
It’s crunchy without deep frying, packed with flavor, and easy enough for a weeknight dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken
This recipe delivers everything you want in crispy chicken without the mess of deep frying.
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Crispy cornflake coating
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Juicy, flavorful chicken
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Sweet and spicy hot honey sauce
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Made in the air fryer
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Easy to customize
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Perfect for sandwiches
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Great for weeknight dinners or entertaining
The contrast between the crunchy coating and sticky hot honey sauce makes every bite incredibly satisfying.
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
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2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into thin cutlets
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3 cups buttermilk
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¼ cup hot sauce
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1 tablespoon garlic powder
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1 teaspoon onion powder
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1 teaspoon black pepper
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½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
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Pinch of salt
Cornflake Coating
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4 cups cornflakes
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1 teaspoon garlic powder
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½ teaspoon onion powder
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½ teaspoon black pepper
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½ teaspoon paprika, sweet or smoked
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Pinch of salt
Hot Honey Sauce
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½ cup honey
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¼ cup hot sauce
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1 tablespoon butter
For Serving
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Soft sandwich buns
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Coleslaw
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Pickles
How to Make Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken
Step 1
In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt.
Step 2
Add the chicken cutlets, making sure each piece is fully coated in the marinade.
Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 hours.
Step 3
Add the cornflakes, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and salt to a food processor.
Pulse until the cornflakes become fine crumbs.
No food processor? Add everything to a zip-top bag and crush the cornflakes with a rolling pin.
Step 4
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
Step 5
Remove the chicken from the marinade and allow the excess buttermilk to drip off.
Press each piece firmly into the seasoned cornflake crumbs until all sides are thoroughly coated.
Step 6
Generously spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
Arrange the coated chicken in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray the tops of the chicken generously with cooking spray.
Step 7
Air fry at 400°F for 18 to 25 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken.
Flip the chicken halfway through cooking and spray again with cooking spray.
The chicken is done when the coating is golden and crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 8
While the chicken cooks, prepare the hot honey sauce.
Add the honey, hot sauce, and butter to a small saucepan.
Warm over low heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring until the butter melts and the sauce becomes smooth.
Do not allow the sauce to boil.
Step 9
Drizzle the warm hot honey sauce over the crispy chicken immediately before serving.
Step 10
Serve the chicken as is, or layer it onto a soft sandwich bun with crunchy coleslaw and pickles.
Enjoy!
Tips for the Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken
Cut the Chicken Evenly
Slicing the chicken breasts into evenly sized cutlets helps everything cook at the same rate.
Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer
Air needs to circulate around each piece of chicken for the coating to become crisp.
Cook in batches if necessary.
Spray the Coating Generously
If you notice dry patches of cornflakes before cooking, add a little extra cooking spray.
This helps create that deep golden, crunchy finish.
Flip Halfway Through
Flipping ensures the chicken browns evenly on both sides.
Sauce at the End
Drizzle the hot honey sauce on just before serving so the coating stays as crisp as possible.
How Spicy Is Hot Honey Chicken?
You’re in control.
For a milder version, reduce the hot sauce in the honey mixture and skip the cayenne in the marinade.
For more heat, add extra hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or chili flakes to the sauce.
The honey balances the heat beautifully, giving you that sweet-spicy combination that makes hot honey chicken so addictive.
How to Make a Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
This crispy chicken is incredible on its own, but turning it into a sandwich takes it to another level.
Start with a soft bun and layer on:
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Air fryer hot honey chicken
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Creamy coleslaw
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Dill pickles
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Extra hot honey sauce
The creamy slaw cools down the spice while the pickles add acidity and crunch.
For even more flavor, add shredded lettuce, sliced jalapeños, or a little mayo.
What to Serve with Hot Honey Chicken
Pair this crispy chicken with:
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Coleslaw
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French fries
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Sweet potato fries
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Roasted potatoes
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Mac and cheese
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Corn on the cob
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Cucumber salad
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Pickles
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Simple green salad
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Roasted vegetables
For a party, slice the chicken into smaller pieces and serve it with toothpicks and hot honey sauce on the side.
Can You Make Hot Honey Chicken Ahead of Time?
The chicken is at its crispiest right after air frying, but you can prep most of the recipe ahead.
Marinate the chicken earlier in the day and prepare the cornflake coating in advance.
You can also make the hot honey sauce ahead of time and gently reheat it before serving.
If reheating cooked chicken, return it to the air fryer for a few minutes at 375°F until warmed through and crispy again.
Wait to add the sauce until just before serving.
More Sweet Ways to Feed Your Soul
After all that sweet heat, a little dessert feels especially good.
Send someone a classic Cookie gift box or browse our full collection of Cookie gift boxes for an easy way to celebrate birthdays, milestones, or everyday moments.
For something bite-sized, try our crispy Mini cookies, or share a signature Cookie assortment filled with freshly baked Assorted cookies.
Planning a party or office event? Our Bulk cookies make feeding a crowd easy.
For birthdays, holidays, thank-yous, and celebrations, explore our curated Dessert boxes or choose a thoughtful Dessert box.
Want something interactive? Try our Cookie decorating kit or explore the full Cookie kit collection.
Shopping for plant-based treats? Our Vegan gifts make it easy to send something sweet.
And for a gift that keeps arriving, explore our Cookie of the month club or indulgent Brownie subscription box.
The Feed Your Soul Difference
We believe food should be fun, comforting, and worth sharing.
We take pride in our process, our facility, our team, our products, and our mission to give back. We bake integrity into everything we do.
Whether you’re making crispy Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken for dinner or sending someone a box of freshly baked treats, we hope every bite helps you feed your soul.
Enjoy!
Xo