30-Minute Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts
Crispy baked chicken breasts coated in panko and Parmesan, finished with a spicy hot honey sauce made with garlic, cayenne, and butter.
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 to 1 1/2 lbs total), cut horizontally into 4 thin cutlets
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder (for chicken)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (e.g., Crystal or Tabasco)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (for sauce)
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder (for sauce)
- 1 pinch kosher salt (for sauce)
- Coarsely chopped fresh thyme leaves, for garnish (optional)
- Flaky salt, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- If your chicken breasts are thick, slice them horizontally to create four thinner cutlets. Season the chicken generously with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
- In a shallow dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon onion powder. Mix well.
- In another shallow dish, whisk the two large eggs with 1 tablespoon of hot sauce.
- Dredge each chicken cutlet first in the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then press firmly into the panko mixture to ensure a complete and even coating. Place the breaded chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the chicken for about 30 minutes total, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C).
- A few minutes before the chicken is done, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a small skillet, combine honey, unsalted butter, minced garlic, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and a pinch of kosher salt. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture simmers and the butter is fully melted.
- Once the chicken is baked, drizzle generously with the warm hot honey sauce. Garnish with fresh thyme leaves and flaky salt if desired. Serve immediately.