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Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets Recipe

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★★★★

3.8 from 33 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets coated in a perfectly seasoned batter, deep-fried to golden perfection, and drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. This recipe balances heat and sweetness delivering a deliciously addictive appetizer or snack that’s easy to make at home.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 4 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • ¾ teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste

Dry Coating – First Part

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Wet Batter and Remaining Dry Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

For Frying

  • 2 quarts vegetable or peanut oil

Hot Honey Sauce

  • ½ cup (1 stick) salted butter
  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup Sriracha hot sauce

Instructions

  1. Season the chicken: Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and black pepper to taste over the chicken pieces, ensuring even coverage for well-seasoned bites.
  2. Prepare dry coating (first part): In a shallow bowl, combine 1½ cups flour, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 2 teaspoons sugar, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 3 teaspoons kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper to create the first dry mixture for breading.
  3. Prepare wet batter and remaining dry ingredients: In another shallow bowl, beat the egg with the buttermilk. Whisk in remaining ¾ cup flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and baking soda until smooth and combined.
  4. Coat the chicken: Add chicken pieces to the buttermilk mixture and toss to coat thoroughly.
  5. Heat the oil: Place a cooling rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Fill a large, heavy pot with vegetable oil and attach a deep-fry thermometer. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 325°F.
  6. Bread and fry the chicken: Remove one piece of chicken from the wet batter, letting excess drip off, then dredge it in the dry flour mixture pressing gently to coat. Carefully add chicken to hot oil in batches, frying for 3-4 minutes and turning halfway until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove nuggets with a slotted spoon and drain on the cooling rack. Maintain oil temperature at 325°F between batches.
  7. Make the hot honey sauce: While frying, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in honey and Sriracha until the mixture is smooth and heated through.
  8. Serve: Transfer the fried nuggets to a serving platter and drizzle with the hot honey sauce or serve the sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

  • Ensure oil temperature remains steady at 325°F for even frying and crispy nuggets.
  • Use a deep-fry thermometer to monitor the oil temperature accurately.
  • Adjust cayenne pepper amounts depending on your preferred spice level.
  • For best texture, drain the nuggets on a cooling rack rather than paper towels to avoid sogginess.
  • The hot honey sauce can be prepared ahead and warmed gently before serving.

Keywords: hot honey chicken nuggets, spicy chicken nuggets, fried chicken nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets, sweet and spicy chicken

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/hot-honey-chicken-nuggets-recipe/