Description
Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Nuggets are a perfect snack balancing sweet heat and golden crunch. Tender chicken pieces are seasoned, breaded, and cooked to crispy perfection, then coated with a bold hot honey glaze featuring honey, natural hot sauce, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce for an irresistible flavor. Quick to prepare and versatile, this recipe is ideal for lunch, dinner, or game day appetizing.
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- Chicken breast, bite-sized pieces – 1 lb
- All-purpose flour – 1 cup (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version)
- Paprika – 1 tsp
- Garlic powder – 1 tsp
- Salt – 1 tsp
- Black pepper – ½ tsp
- Eggs, beaten – 2 large
- Smoked turkey bacon, finely chopped – ¼ cup
- Optional extra crunch: crushed cornflakes or panko crumbs – ½ cup
Hot Honey Glaze
- Honey (natural) – ½ cup
- Natural hot sauce – 2 tbsp (adjust to taste)
- Vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural) – 1 tbsp
- Natural gelling agent – ¼ tsp
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Pat dry and season lightly with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder to build flavor.
- Prepare the Breading Station: Set up three separate bowls: one with the flour mixed with spices (paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper), one with beaten eggs, and one with smoked turkey bacon bits. Add optional crushed cornflakes or panko crumbs to the flour mixture if desired for extra crunch.
- Bread the Nuggets: Dip each chicken piece first into the flour mixture, then the eggs, and back into the flour mixture to form a thick, crunchy crust that crisps beautifully when cooked.
- Fry or Bake: Cook the nuggets in hot oil maintained at 350°F to 375°F until golden brown and cooked through. Alternatively, bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until golden and crispy, flipping halfway through.
- Make the Hot Honey Glaze: In a small pan, combine honey, natural hot sauce, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, and natural gelling agent. Simmer gently over low heat until the glaze thickens and becomes sticky, perfect for coating.
- Toss and Serve: Once the nuggets are cooked, immediately toss them in the hot honey glaze to coat evenly with a sweet and spicy shine. Serve warm with optional garnishes and dips.
Notes
- Pat chicken pieces dry before breading to maximize crunch and reduce sogginess.
- Maintain oil temperature between 350°F and 375°F when frying to avoid greasy nuggets.
- Fry or bake nuggets in batches to ensure even cooking and keep them crispy.
- Toss nuggets in glaze just before serving to prevent sogginess.
- Check internal temperature of chicken nuggets to reach 165°F for safe consumption.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Frying or Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 100g
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: chicken nuggets, hot honey, crispy, spicy, appetizer, snack, gluten free option, quick recipe
