Easy Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breasts (Print version)
Juicy chicken breasts baked with a sticky hot honey glaze. Sweet, spicy, and ready in 45 minutes with pantry staples.
# Ingredients:
For the chicken
01 -
2 lb (900 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts
02 -
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
03 -
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 -
1 teaspoon sea salt
05 -
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
For the hot honey glaze
06 -
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
07 -
4 garlic cloves, minced
08 -
1 cup raw honey
09 -
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
10 -
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 -
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
12 -
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 -
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
14 -
Pinch of sea salt
# Instructions:
01 -
Toss the chicken breasts with olive oil, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika in a large bowl until evenly coated.
02 -
Cut shallow slits across the top of each breast, about 1 inch apart. This helps the glaze cling and promotes even cooking.
03 -
Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in honey, cayenne, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, garlic powder, chili powder, and a pinch of salt. Simmer for 2 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
04 -
Arrange the chicken on a parchment-lined sheet pan with space between each piece. Spoon half the glaze over the top. Bake at 400°F for 30-35 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
05 -
Remove the chicken when the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes, then spoon the remaining glaze over the top before serving.
# Good to know:
01 -
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing so the juices stay inside the meat.
02 -
For a thicker glaze, simmer the sauce an extra 1-2 minutes until it coats the back of a spoon.