My New Favorite Dinner: The Easiest, Stickiest Baked Hot Honey Chicken Tenders!

Okay, you guys, let’s talk about the food trend that has completely taken over my life recently: the magic of hot honey. Have you seen it everywhere too? It’s that amazing, perfect combination of sweet and spicy that is so unbelievably addictive.

So, you know me, I absolutely had to create my own easy, weeknight-friendly dinner recipe that celebrates this incredible flavour. I wanted a dish that was simple to make in the oven, without any of the mess of frying. A recipe that would give me that perfect sticky, glossy glaze and a huge punch of flavor.

Well, after a lot of very delicious recipe testing, I am so excited to tell you that I have finally perfected it. Today, I’m sharing my amazing recipe for Baked Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins. This is seriously one of the best things to come out of my kitchen this year, and I can’t wait for you to try it!

The Ultimate Flavor Bomb: Baked Hot Honey Chicken

This Baked Hot Honey Chicken recipe is my favorite because it is an absolute explosion of flavor. The sweet, floral honey, the tangy and spicy hot sauce, and the savory chicken all come together to create the most perfect, balanced bite. Baking the chicken with the glaze at the end is the secret to making it super sticky and beautifully caramelized.

A Perfect Easy Spicy Chicken Recipe for Fun Weeknight Dinners

You will find that this is my go-to easy spicy chicken recipe for any night I am craving something exciting but don’t have a lot of time to cook. It is also one of my favorite fun weeknight dinners because it feels like a special, trendy treat but is so incredibly simple to make. It’s a fantastic way to break up the monotony of the same old boring meals.

Your Guide: How Do You Make Hot Honey From Scratch?

So many of you have asked me, how do you make hot honey from scratch? My super simple shortcut method is to just whisk together your favorite runny honey with a good quality, vinegar-based hot sauce, like Frank’s RedHot, until you reach your perfect personal balance of sweet and spicy. For this recipe, we will also add a little bit of melted butter for richness and some smoked paprika for a smoky depth, which creates the ultimate, easy glaze.

Why You’ll Love These Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins

I just know you guys are going to be completely obsessed with this recipe because the sweet and spicy flavour is so incredibly addictive, you’ll want to make it every week. You’ll also love that this is a baked, not fried, recipe that is so easy to make on a single sheet pan, which means your cleanup is an absolute breeze. It’s a fun, trendy, restaurant-style meal that will seriously impress anyone you make it for.

Nutritional Benefits

While this is certainly a fun and flavour-packed treat, it’s also a great way to enjoy a satisfying meal. The chicken tenderloins are a fantastic source of lean protein, which is essential for keeping you feeling full and energized. By baking the chicken instead of deep-frying it, you are using much less oil, which results in a lighter, healthier dish. Plus, the capsaicin that is found in the chili peppers from the hot sauce is known to have some amazing metabolism-boosting properties!

Full Recipe

Okay, are you guys ready for the recipe that will probably become your new favorite chicken dinner? I am so excited for you to taste this amazing sweet and spicy glaze. Let’s get into the super simple steps to make this incredible dish!

An easy, flavour-packed recipe for the best Baked Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins. Juicy chicken tenders are baked to perfection, then tossed in an addictive, sticky, sweet, and spicy homemade hot honey glaze. This is the ultimate trendy, “better than takeout” dinner for a fun and easy weeknight meal.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes | Yield: 4 servings | Category: Dinner, Main Course | Method: Baking | Cuisine: American | Diet: Dairy-Free

Essential Ingredients for Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins

This trendy and delicious dinner comes together with a handful of simple pantry staples.

• Chicken: 1.5 lbs (about 700g) of chicken tenderloins
• For the Seasoning:
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• For the Hot Honey Glaze:
  • ½ cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter or olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• Fat: 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Garnish: Sliced green onions or fresh parsley

Ingredients Notes

Let’s chat for a sec about these simple ingredients, because a few key choices are what make this dish so addictive.

• The Chicken Tenderloins: I love using chicken tenderloins for this recipe because they are so naturally tender and they cook very quickly. Before you start, it is really important to pat the tenderloins completely dry with a paper towel. This simple step helps them to get a beautiful golden-brown color in the oven.
• The Honey: A standard, clear, runny honey is the perfect choice for this glaze. The honey is what provides that essential sweetness to balance the heat, and its natural sugars are what caramelize in the oven to create that beautiful, sticky texture.
• The Hot Sauce: The key to that signature “hot honey” flavour is a good quality, vinegar-based hot sauce. My personal favorite for this recipe is Frank’s RedHot Original, as it provides the perfect balance of heat and tangy flavour. You can easily adjust the amount of hot sauce you use to control the final spice level of your glaze.

How to Make Baked Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins

Let’s walk through the incredibly simple sheet pan method for creating this addictive chicken dinner.

• Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Chicken. First, you will want to preheat your oven to a hot 220°C (425°F). Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for the easiest cleanup. Pat your chicken tenderloins dry and place them in a bowl, then toss them with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until they are evenly coated.
• Step 2: The First Bake. Arrange the seasoned chicken tenderloins in a single layer on your prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and lightly golden.
• Step 3: Create the Hot Honey Glaze. While the chicken is baking, you can prepare your delicious glaze. In a large mixing bowl (one that is big enough to hold all of your cooked chicken), whisk together the honey, the hot sauce, the melted butter, and the smoked paprika until you have a smooth, uniform sauce.
• Step 4: Glaze the Hot Chicken. Once the chicken is fully cooked, carefully remove it from the oven. Immediately transfer the hot chicken tenders from the baking sheet into the bowl with the hot honey glaze.
• Step 5: Toss to Perfection and Serve. Use tongs to gently toss the hot chicken in the glaze until every single tenderloin is completely and beautifully coated in the sticky, sweet, and spicy sauce. Serve immediately, garnished with some sliced green onions for a fresh, sharp finish.

Storage Options

This hot honey chicken is at its absolute best when it is enjoyed fresh, while the glaze is warm and sticky. If you do have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, it’s best to warm the chicken gently in a skillet on the stovetop or for a few minutes in an air fryer to help bring back some of its original texture.

Variations and Substitutions

I love this recipe because it’s a great base for you to experiment with. If you prefer a different cut of meat, this glaze is also absolutely fantastic on baked chicken wings or even on boneless, skinless chicken thighs. For a different flavour profile, you could add a tablespoon of soy sauce or a little minced fresh ginger to the glaze for an Asian-inspired twist. You can also easily make this recipe in your air fryer for an even crispier result.

Practical & Valuable Tips

My number one tip for this recipe is to apply the glaze at the very end, after the chicken is fully cooked. If you put the honey-based glaze on the raw chicken at the beginning, the sugars in the honey will burn in the hot oven before the chicken has a chance to cook through. Tossing the hot chicken in the sauce in a large bowl is the easiest way to ensure every single piece gets perfectly coated. Finally, lining your baking sheet with parchment paper is a non-negotiable step that will save you from a very sticky cleanup!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is this hot honey chicken very spicy? The spice level of this dish is completely customizable and depends on the type and amount of hot sauce you use. As written, with a standard hot sauce, it has a pleasant, medium level of heat that is beautifully balanced by the sweetness of the honey. For a milder version, simply use less hot sauce.
2. Can I make this recipe in my air fryer? Yes, an air fryer is a fantastic tool for this! You would simply cook the seasoned chicken tenderloins in the air fryer at 200°C (400°F) for about 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through. Then, you would toss the hot, crispy tenders in the prepared glaze in a large bowl, just as the recipe directs.
3. My glaze seemed very thin. Is that normal? Yes, the glaze will seem quite thin when you first whisk it together. The magic happens when you toss the very hot, freshly baked chicken tenders in the sauce. The heat from the chicken will cause the glaze to thicken slightly and become perfectly sticky as it clings to the chicken.
4. What are the best side dishes to serve with this sweet and spicy chicken? This flavour-packed chicken pairs beautifully with a variety of simple side dishes. It is fantastic served with some fluffy white rice to balance the heat, or with a side of creamy mac and cheese for the ultimate comfort food meal. A simple, crisp coleslaw or some steamed green beans would also be perfect, refreshing accompaniments.
5. Can I make the hot honey glaze ahead of time? Yes, you can absolutely make the glaze ahead of time. You can whisk all the glaze ingredients together and store it in an airtight container or jar at room temperature for up to a week. This makes the final dinner assembly even faster!

Conclusion

This recipe for Baked Hot Honey Glazed Tenderloins is your ticket to one of the most exciting and delicious dinner trends out there. It’s a dish that proves you can create a meal that is incredibly flavourful, a little bit spicy, a little bit sweet, and completely irresistible, all with very little effort. It is a perfect, fun, and easy recipe that is guaranteed to become a new favorite in your dinner rotation. This is a Spicy Chicken Recipe that will have everyone talking. If you love this easy and addictive dinner, don’t forget to share it and save it to your favorite chicken recipes board on Pinterest!