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Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken (Sweet & Spicy)

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Are you ready to hop on the hot honey trend? This air fryer hot honey chicken is not just trendy but a family favorite that’s perfect for an easy dinner.

Hot honey has taken the food world by storm because it is a fantastic combination of sweet and spicy. And what better way to use it than on some crisp and juicy air fryer chicken?

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And I show you how to make your own buttery hot honey sauce at home, so you don’t have to buy a ridiculously priced bottle at the store! Plus, the air fryer makes for a quick meal and easy cleanup.

So let’s take a basic chicken recipe and turn it into sticky and sweet hot honey chicken that will become a family favorite.

🥘Key Ingredients

For exact amounts needed see the recipe card below

  • Boneless chicken breast
  • Hot sauce
  • Honey
  • Oil
  • Garlic
  • Paprika
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Butter
ingredients for hot honey chicken.

🍯Store Bought Hot Honey vs. Homemade

You can buy hot honey at the grocery store or make quick hot honey from hot sauce, honey and butter. Considering how expensive hot honey is, I prefer to make my own!

Just melt some butter, stir in honey and your favorite hot sauce. It doesn’t get much simpler than that!

🥣How to Make Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken

  1. Prep – Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Then use a sharp knife to score it diagonally on top. This helps get the seasoning to all of the chicken.
  2. Make seasoning – Mix the garlic, hot sauce, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper with the oil.
score the chicken diagonally.
Score chicken
seasoning mix for chicken.
Combine seasoning
  1. Coat Chicken – Put the chicken in the air fryer basket, keeping it in a single layer. Spread the seasoning mix over the top, getting some down into the slits.
  2. Air Fry – Cook at 380 degrees F for 18 minutes. Then use a meat thermometer to verify the chicken has reached 165 degrees F. Cook it for another 2-3 minutes if necessary.
chicken breast before air frying.
Before air frying
chicken breast after air frying.
After air frying
  1. Make Hot Honey – While the chicken cooks, combine the butter, honey, and hot sauce and microwave for 10-15 seconds until the butter melts. Stir.
  2. Brush Hot Honey on Chicken – Transfer chicken to a serving platter and brush it with the hot honey butter sauce before serving.
making the hot honey sauce.
Make hot honey sauce
brushing the chicken with honey sauce.
Coat chicken

🍴Serving Ideas

Garnish the air fryer hot honey chicken with parsley and serve it with rice and a veggie. It goes great with simple side dishes like air fryer green beans or air fryer eggplant. A potato side like rosemary and garlic roast potatoes is also an excellent choice.

Serve it with extra sauce for those who want it more sweet and spicy. This is a great family dinner that offers something for everyone.

💭How to Store

Store leftover hot honey chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days. It is delicious when diced and added to a salad for lunch. Or make it into a hot honey chicken wrap.

hot honey chicken on a plate.

⭐Tips for Making the Best …

Be sure to check out the step by step instructions

  • Scoring the chicken helps the seasoning get down into the meat.
  • You can leave out the hot sauce and make air fryer honey chicken.
  • Add some hot pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning to make it even hotter.
  • This works great with chicken thighs or drumsticks too! Decrease the cooking time to about 15 minutes, but always check the internal temperature before serving.

Did You Make This? Leave a Star Rating!

chicken with a hot honey glaze.
4.69 from 19 votes

Air fryer Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

Published By Anne
Air fryer hot honey chicken is a delicious easy dinner! Glaze chicken breast with this sweet and spicy sauce for a simple sticky and sweet meal, which is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Servings: 2
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Ingredients
 

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tablespoon oil

Hot Honey Sauce *see notes

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon hot sauce

Instructions

  • Score chicken breast diagonally with a sharp knife.
    2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Mix the garlic, hot sauce, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and oil together in a small bowl.
    2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, Salt and pepper to taste, 1/2 tablespoon oil
  • Put the chicken pieces in the air fryer basket and spread the seasoning mixture on top. Parchment paper in the bottom of the air fryer basket helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easier.
  • Place in the air fryer, and cook for 18-20 minutes at 375° F.
  • Use an instant-read thermometer to verify the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  • While the chicken cooks, put butter, hot sauce, and honey in a shallow bowl and microwave for 10-20 seconds or until the butter is almost melted. Mix together.
    2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  • When the chicken is done, take it out and baste it with the butter mixture.

Notes

  • Substitute 4 tablespoons of store-bought hot honey sauce if you prefer.
  • You can leave out the hot sauce and make air fryer honey chicken.
  • Add some hot pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to the seasoning to make it even hotter.
  • This works great with chicken thighs or drumsticks too! Decrease the cooking time to about 15 minutes, but always check the internal temperature before serving.

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 573mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2129IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition facts are estimates.

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air fryer hot honey chicken on bed of rice
anne

Hi, I’m Anne!

I love to cook and I want to share my recipes with you. I believe cooking should be approachable and fun, not a chore. I want to make simple recipes using everyday ingredients that you can make again and again, whether it is for a busy weeknight, a summer cookout or a special dessert. Read more...

5 thoughts on “Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken (Sweet & Spicy)”

  1. 5 stars
    I do not know the grade of recipe but i must say that i looks so tasty. I just wanted to ask that why did not you add some vinegar on it. According to the cooking I know, if a little vinegar was added, the taste would have been better.

    Reply
  2. I made this for my mom and I tonight and we loved it! I added a little lime juice in the honey butter and we had it with coconut jasmine rice. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  3. I’m looking forward to making this. I can marinate it at home and because I have an air fryer in my office, I can air fry it for lunch. Yes, I also have a rice cooker (love my office) so I can also make fresh rice. Looking forward to making this. Thank you for sharing Anne!

    Reply

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