Description
These Hot Honey Cornflake Chicken Nuggets offer a crispy, flavorful twist on classic chicken nuggets with a crunchy cornflake coating and a delightful spicy honey glaze. Air-fried to perfection, they’re served with a tangy hot honey sauce and a creamy spicy honey mayo for dipping, making this recipe a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, and savory flavors in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Nuggets
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 cups cornflakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons hot honey
Hot Honey Sauce
- ¾ cup hot honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Spicy Honey Mayo
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon hot honey
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
- Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prep and Preheat: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Prepare the air fryer basket by lining it with aluminum foil or spraying it with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
- Crush Cornflakes: Use a rolling pin or food processor to crush the cornflakes into small pieces. In a bowl, mix the crushed cornflakes with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper to season the coating.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of hot honey until well combined. This mixture will help the coating stick to the chicken.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg wash, then dredge it in the cornflake mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even and thorough coating on all sides.
- Air Fry: Place the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 12 minutes, or until the nuggets are golden brown and cooked through, flipping halfway if needed for even cooking.
- Make Sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine the ¾ cup of hot honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and simmer for 3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Make Spicy Mayo: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon hot honey, and sriracha sauce until smooth. This sauce adds a creamy, spicy element perfect for dipping or drizzling.
- Assemble and Serve: Once the chicken nuggets are done, toss them in the hot honey sauce to coat evenly. Plate the nuggets and drizzle or serve with the spicy honey mayo on the side. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired, and serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, make sure you press the cornflake coating firmly onto the chicken pieces.
- You can adjust the heat level by adding more or less cayenne pepper and sriracha according to your taste.
- If you don’t have hot honey, you can mix honey with a little hot sauce or chili flakes as a substitute.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary to ensure even cooking.
- Leftover nuggets can be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to retain their crispiness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
