Description
This recipe features crispy air-fried chicken nuggets coated in a spicy, sweet hot honey cornflake crust, paired with a zesty hot honey sauce and a creamy spicy honey mayo. Perfect for a flavorful snack or meal, these nuggets combine the crunch of cornflakes with the heat of hot honey for an irresistible taste experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 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
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
Garnish
- Sesame seeds (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 mixing bowl, combine the crushed cornflakes with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Prepare Egg Wash: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and 2 tablespoons of hot honey until fully blended.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the egg wash, then dredge it in the cornflake mixture, pressing firmly to ensure an even coating that sticks well.
- Air Fry: Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer inside the preheated air fryer basket. Air fry for 12 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Make Sauce: While the chicken cooks, combine the hot honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and optional cayenne pepper in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer gently for 3 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Make Spicy Honey Mayo: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, hot honey, and sriracha sauce until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble and Serve: Toss the freshly air-fried chicken nuggets in the prepared hot honey sauce to coat. Serve with a dollop of spicy honey mayo on top and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy your flavorful, crunchy hot honey cornflake chicken nuggets warm.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double coat the chicken by repeating the egg wash and cornflake dredging steps before air frying.
- You can adjust the amount of cayenne pepper or sriracha to control the spiciness of the sauce and mayo to your preference.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, these nuggets can be baked in an oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 15-20 minutes, turning halfway through.
- Use gluten-free cornflakes if a gluten-free version is needed.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
