Description
Honey Hot Chicken Salad is a bold and satisfying dish featuring crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy honey hot sauce, served over fresh greens with creamy dressing and crunchy toppings. It’s the perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and refreshing crunch.
Ingredients
- For the chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup flour or cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes
- Vegetable oil (for frying or baking)
- For the honey hot sauce:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- For the salad:
- 4 cups mixed greens or romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots or cabbage (optional)
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing
- 2 tbsp crumbled feta or blue cheese (optional)
- Pickle chips or slices (optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge in flour, dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs.
- Pan-fry in oil over medium heat until golden and cooked through, or bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- While chicken cooks, melt butter in a small pan. Stir in honey, hot sauce, and garlic powder. Simmer 1–2 minutes until smooth.
- Toss cooked chicken in the honey hot sauce until fully coated.
- Assemble salad: Layer greens, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and optional toppings in a large bowl.
- Top with sliced honey hot chicken and drizzle with dressing.
- Garnish with cheese and pickles if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use store-bought chicken tenders for a quick shortcut.
- Adjust heat by varying the honey-to-hot sauce ratio.
- Swap dressing with creamy jalapeño or honey mustard for a twist.
- Store chicken and salad separately for best texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 670mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
