Description
Crispy hot honey feta chicken delivers a Mediterranean-inspired flavor explosion that balances spicy, sweet, and tangy notes. Juicy chicken breasts coated in a crunchy panko crust drizzled with honey and crumbled feta promise a memorable meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Hot Honey:
- ⅓ cup (110 grams) honey
- 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s or Cholula)
- ¾ teaspoon chili flakes
Chicken and Coating:
- 2 chicken breasts (250 grams/9 ounces each)
- ¼ cup (35 grams) plain flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (65 grams) panko breadcrumbs
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Additional Ingredients:
- 6–8 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
- 7 ounces (200 grams) crumbled feta cheese
Instructions
- Infuse honey with a fiery blend of hot sauce and chili flakes in a small vessel. Gently warm the mixture until it reaches a delicate simmer, then set aside to cool and mellow. Customize the heat level by adjusting chili flakes or hot sauce.
- Slice chicken breasts horizontally, creating four uniformly sized cutlets with precision.
- Craft a robust spice blend by combining paprika, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, cayenne, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Establish a three-stage breading ritual: First, a seasoned flour station, then an egg wash, and finally a panko breadcrumb coating enriched with remaining spices.
- Meticulously coat each chicken piece, starting with flour, followed by an egg dip, and finishing with a thorough panko encrustation. Arrange the prepared cutlets on a clean tray.
- Select a large skillet and heat oil to medium-high, ensuring sufficient depth for even frying. Test oil readiness by dropping a breadcrumb – it should sizzle immediately.
- Carefully introduce chicken pieces to the hot oil, frying each side for 3-4 minutes until achieving a golden, crisp exterior and ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F. Rotate batches as needed, transferring finished pieces to a wire rack.
- Generously crown each crispy cutlet with crumbled feta, maximizing coverage.
- Position chicken under the broiler, allowing feta to transform into a golden, slightly caramelized topping.
- Finalize by drizzling the prepared hot honey lavishly over the chicken. Serve immediately and store any remaining honey in the refrigerator for future culinary adventures.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Slice chicken breasts horizontally to ensure even cooking and quicker frying time.
- Seasoning Trick: Mix spices into flour and breadcrumbs for maximum flavor distribution in every crispy bite.
- Oil Temperature Matters: Wait until breadcrumbs sizzle before adding chicken to guarantee perfectly golden, crisp exterior.
- Feta Broiling Tip: Watch closely under broiler to prevent burning, aiming for light golden melting effect.
- Hot Honey Hack: Customize spice level by adjusting chili flakes or hot sauce intensity to personal preference.
- Storage Wisdom: Refrigerate leftover hot honey in sealed container for future use within one week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 755
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 1360mg
- Fat: 37g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 61g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 54g
- Cholesterol: 202mg