Description
This Honey Hot Chicken Salad is a quick and flavorful dish that blends crispy, cornflake-coated chicken with fresh greens and a sweet-spicy honey dressing. Perfect for busy weeknights or dinner parties, it offers a mix of textures, adjustable heat, and vibrant toppings. Meal-prep friendly and highly customizable.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
1½ lbs boneless chicken thighs or breasts
1 cup buttermilk (for marinating)
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups crushed cornflakes
½ cup panko breadcrumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil spray (for air fryer or oven)
For the Honey Hot Dressing:
6 tbsp raw honey
2–4 tbsp hot sauce (to taste)
1 tsp lemon juice
½ tsp smoked paprika
¼ cup olive oil
½ tsp Dijon mustard (optional, for emulsification)
1 clove garlic, minced
Salad Base & Toppings:
4 cups romaine lettuce or massaged kale
1 cup shredded carrots
1 cup diced cucumbers
½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ cup blue cheese or feta crumbles
¼ cup toasted nuts (almonds, pecans, or pepitas)
Fried shallots or crispy onions (optional)
Instructions
Marinate the chicken in buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne for 30 minutes.
Set up a dredging station: one bowl with beaten eggs, another with crushed cornflakes, panko, and Parmesan.
Coat each chicken piece in egg, then in the crumb mix.
Air fry at 400°F for 15–18 minutes or bake at 350°F for 22–25 minutes. Chicken is done at 165°F internal temperature.
Make the dressing: Whisk honey, hot sauce, lemon juice, and paprika. Slowly add olive oil while whisking. Stir in garlic. Add mustard if needed for consistency.
Assemble salad: Layer greens, cucumbers, carrots, and tomatoes. Place sliced warm chicken on top. Drizzle with dressing.
Top with crumbles, nuts, and crispy onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
Adjust dressing spice with more honey or hot sauce.
Keep ingredients separate if meal prepping.
Use gluten-free cornflakes for a GF version.
For a vegetarian version, substitute with tofu or tempeh.
Chicken can be cooked ahead and reheated for later meals.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course / Salad
- Method: Air Fryer or Oven + No-Cook Salad Assembly
- Cuisine: American (with global fusion variations)
Keywords: honey hot chicken salad, spicy chicken salad, air fryer chicken, sweet and spicy salad, healthy chicken salad, gluten-free option, weeknight salad, meal prep salad