Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Salad (Printable)

Golden fried chicken with spicy hot honey glaze on crisp romaine lettuce, topped with roasted seeds and fresh vegetables.

# What You Need:

→ Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
04 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
05 - 1 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
09 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ Hot Honey

10 - 1/3 cup honey
11 - 1 to 2 tablespoons hot sauce
12 - 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
13 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

→ Salad

14 - 1 large head romaine lettuce, chopped
15 - 1/2 cup cucumber, diced
16 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
17 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced
18 - 1/3 cup roasted mixed seeds
19 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro or parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

20 - 1/4 cup olive oil
21 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
22 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
23 - 1 teaspoon honey
24 - Salt and pepper to taste

# How-To:

01 - Slice chicken breasts into strips. Combine buttermilk, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add chicken, coat evenly, and marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to overnight.
02 - Place flour in one shallow dish and panko in another. Remove chicken from marinade and coat each piece first in flour, then in panko, pressing gently to adhere.
03 - Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken strips in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
04 - Combine honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over low heat. Warm gently while stirring until combined. Do not boil. Set aside.
05 - Toss chopped romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fresh herbs together in a large bowl.
06 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
07 - Drizzle the salad with vinaigrette and toss gently. Top with crispy chicken strips, drizzle generously with hot honey, and sprinkle with roasted seeds. Serve immediately.

# Insider Tips:

01 -
  • The hot honey glaze transforms ordinary chicken into something restaurant-worthy with almost zero effort
  • You get that perfect crunch followed by cool fresh greens in every single bite
02 -
  • Dont overcrowd your pan when frying the chicken or the oil temperature will drop and you'll end up with soggy coating
  • The hot honey thickens as it cools so if it becomes too thick to drizzle warm it slightly with a few seconds in the microwave
03 -
  • Use a candy thermometer if you have one to keep your oil at exactly 350°F for the crispiest results
  • The buttermilk marinade is not skippable it's what makes the chicken stay juicy even after frying
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