Honey BBQ Chicken Bites

Baked honey BBQ chicken bites! Saucy, sticky, and finger-licking good. Perfect for entertaining, game day or a quick weeknight-friendly meal!

Why you’ll love these honey BBQ chicken bites

The irresistible sticky glaze. The combination of the sweet, smoky, tangy, honey BBQ glaze is just a guaranteed hit for both kids and grown-ups. Indeed, it’s really all about the finger-licking sauce.

Great for all occasions. Whether it’s tailgating season served with carrot and celery sticks or a quick dinner for the family, these chicken bites deliver every single time.

Maximum crispiness. With the help of the cornflake crumbs along with cooking the honey BBQ sauce separately, we’re talking maximum crunchy, crispy goodness, all baked from start to finish.

Chicken

Use boneless, skinless, chicken breasts, tenderloins or thighs, cut into 1-inch chunks.

BBQ seasoning

Choose your favorite brand of BBQ seasoning. I love Yellowstone Cowboy BBQ seasoning.

Buttermilk and egg

These two ingredients will ultimately create the wet coating for the chicken, helping the cornflake crumbs adhere without falling off. The buttermilk will also tenderize the chicken while adding a rich, tangy flavor.

Cornflakes

Using cornflake crumbs is an excellent way to achieve that deep-fried crunch without actually frying the chicken. They also hold up incredibly well in the oven!

Vegetable oil

Use a neutral oil to avoid altering the flavor profile (for example – canola, avocado, or vegetable oil can all be used here).

All-purpose flour

The flour serves as a primer, absorbing all of the surface moisture and allowing the buttermilk-egg mixture to successfully adhere to the chicken without sliding off. Without the flour, the final crust can fall off during the baking process.

BBQ sauce

Choose your favorite store-bought BBQ sauce here (Stubb’s is one of my personal favorites). If you prefer a sweeter BBQ sauce, skip the honey.

Honey

Use a mild, neutral honey to balance the tangy, smoky BBQ sauce.

Apple cider vinegar

This will add a tangy, bright kick to cut through the sweetness. White vinegar can be used as well.

Hot sauce (optional)

Tabasco, Frank’s, or Sriracha are all excellent options.

How to make honey BBQ chicken bites

Prep the baking sheet. Coat a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place it inside a baking sheet. Pro tip: line the baking sheet with foil first for easier clean up.

Season the chicken. Cut the chicken into uniform 1-inch chunks and season with BBQ seasoning, salt and pepper.

Crush the cornflakes. Place the cornflakes in a gallon Ziploc bag and crush (using a rolling pin or meat mallet) until the crumbs resemble coarse breadcrumbs. Pour the crumbs into a shallow bowl, stirring in the vegetable oil until evenly coated.

Set up a coating station. Line up 3 shallow bowls in this order – (1) flour, (2) buttermilk mixture, and (3) cornflakes mixture.

Coat the chicken. Working one piece at a time, dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off any excess, dip into the buttermilk mixture, then press firmly into the cornflakes mixture.

Bake. Arrange the chicken in a single layer onto the baking sheet, generously spraying and coating with cooking oil (olive oil or avocado oil). Bake until golden and crispy.

Make the honey BBQ sauce. Combine the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, and hot sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat. This can also be microwaved until warmed through, about 1 minute.

Sauce the chicken. Combine half of the warm honey BBQ sauce with the cooked chicken, gently tossing to combine until the chicken is thoroughly coated and glossed.

Serve. Serve warm with the remaining sauce on the side.

Use a wire rack.

The wire rack is one of the best kept secrets for baking chicken. This helps elevate the chicken pieces, allowing for better air circulation, resulting in even cooking and a more consistent golden brown crispy, crunchy coating.

How to serve honey bbq chicken bites

Appetizer: Arrange the chicken bites on a platter with carrot and celery sticks alongside various dipping sauces such as ranch or blue cheese dip.

Entree: Serve with classic cookout sides such as corn, potato salad, coleslaw, and baked beans.

Salad: Dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces for a BBQ-style chopped salad.

Sandwich: Transform this into a quick, easy sandwich, adding 3-4 chicken bites to a hot dog bun or burger bun.

What cut of chicken can I use?

Chicken breasts, tenderloins, or thighs are all excellent options here.

What BBQ seasoning do you recommend?

I personally love to use Yellowstone Cowboy BBQ seasoning for its sweet, savory, and smoky flavors.

What can I substitute for buttermilk?

A quick and easy buttermilk substitute is creating your own buttermilk with whole milk and something acidic, such as lemon juice or distilled white vinegar. Add 1 tablespoon acid (lemon juice or vinegar) to 1 cup milk, letting it stand for 5-10 minutes.

How can I make cornflake crumbs?

Cornflake crumbs can easily be made in a food processor or by adding cornflakes to a gallon Ziploc bag and using a rolling pin to crush the cornflakes until the crumbs have reached an even consistency.

Which BBQ sauce do you recommend?

I love Stubb’s Original BBQ Sauce – it’s not a very sweet BBQ sauce, so it works very well in this recipe but if you have a sweeter BBQ sauce you prefer, I recommend skipping the honey.

Can I reheat these in the air fryer?

Yes! Reheat in an air fryer at 400°F in a single layer for 2-4 minutes, flipping halfway and reaching an internal temperature of 165°F.

How can I store leftovers?

How can I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.