Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken

Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken is sure to satisfy your drive-thru cravings at home. Crispy fried chicken thighs with a honey chipotle sauce that is so easy to make.

Fried chicken is the ultimate comfort food and this recipe is a quick and easy version that can be on the dinner table in about 30 minutes. If you are a fan of Chili’s Chipotle Honey Crispers, you will love this restaurant copycat recipe.

Why The Whole Family Will Love this Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken Recipe

• Quick and Easy: Using boneless chicken thighs makes this a super quick dinner and the breading is super easy to make with pantry ingredients.
• Crispy Breaded Chicken: There’s nothing that tops crispy fried chicken and this recipe is just as delicious as any restaurant version. The honey chipotle sauce is so simple to make with just a few ingredients and it can be made ahead of time.
• Budget Friendly: Pick up a package of bone-in chicken thighs and turn them into chicken cutlets for a cheap dinner.

Ingredients for Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken Recipe

• Chicken Thighs – Chicken tenders will work if you prefer white meat over dark meat.
• Buttermilk – Substitute whole milk with 2 tablespoons lemon juice or vinegar.
• All Purpose Flour
• Granulated Garlic
• Onion Powder
• Smoked Paprika
• Kosher Salt
• Black Pepper
• Vegetable Oil or Shortening for Frying

Honey Chipotle Sauce Ingredients

• Salted Butter
• Honey
• Ground Chipotle or Ancho Chili Powder
• Chili Powder
• Granulated Garlic
• Smoked Paprika
• Kosher Salt

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Step By Step Directions for Fried Chicken Thighs

1. Prep the Chicken: Debone chicken thighs and pound flat using a meat mallet.
2. Make a Breading Station: Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, mix flour, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. Bread Chicken: Dredge chicken in flour, dip in buttermilk and then dredge through flour mixture again. Place on the lined baking sheet in a single layer.

4. Get Ready to Fry: Heat oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy bottom fry pan to 375° using a fry thermometer. Line a clean baking sheet with a wire rack topped with paper towels.
5. Cook the Chicken: Fry chicken a few pieces at a time, turning after 2 minutes, browning on both sides, cooking until chicken reaches 165° using a digital meat thermometer.

6. Drain the Chicken: Remove chicken from oil and let the excess oil drip off. Place on the paper towel lined baking sheet to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.

Make the Honey Chipotle Sauce

1. In a small pan, melt the butter.
2. Remove from heat and whisk in honey, chipotle, chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika and salt.
3. Keep warm until ready to serve or reheat just before serving.

5. Drizzle over the fried chicken.

Recipe Notes and Tips for Crispy Honey Chipotle Chicken

• Frying Tip: Let the oil come back up to 375°-400° between batches of chicken for the crispiest chicken.
• Keep Chicken Warm: If you are cooking a large batch, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet in a 200° oven. After draining the chicken on paper towels, move to the oven on the wire rack lined baking sheet.
• Leftovers: Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Store honey chipotle sauce in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.
• Reheat: Leftover fried chicken is delicious served cold or reheat in a skillet, lightly coated with oil, over medium-high heat. Flip to warm from both sides. Sauce can be reheated in a small pan over low heat, stirring until heated through.

Best Side Dishes for Fried Chicken

• We served these up with Crispy Breakfast Potatoes. Garlic Mashed Potatoes or Hash Brown Casserole would also be delicious.
• Mexican Street Corn is our go-to side for just about every meal and this skillet version is so easy to make with frozen corn.
• Homemade Coleslaw is creamy and delicious and the perfect side for any fried chicken dinner.

More Fried Chicken Recipes to Try

• Fried Chicken Strips are perfect for the chicken tender lover and will rival your favorite drive-thru version. Serve them up with our copycat Chick-Fil-A sauce for a family favorite dinner.
• Chicken Fries are the copycat of the Burger King favorite. Crispy fried chicken coated in a quick honey bbq sauce.
• Smoked Fried Chicken is smoked on the grill and then breaded and deep fried for a delicious twist on the southern classic.

If you are looking for a hearty dinner that is full of amazing flavor, add this Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken to the menu!

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Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken

Honey Chipotle Fried Chicken is sure to satisfy your drive-thru cravings at home. Crispy fried chicken thighs with a honey chipotle sauce that is so easy to make.

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Chicken

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fried chicken thighs, honey chipotle chicken crispers

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 883kcal

Author: Milisa

Ingredients

for the chicken

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 3 cups vegetable oil

for the honey chipotle sauce

• 1/2 cup salted butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
• 4 teaspoons ground chipotle or ancho chili powder
• 4 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

• Pound chicken thighs flat using a meat mallet.
• Pour buttermilk into a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, mix flour, garlic, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Dredge chicken in flour, dip in buttermilk and then dredge through flour mixture again.
• Place on the lined baking sheet in a single layer.
• Heat oil in a cast iron skillet or heavy bottom fry pan to 375° using a fry thermometer. Line a clean baking sheet with a wire rack topped with paper towels.
• Fry chicken a few pieces at a time, turning after 2 minutes, browning on both sides, cooking until chicken reaches 165° using a digital meat thermometer.
• Remove chicken from oil and let the excess oil drip off. Place on the paper towel lined baking sheet to drain.
• Repeat with remaining chicken pieces.

Honey Chipotle Sauce

• In a small pan, melt the butter.
• Remove from heat and whisk in honey, chipotle, chili powder, garlic, smoked paprika and salt.
• Keep warm until ready to serve or reheat just before serving.
• Drizzle over the fried chicken.

Notes

Frying Tip: Let the oil come back up to 375°-400° between batches of chicken for the crispiest chicken.

Keep Chicken Warm: If you are cooking a large batch, place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet in a 200° oven. After draining the chicken on paper towels, move to the oven on the wire rack lined baking sheet.

Leftovers: Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Store honey chipotle sauce in an airtight container up to 2 weeks.

Reheat: Leftover fried chicken is delicious served cold or reheat in a skillet, lightly coated with oil, over medium-high heat. Flip to warm from both sides. Sauce can be reheated in a small pan over low heat, stirring until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 883kcal | Carbohydrates: 74g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 30g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 228mg | Sodium: 1418mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 28g