Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Salad (Print Version)

Golden chicken strips with spicy hot honey over crisp romaine lettuce and roasted seeds. Bold, satisfying, and ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll 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 Steps:

01 - Slice chicken breasts into strips. In a bowl, combine buttermilk, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Add chicken, toss to coat, 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, coating 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 - In a small saucepan over low heat, combine honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Warm gently while stirring until just combined. Do not boil. Set aside.
05 - In a large bowl, toss chopped romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and fresh herbs together.
06 - Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
07 - Drizzle salad with dressing and toss to coat. Top with crispy chicken strips, drizzle generously with hot honey, and sprinkle with roasted seeds. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The contrast between hot crispy chicken and cool crisp lettuce hits every satisfaction button at once
  • You get that fried chicken feeling without committing to a full heavy meal
  • The hot honey drizzle is the kind of thing that makes people pause and ask what you put in it
02 -
  • Dont skip draining the fried chicken on paper towels, excess oil makes the breading soggy fast
  • The hot honey thickens as it cools, so keep it warm if you want that beautiful drizzle consistency
  • Assembly timing matters, dress the salad right before serving so nothing gets weighed down
03 -
  • Let your coated chicken sit on a rack for 10 minutes before frying, this helps the breading adhere better
  • Use a candy thermometer for your frying oil, keeping it between 350 and 375 degrees gives the crispiest results
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