This hot honey chicken starts with chicken legs, cooked until crispy and paired with a sweet-heat hot honey sauce. Cook them in the oven or try them on the BBQ, too!
If you are looking for a quick and satisfying chicken dinner, these Hot Honey Chicken Legs deliver! I love chicken legs, as they are reasonably economical and dark-meat moist and delicious.
Ingredients and substitutions
Chicken Legs – Also known as chicken leg quarters, these are the bone-in and skin-on chicken pieces that include both the chicken thigh and drumstick together. I’ve found chicken legs to be more economical than other bone-in/skin-on chicken pieces lately and I love to pick them up on sale and freeze. They are great cooked in the oven and also fabulous on the grill.
Honey – Any runny honey is fine here, though a more neutral-flavoured honey is recommended.
Hot Sauce – I use Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but any vinegar-based hot sauce will work here. You may need to adjust the amount if the intensity varies.
Red Pepper Flakes – Despite the use of hot sauce, the red pepper flakes bring a good part of the “hot” to this chicken. Adjust the amount to your tolerance for heat.
Garlic – Fresh garlic is recommended but you could substitute a pinch of garlic powder if fresh is unavailable.
Butter – Butter acts as an emulsifier in this sauce and brings a nice texture and flavour.
Brown Sugar and Cider Vinegar – There’s just a bit of brown sugar and cider vinegar added to the sauce, to add a little complexity to the sauce. You could omit if unavailable.
For garnish – green onion and lime wedges.
Step-by-step photos
- Place chicken legs into a hot skillet with a little oil.
- Flip the chicken legs and cook the underside briefly.
- Remove the chicken legs briefly and mop up the oil in the pan.
- Remove the chicken legs to the pan and pop into the oven to finish cooking, about 15-20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the hot honey sauce ingredients to a bowl and stir together.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer the chicken to a warmed serving plate.
- Melt the butter in the skillet, then add the sauce.
- Bring to a boil and boil for about 1 minute, then spoon the sauce over the chicken. Garnish and enjoy!
Recipe tips!
- Be sure to wipe the oil out of the skillet before placing it in the oven to avoid splattering. I always turn my overhead oven fan on when cooking skin-on chicken at higher temperatures.
- Oven time will vary depending on how long you cooked the chicken on the stovetop and the size of the chicken legs. Chicken is done when it registers 165F internal temperature when tested with an instant-read thermometer.
BBQ instructions
Place the seasoned chicken legs skin side down on the top rack of a BBQ heated to 425F. Close the lid and let cook for 4-5 minutes. Transfer the chicken legs to the main grill. Close the lid and cook until cooked through and the chicken reaches 165F. While the chicken is cooking you can prepare the sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan on a side burner, in a saucepan on the grill or the burner of a stove. Melt the butter first, then add the sauce. Bring to a boil, then spoon over the cooked chicken.
What to serve with this hot honey chicken
I love this dish with rice (to soak up the delicious sauce!) and a green vegetable or salad. Cauliflower rice would also be a good option. For something different, try roast potatoes.
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Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Chicken Legs
Ingredients
- 2-3 chicken legs (chicken leg quarters), bone-in/skin-on
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
Hot Honey Sauce:
- 1/4 cup runny honey
- 2 Tablespoons Frank's hot sauce, or any vinegar-based hot sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, adjust to taste
For serving:
- Green onion, diagonally sliced
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F (regular setting/not fan-assisted) *See notes for BBQ instructions.
- Pat the chicken legs dry. Season generously with salt, then sprinkle evenly with paprika.
- Heat oil in an oven-safe skillet (cast-iron or enamelled skillets work well) over medium-high heat until very hot. Add the chicken legs, skin side down. Cook until the underside is golden, about 3-4 minutes, then flip over and cook the other side briefly.
- Turn off the heat under the skillet. Remove the chicken to a plate briefly and use a wadded up paper towel to wipe the oil out of the pan. Return the chicken to the pan, skin side up. Place into the preheat oven to finish cooking, about 18-20 minutes or until the chicken registers 165F when tested with an instant-read thermometer.
- Meanwhile, add all the hot honey sauce ingredients to a small bowl and stir together. Set aside.
- Remove the skillet from the oven. Place onto a burner (be careful the skillet is hot!). Remove the chicken to a warmed serving plate. Turn the heat under the skillet to medium-high. Add the butter to the skillet and stir to melt, loosening any browned bits. Add the hot honey sauce and whisk together with the butter. Bring to a boil, then allow to boil for 1 minute. Spoon the hot honey sauce over the chicken.
- Garnish with sliced green onion and serve with lime wedges for drizzling.
Notes
BBQ instructions
Place the seasoned chicken legs skin side down on the top rack of a BBQ heated to 425F. Close the lid and let cook for 4-5 minutes. Transfer the chicken legs to the main grill. Close the lid and cook until cooked through and the chicken reaches 165F. While the chicken is cooking you can prepare the sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan on a side burner, in a saucepan on the grill or the burner of a stove. Melt the butter first, then add the sauce. Bring to a boil, then spoon over the cooked chicken. Be sure to read the notes above this Recipe Card for more tips on making this recipe, including step-by-step photos that you may find helpful.More chicken recipes to love!
Hi! I’m Jennifer, a home cook schooled by trial and error and almost 40 years of getting dinner on the table! I love to share my favourite recipes, both old and new, together with lots of tips and tricks to hopefully help make your home cooking enjoyable, stress free, rewarding and of course, delicious!
