Oven-Fried Southern Chicken With Sweet Honey Bourbon Sauce.
Sweet, sweet southern food.
M’m, M’m, good.
(No idea why the Campbell’s slogan just came out of my head – sorry, it’s been a long three days.)
Let’s talk about how I decide on a recipe, because for me it’s a hard task.
See, it all depends on my mood, that and if there happens to be someone I am feeding that day that I am trying to please.
More often than not, I go by my mood because I live in a family of picky, try nothing new, eaters. Except for little Asher, they are also all boys. So basically, beef and chicken are what’s frequently on their radar. They even had a little hissy fit over the pork from Monday.
Most of the time, I just make what I want and forget about the complainers. Well, I don’t forget about them, I will normally make sure they have something to eat. Pizza, chicken, steak or tacos typically do the trick.
But for some reason I was feeling like a simple classic dinner was in need.
That, and I really just wanted to stop my thoughts and decide on a recipe already!
I obviously make a ton of food and I try to make most of my dishes a little different, and hopefully something you haven’t seen too much of. You know just give it a little twist or something, but let me tell you a little secret.
My family? Sometimes they just want the normal stuff. Meaning cheese pizza, pasta with butter + salt (and nothing else), grilled cheese (you know with butter, bread and cheese). Basically nothing fancy, and I can’t blame them, sometimes the simplest foods are the very best.
I know this chicken has a fancy bourbon sauce, but aside from the sauce it’s your just basic, delicious, oven fried chicken. Oven fried because I have been frying too much this week, so I went with oven. It’s the bomb.
Oh and another thing, I really love making foods from different parts of the country, and the world (like my major exploitation of Mexico). It’s super fun to dive into different flavors. The flavors of the South are ones I do not touch on all that often.
I tend to sway towards Thai, Asian and (quite frequently) Mexican, flavors. But this southern food? Yea, it’s safe to say I am so on board with it. I have caught the southern food bug. I actually had another southern meal that I wanted make for today, but it’s heavy on the summer flavors, so I decided to hold off for a few weeks. I kind of can’t stop thinking of summer recipes. I am so ready (as it’s snowing outside my window right now – heck, I’ll even take spring!).
The sauce is honestly the best part. It’s this chicken’s better half. The two just need each other.
Kind of like bread and butter, fries and ketchup and milk and cookies. The honey sweet bourbon sauce with this chicken is one of those, “goes great together” kind of meals. They just work, and to me it screams southern comfort food.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Oven-Fried Southern Chicken With Sweet Honey Bourbon Sauce.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fried chicken
This chicken has a fancy bourbon sauce, but aside from the sauce it's your just basic, delicious, oven fried chicken.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken
- 2 1/2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups corn flake crumbs
- 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 -1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- a good pinch of salt & pepper
Sweet Honey Bourbon Sauce
- 3/4 cup bourbon
- 1 cup cold water divided
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ Sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons tabasco
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 4-8 tablespoons melted salted butter
Instructions
Sweet Honey Bourbon Sauce
-
In a bowl, mix the cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water until smooth. Add the cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper. In a medium sauce pan over low heat, combine the bourbon, 3/4 cup water, soy sauce, honey, BBQ Sauce, Tabasco and dijon. Bring up the heat to a simmer and slowly add the corn starch mixture, whisking vigorously as you go. When the mixture is well combined, cook about 1 more minute. Turn off the heat and add the butter. Set aside until ready to use. The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to serve.
Chicken
-
Add the chicken to a large bowl and pour the buttermilk over the chicken. Toss well, cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
-
After 2 hours or the next day preheat the oven to 475 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silpat, foil or parchment paper and spray or brush it with some olive oil.
-
Add the corn flakes crumbs, Panko, flour, smoked paprika, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
-
Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, and dredge through the crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken has been used. Make sure not to crowd your pan, if necessary use two baking sheets. Lightly spray the chicken with cooking spray or a mist of olive oil. Drizzle the melted butter over the chicken.
-
Bake for 10-12 minutes, then reduce the heat to 400 degrees F. Bake for 10-12 minutes more, then flip the chicken over and gently spray with olive oil. Place back in oven for another 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the juices run clean. Serve with a lemon wedge if desired and the bourbon sauce.
Which is good just about any time.
PS. Not my hands. Just another dirty brother (no seriously they had just come in from dirt biking in the snow/mud) dying for some food. Oven-fried chicken was a good lunch. They all approved. AND they loved the sauce!
My son loves fried chicken and this one’s a winner!
Thanks!
I LOVE oven fried chicken – you’re right , sometimes the simplest things are just the best! That honey bourbon sauce? BEST IDEA. Pinned!
Thanks for pinning, Taylor!
Hi Tieghan – I will be making this tonight! I do have a question or two tho –
in step 4 you mention putting the chicken in buttermilk and bbq honey mustard sauce (is there a recipe for this? or is it the bourbon sauce?). How much buttermilk? I’m assuming it’s not the same buttermilk the chicken was already soaking in right? Thanks Tieghan – this looks fantastic and what’s for dinner tonight! I love that it’s baked and not fried.
Hey Kathy! Sorry about the typo. I fixed the recipe so it makes sense!
Hope you love this chicken. Thank so much!!
Thanks Tieghan, can’t wait to try this!
Thanks Kathy!
LOVE this lightened up Southern oven-fried chicken, T! The honey sauce with a splash of bourbon is brilliant. Yes, please! I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love fried chicken. Pinning!
Thank you so much, Stacy!! Have a great weekend!
I’m with your brothers….really picky. That honey bourbon sauce, bring it! Put me in coach! Yay for plain eating. Looks scrumptious.
Haha! Thanks!
I am confused about the second mention of the buttermilk too. I am sure you wouldn’t use the buttermilk where it had soaked possibly over night. do you rise that off then dip in buttermilk with the sauce added?
Hey Charlotte, sorry about that. I fixed the recipe so it makes sense!
Hope you love this chicken. Thanks!
Love that the chicken is baked instead of fried…it looks fried though so I’m planning on fooling a few people with that. I hope to make the sauce if we have any bourbon leftover after the Derby!!!
Thanks! Have fun celebrating the Derby tomorrow!
Pure perfection! I love that honey bourbon sauce and am in desperate need of a hunk of chicken. Thanks for the southern inspiration, dear!
Thanks Julia! Have a great weekend!
I’m assuming, since you didn’t note otherwise, that you’re using skin on bone in chicken. Is that correct?
Hey Tiffany, I actually used boneless skinless chicken chicken breast and thighs with a few skin on drumsticks thrown into the mix as well. Fee free to use what ever you prefer. Hope you love this!
Mmm … that sauce sounds (and looks!) absolutely delicious. I wish I was in your family, Tieghan. Yummy deliciousness on the table every single day!
Thanks so much, Helen!
Best comfort food, ever! I love that this is baked and it still has that awesome crust on the outside. The honey bourbon sauce, oh my goodness…amazing!!
Thanks Julie!! Happy you are back!
Oh, Wow! This looks so amazing! It’s morning and let me tell you, I would love a piece of this right now- even with my coffee! I can’t wait to try this:) I love that it’s oven fried too!
Thanks so much!
I am SO about bourbon sauce right now!! I used a butter bourbon sauce to make monkey bread a few posts back and it was unreaaal, I can only imagine how freakin’ good this tastes!!!
That Monkey bread sounds amazing!! Thanks Christine!
I never think of breaded chicken as a dinner recipe but now I know what’s on the menu tonight!
http://bakeitblonde.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks! Hope you love this!
Seriously this recipe needs to happen in my kitchen, especially the sauce! I must compliment you on your AMAZING recipes! They always come out great!
Thanks!! Your comments are always the sweetest!
I want to face plant into this chicken!! Gimme!
Thanks Lauren! Have a great weekend!
You had me at “Sweet Honey Bourbon Sauce”! *Swoon* It looks perfect!
Thanks!! Have a great weekend!
Love the crispy breading on this gorgeous chicken and that bourbon sauce! *swoon* they both look like a match made in heaven. pinned!
Thanks Sarah!
Your chicken looks perfect and I love the bourbon sauce!
Thanks Laura!
Be still my heart… that honey bourbon sauce! I’d lap it up with a spoon. This chicken looks amazing, Tieghan!
Thanks Georgia!
Crispy, “fried” perfection. Everything about this is making my heart go pitter patter.
Thanks Nicole!
I hope your family realizes how blessed they are to have you cooking up such wonderful meals for them! My family will love this recipe – and I am quite fond of cooking with bourbon. Pinned!
Ha! Thanks so much! I love cooking with Bourbon too!
My husband would be all over this chicken. He is one of those simple meal type guys. I’ll put a fancy meal in front of him and yet it’s the simple plate of mac and cheese that I get the most compliments for. This chicken looks so tasty! I love that it’s oven fried, so much easier that way, and that sauce looks fantastic!!
Same thing happens around here too! Thanks Danae!!
This oven fried chicken looks so so good and that sauce!!
Thank you!
My husband sounds a bit like your family – sometimes he just wants “man food”, which one could interpret as pizza, wings, and grilled chicken. Sigh…men.
Your chicken looks scrumptious! And I know Hubs will approve!!!
Haha! Yup, sound similar!
Thank you!
I wholeheartedly agree, sometimes the simplest of dishes are the most delicious! Thanks for this recipe. I’m wondering which parts of the chicken (breast or thighs) you found worked better?
I loved the breast personally, but the thighs were good too. It’s really a personally preference. Hope you enjoy and thank you!
My sweetheart is usually pretty good and giving anything a go at least once. He’s not fussed on kale (more for me) and I can only give him quinoa every now and again, but its recipes like this delicious looking chicken that mean I can appease him and try out the alternatives on him too 🙂
Thanks for a definite man pleasing recipe 🙂
Lucky! I can’t get the picky ones to try anything!!
Thanks Amy!
Wondering if you cut up your chicken breasts into smaller pieces? They look small in the picture…
I did, sorry I will add that to the recipe.
Enjoy!
From another part of the country you could try Cincinnati (Greek) chili. Around here it is the favorite of men and boys. But they would also love this chicken recipe.
At least it would be
Oh I will look that up. Thanks!!
GAH. That honey sauce has me drooling already! Simple dinners are always a win. 🙂
Thanks so much!
Tieghan I want to make this tonight but do not have any bourbon, can you recommend a good substitute? Or should I just leave it out?
Hey Kathy,
I would use soy sauce or just leave it out. If you use soy sauce only use 3/4 cup and do not add the extra 2 tablespoons listed in the recipe and also reduce the cornstarch to 1 1/4 tablespoons. If you leave the bourbon out, I would use a total of 1 cup water and only use 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Hope that helps and let me know if you have anymore questions.
Oh and I hope you love this!
Thanks!
Great! Thanks for getting back to me sooo soon!!! Can’t wait to try this!
Hi! I just discovered your blog a few weeks ago and this was the first recipe I’ve made. It was SO GOOD! I forgot to soak the chicken overnight, so I just dipped the breast pieces in egg and then pressed into the crumb mixture – even with that huge mistake it turned out so well! I also didn’t get around to making the bourbon sauce, but I’ll be making this again in the very near future and I’ll do it 100% right this time!
Can’t wait to try more of your recipes – if they’re anything like this one I know I’ll love them!
Thanks so much!! So happy you loved this! 🙂
I made this last night. Oh. My. GAWD. It was AMAZING. Crispy, flavorful and SO tender and juicy. WOW!!!! I used chicken breasts and cannot WAIT to try this with drumsticks – as I’m a bone-in kind of woman 😀
The only thing I couldn’t make was the honey bourbon sauce 🙁 Instead I made a chipotle mayo (for dipping) and added some red cabbage slaw on the side. Lawwwwwwwd. There were some happy mouths in my kitchen last night!
I’m sharing this with EVERYONE I know that cooks, and even those that don’t. Lol. Cause. I mean. Did I SAY it was amazing already??? Yeah?? Ok. Just checkin.
Thank you soooooooo much for this recipe!!!
Oh my! Delicious! I am pinning right now. I only wish I had some for dinner! 🙂
Thank you! Hope you love this chicken!
Experienced cook, followed the recipe to the letter. Like most oven fried chicken recipes I’ve made the coating falls off when the chicken is turned. It doesn’t stick, it just falls off. A shame, I was very hopeful with this one. JIMMY J.
Hey Jimmy,
I am really sorry the coating dod not stick for you. It’s my go to recipe. Did you use all the exact ingredients?
Hi, I have had this pinned for quite some time but the oven temp throws me. I’ve never cooked anything at 475. Is that correct? Also when you turn down the oven heat to 400 do you remove the chicken out of the oven until the temperature is reduced to 400? Or do you leave the chicken in the oven but just turn the temp down to 400? I’d love to try this recipe but I’m always so short on time and I just want to clarify this before I invest the time in trying this recipe. Thanks :))
Hi Holly, yes, cook the chicken at 475, leave it in the oven and turn it down to 400. Let me know if you have any other questions. Happy New Year!
great recipe
Thanks Wayne!
Hi just wondering how many people this recipe feeds. I am planning on making with biscuits and sides for a derby party!
Hi Paria! It serves 6. Hope this is a huge hit! 🙂
By corn flakes do you mean corn flake cereal? Also, is it safe to divide everything by 4 if I’m making this for 2 adults and keeping the protein at 8ounces total? Thanks!
Hi! Yes, corn flake cereal. And Yes, I think dividing everything by 4 will work great. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Hope you love the chicken!
made this tonight with an assortment of thighs and breast. my oven runs a little hot so I kept the temp just shy of 475 at first. crisped up perfectly. the spiciness was subtle but very tasty! also the bourbon sauce was amazing. this recipe actually made wayyyy more than I needed for this meal. but I’m not complaining. I’m going to make bacon burgers in a couple days and use the rest of the sauce on those. can’t wait!! thanks again!!
I am so glad you loved this Kristen! Thank you so much!
The last ingredient in the list for the Bourbon Sauce is butter, but I don’t see that that is used anywhere in the recipe. Does butter actually belong in the sauce?
Also, I followed your link for BBQ sauce and saw that it is for a sauce similar to Sweet Baby Ray’s. BBQ sauce is SO much better than ketchup for practically everything. And Sweet Baby Ray’s is one that we frequently use.
Hey Ken! The butter is added at the end. Recipe is fixed. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much and happy Holidays!! xTieghan ?
Awesome, my only concern was the sauce came out thin, should it have been thick?
HI! Just simmer the sauce longer on the stove until it is thickened until your liking. Please let me know if you have any other questions. So glad you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
Great fried chicken
So glad you liked this! xTieghan
Outrageously delicious! I am going to put this sauce on absolutely everything. Thank you!!
Thank you so much Julie! xTieghan