Irresistibly Sweet & Spicy Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers Recipe

Honey chipotle chicken crispers tantalize taste buds with a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors.

This mouthwatering dish combines crispy chicken with a zesty sauce that packs serious punch.

Southern-style cooking meets modern culinary creativity in this crowd-pleasing recipe.

Bold spices and unexpected ingredients elevate ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal.

The unique blend of smoky chipotle peppers and golden honey creates an irresistible coating that sizzles with excitement.

Crunchy exterior gives way to tender, juicy meat that melts in your mouth.

Each bite promises a delightful explosion of complementary tastes and textures.

You’ll want to gather friends and family for this unforgettable dining experience.

Cooking Instructions for Chicken Crispers

Step 1: Craft Honey Chipotle Sauce

Gather sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Simmer and stir for 2 minutes until flavors blend. Remove from heat and set aside.

• Honey
• Chipotle peppers
• Butter
• Vinegar
• Worcestershire sauce

Step 2: Create Crispy Chicken Batter

Whisk wet and dry ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth.

• Egg
• Milk
• Chicken broth
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• All-purpose flour

Step 3: Develop Crunchy Coating

Mix breading ingredients in a wide dish for even coverage.

• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Paprika
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder

Step 4: Fry Chicken Tenders

Heat oil in Dutch oven to 350°F. Dunk chicken in batter, then coat with breading. Fry 4 pieces at a time until golden and fully cooked, about 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.

Step 5: Drench In Sauce

Gently toss fried chicken in prepared honey chipotle sauce, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 6: Plate And Serve

Transfer sauced chicken to serving plate. Offer extra sauce on side for additional dipping pleasure.

Tips for the Crispiest Honey Chipotle Crispers

• Choose Fresh Chicken: Select high-quality, tender chicken tenderloins for the most succulent and flavorful crispers.
• Maintain Consistent Oil Temperature: Use a digital thermometer to keep the oil steady at 350°F, ensuring crispy, evenly cooked chicken without burning.
• Double-Coat for Extra Crunch: Dip chicken twice in batter and breading for an irresistibly thick, golden-brown crust that stays crispy.
• Drain Properly: Let fried chicken rest on paper towels to absorb excess oil and maintain the perfect crispiness.
• Adjust Sauce Spiciness: Modify the honey chipotle sauce's heat level by adding more or less chipotle peppers to suit your taste preferences.

How to Keep and Reheat Chicken Crispers

• Refrigerate: Place leftover chicken crispers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F. Arrange chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes until crispy and heated through, turning once halfway.
• Restore Crispiness: Quickly reheat in an air fryer at 375°F for 3-4 minutes to maintain the crunchy exterior and prevent sogginess.

Side Dishes That Go Well with Chicken Crispers

• Spice Up with Crisp Slaw: Create a tangy coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a zesty lime dressing to balance the sweet and spicy chicken crispers. The cool, crunchy slaw cuts through the richness of the fried chicken.
• Cool Down with Creamy Dip: Whip up a quick ranch or blue cheese dressing to provide a cooling contrast to the fiery chipotle sauce. The creamy, smooth dip mellows the heat and adds a luxurious touch.
• Refresh with Citrus Drink: Pair the crispers with a cold Mexican beer like Corona or a zesty margarita. The citrusy, light beverage helps cleanse the palate and complements the honey chipotle's bold flavors.
• Complete the Plate with Corn: Serve grilled or Mexican street-style corn on the side. The sweet, charred kernels enhance the chicken's smoky-sweet profile and add a delightful texture to the meal.

Bold Twists on the Crispers Recipe

• Spicy Maple Chicken Crunch: Replace honey with pure maple syrup and add extra cayenne pepper for a bold, fiery kick that amplifies the heat and sweetness.
• Smoky Barbecue Chicken Strips: Swap chipotle sauce with tangy barbecue sauce, incorporating smoked paprika to enhance the smoky flavor profile and create a classic American-style coating.
• Citrus Herb Chicken Crispers: Infuse the batter with fresh lemon zest and chopped herbs like thyme and rosemary, then create a light citrus glaze using orange juice and honey for a bright, refreshing variation.
• Ranch-Coated Crispy Chicken: Mix ranch seasoning into the breading mixture and create a ranch-style dipping sauce to complement the crispy chicken tenders, adding a creamy and herbaceous dimension.

Why You’ll Love Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers

• Flavor Explosion: Combines sweet honey with smoky chipotle for a mouthwatering taste sensation that dances across your palate, creating an irresistible balance of heat and sweetness.
• Crispy Perfection Technique: Uses a double-dip method of batter and breading to achieve an incredibly crunchy exterior that locks in juicy chicken, giving restaurant-quality results at home.
• Quick Weeknight Winner: Prepares in under 30 minutes from start to finish, making it an excellent solution for busy families craving delicious homemade comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Customizable Spice Adventure: Allows easy adjustment of heat levels by controlling chipotle quantity, making it adaptable for different taste preferences from mild to wild.

What’s in Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers

• Chicken Tenderloins: Tender and lean meat perfect for crispy chicken strips, choose fresh and uniform-sized tenderloins for even cooking.

• Canola Oil, Shortening: Neutral-flavored oils ideal for deep frying, provides crisp and golden exterior for chicken.

• Egg, Milk, Chicken Broth: Liquid base that helps create a smooth and adhesive coating for the breading, adds moisture and flavor.
• Salt, Pepper, Garlic Powder: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall taste of the batter and chicken.
• Flour: Provides structure and thickness to the batter, helps create a crispy exterior.

• Flour, Salt, Paprika, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder: Dry mixture that creates a flavorful and crunchy coating for the chicken, adds depth and texture.

• Honey, Water, Ketchup: Sweet and tangy base for the sauce, provides rich flavor and glossy appearance.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds acidity and brightness to balance the sweetness of the sauce.
• Chipotle Chili Powder, Hot Sauce: Introduces smoky heat and spiciness to the sauce, creates a complex flavor profile.
• Salt: Enhances and balances the overall taste of the sauce.

Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers Recipe

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4.8 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Chili’s-inspired honey chipotle chicken crispers bring zesty southwestern flair to your dinner table. Crispy tender chicken coated in a sweet and spicy glaze promises restaurant-quality flavor you can easily craft at home.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 12 chicken tenderloins
• 6–8 cups canola oil or shortening

Batter and Breading Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• ½ cup milk
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 2 ¼ cups flour (¾ cup for batter, 1 ½ cups for breading)
• 2 ¼ teaspoons salt (1 ¼ teaspoons for batter, 1 teaspoon for breading)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ¾ teaspoon pepper (¼ teaspoon for batter, ½ teaspoon for breading)
• ¾ teaspoon garlic powder (¼ teaspoon for batter, ½ teaspoon for breading)

Sauce Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup honey
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1–2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon hot sauce

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Instructions

1. Whisk together egg, milk, chicken broth, seasonings, and flour in a medium mixing bowl until a smooth, lump-free batter forms.
2. Create a seasoned breading mixture by combining flour, salt, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder in a wide, shallow dish.
3. Warm cooking oil in a deep Dutch oven, maintaining a consistent temperature of 350 degrees fahrenheit.
4. Dunk each chicken tenderloin into the prepared batter, ensuring complete coverage.
5. Roll the batter-coated chicken pieces through the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to create an even, crispy exterior.
6. Carefully lower chicken pieces into the hot oil, frying four tenderloins simultaneously to prevent overcrowding.
7. Cook chicken for approximately 4 minutes, rotating occasionally to achieve a uniform golden-brown color and ensuring internal temperature reaches safe cooking standards.
8. Transfer fried chicken to paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining crispness.
9. Craft the honey chipotle sauce by combining selected ingredients in a saucepan, simmering briefly to meld flavors and create a smooth consistency.
10. Gently toss the crispy chicken pieces in the prepared sauce, coating each tenderloin thoroughly.
11. Plate the sauced chicken crispers immediately, offering additional sauce on the side for optional dipping.

Notes

• Careful oil temperature control ensures perfectly golden, crunchy exterior while keeping the chicken juicy and tender inside.
• Whisking batter ingredients smoothly prevents lumps, creating a light and crisp coating that clings beautifully to each chicken tender.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Tex-Mex

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 640
• Sugar: 35 g
• Sodium: 1200 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 70 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg