These crispy honey BBQ hen bites are baked, not fried, making them a lighter possibility. The coating stays crunchy underneath a sticky-sweet honey BBQ glaze that’s filled with taste. They’re the type of snack everybody loves—good for sport day spreads and even a straightforward weeknight dinner.

I initially printed this recipe in 2016 and have since added new photographs and extra success ideas, in addition to air fryer directions.
Rooster fingers, or smaller “popcorn hen,” is all the time a favourite, whether or not you’re serving it as a sport day snack, social gathering appetizer, or fast dinner. This model takes it up a notch with a candy and tangy honey BBQ sauce that soaks proper into the crunchy coating. They’re crisp on the skin, juicy inside, and don’t even want a dipping sauce (although you’ll be able to actually add one if you happen to’d like).
Youngsters go loopy for them, and adults recognize that daring sweet-and-smoky taste.
Why You’ll Love These Baked Honey BBQ Rooster Bites
- Baked, not fried
- May be made within the air fryer
- Sticky-sweet glaze
- Crunchy coating produced from corn flakes cereal
- Child and adult-approved
- Easy substances


Right here Are The Elements You Want & Why:
- Rooster: Use boneless, skinless hen breasts, and lower them into bite-sized items for fast, even baking.
- All-purpose flour: That is the primary layer of the coating; it helps the egg combination follow the hen.
- Corn flakes cereal: Calmly crushed for a crunchy, golden coating that rivals fried hen.
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika: Easy seasonings that add taste proper into the coating. The smoked paprika offers a delicate smoky depth that pairs completely with the BBQ glaze.
- Eggs and milk: Create the moist layer that helps the cornflake coating adhere to the hen.
- BBQ sauce: Use your favourite model; it’s the bottom of the honey BBQ glaze.
- Honey: Provides sweetness and stickiness to the sauce.
- Ketchup: Rounds out the sauce with tang and additional taste.
Plus, if desired, chopped chives for recent taste when serving!

Let’s Coat The Rooster: Right here’s How
That coating on the hen is straightforward, but efficient. It has 3 layers together with flour to assist the egg combination stick, eggs and milk to assist the crunchy coating stick, and crushed corn flakes and spices to coat the hen. It’s a fast dredging station all working collectively!
Minimize the hen into bite-size items. I often use kitchen shears for this.
Toss hen items in flour, then dip in egg combination:

Then coat generously within the corn flakes:

Organize the coated hen on lined baking sheets:

Bake or Air Fry
Not like fried variations (cooked in oil), these honey bbq hen bites are baked within the oven till golden and crisp, often round 15-20 minutes relying on dimension.
You can too prepare dinner the honey bbq hen bites within the air fryer. Preheat to 400°F (204°C), organize the items in a single layer, and frivolously spray with oil. Cook dinner for six–8 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket midway by means of, till golden and crisp. The hen is completed when it reaches an inside temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Toss In Honey BBQ Sauce
After cooking, toss the hen bites in a warmed 3-ingredient sauce: bbq sauce, honey, and ketchup. The sauce clings to each chunk, making them sticky, flavorful, and utterly irresistible.

Concepts for Serving
- Sport day or events: Pile them excessive on a platter and serve with celery sticks. A wonderful alternative when selecting Tremendous Bowl recipes!
- Weeknight dinner: Serve with candy potato fries and/or roasted greens.
- Salads: Chop up and add to a inexperienced salad.
- Add to a wrap: Wrap up in a tortilla with crunchy lettuce and tomato, plus blue cheese or ranch if desired.
In case you love all issues BBQ, you should definitely attempt my BBQ hen pizza, too!

Extra Appetizers & Dinners
Description
These crispy honey BBQ hen bites are baked, not fried, making them a lighter possibility. The coating stays crunchy underneath a sticky-sweet honey BBQ glaze that’s filled with taste. They’re the type of snack everybody loves—good for sport day spreads and even a straightforward weeknight dinner. Air fryer directions included beneath!
- 2 kilos boneless skinless hen breasts, lower into bite-sized items
- 1 cup (125g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
- 5 cups (140g) corn flakes cereal, crushed frivolously
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly floor black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 giant eggs
- 1/4 cup (60ml) milk
Simple Honey BBQ Sauce
- 3/4 cup (222g) your favourite BBQ sauce (I like Candy Child Rays Unique)
- 1/4 cup (85g) honey
- 1/4 cup (68g) ketchup
- Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line 2 giant baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Put aside.
- Place the bite-sized items of hen in a big bowl. Add flour and stir to coat every bit. Put aside.
- Place the corn flakes, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika into a big bowl. Put aside. Whisk the eggs and milk collectively in a small bowl.
- This subsequent step will get your fingers somewhat messy so have paper towels close by. Dip every bit of hen within the egg combination, letting any extra drip off. Then generously roll within the cornflake combination, shaking off any extra. Place onto the ready baking sheet. Repeat with all hen items.
- Bake for 18 minutes, flipping as soon as on the 9-10 minute mark. (Throughout this time, I make the sauce in step 6.) Take away from the oven and funky hen for five minutes.
- Warmth the sauce substances in a small saucepan over medium warmth for five minutes, whisking sometimes.
- Rigorously place the hen bites into a big bowl. Pour the heat honey BBQ sauce on prime and gently stir to coat. Serve heat.
- Leftovers hold nicely within the fridge for as much as 1 week. Reheat within the microwave till warmed by means of.
Notes
- Make Forward & Freezing Directions: Put together the hen by means of step 4. Refrigerate for as much as 1 day earlier than persevering with with step 5. You can too freeze the baked and cooled hen earlier than tossing within the honey BBQ sauce. Bake frozen hen in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 20 minutes or till warmed by means of.
- Particular Instruments (affiliate hyperlinks): Baking Sheet | Silicone Baking Mat or Parchment Paper | Glass Mixing Bowls | Picket Spoon
- Plain Rooster Bites: You’ll be able to go away the coated baked hen plain. Merely add somewhat extra seasoning (salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder) to the cornflake combination and go away off the honey BBQ sauce.
- Air Fryer: Skip the oven. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (204°C), organize the items in a single layer, and frivolously spray with oil. Cook dinner for six–8 minutes, flipping or shaking the basket midway by means of, till golden and crisp. The hen is completed when it reaches an inside temperature of 165°F (74°C). Repeat till all hen is cooked by means of.