Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breast and Glazed Vegetables

Name: Hot Honey Baked Chicken Breast and Glazed Vegetables
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablesspoons Ras El Hanout; 4 tablespoons avocado oil; 1 tablespoon hot honey; 20 ounces of boneless skinless chicken breast (cutlets); 2 cup carrots (matchsticks); 3 cups red bell pepper (matchsticks); 4 cups sweet potatoes (large dice); 2 cup beets (large dice); 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1 small onion (minced); 2 small red beets (grated); 4 garlic cloves (minced); 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar; 3/4 cup2 low-sodium chicken broth; 1/2 cup hot honey; 10 parsley leaves (chopped); Chopped Parsley

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Succulent baked chicken breast with roasted carrots, beets, red bell pepper, and sweet potatoes is tossed in aromatic spices of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, hot honey, fresh onion, garlic, parsley, and thyme, creating a rich red sauce, making this dish an irresistible meal.

Air fried sliced air fryer chicken breast over hot honey glazed root vegetables on a round white plate

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The Glaze Haze

There’s something about Hot Honey Baked Chicken that just speaks to my soul. It’s that perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory—paired with tender roasted carrots, beets, red bell peppers, and sweet potatoes, all glazed in aromatic spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and, of course, hot honey.

The best part? This easy, sweet and spicy chicken dinner comes together in no time and leaves you with a rich red sauce so good you might just skip licking your plate... maybe.

Enjoy this recipe in two ways: in your air fryer or make it one of those sheet pan meals by tossing it into the oven.

What is Ras El Hanout?

Now, let’s talk about Ras El Hanout. This North African spice blend, often hailing from Morocco, is like the Beyoncé of spices—bold, aromatic, and able to elevate any dish. It’s made from a mix of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, and turmeric, giving it an earthy yet warm flavor.

The smell? Imagine the aromatic smells of a spice market, with floral and peppery notes mingling in the air. This powerhouse blend has evolved from its Moroccan origins into a staple in global cuisine, making it the perfect match for our hot honey-baked chicken.

Nutritional Powderhouse: Beets

Beets aren’t just pretty on the plate; they’re nutritional powerhouses. Whether you’re roasting them or juicing them with carrots (like in that famous painting of the two...Google it), beets come packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

The red beet, a descendant of wild sea beets, dates back to ancient Mediterranean civilizations, where it was revered for both its medicinal and culinary uses. And if you’re into juicing, mixing beets and carrots is not only a vibrant combo but also great for boosting stamina and detoxifying the body. It’s the ultimate veggie energy drink! My grandma thought so.

My Love for Beets

Let me confess my deep, almost romantic love for beets. There’s something about their firm bite and earthy sweetness that just hits different. They’re so versatile—you can roast them with goat cheese for a salad or slice them thin for chips (try it, I dare you).

Whether golden, candy-striped, or classic red, beets are the unsung heroes of the vegetable world, and they shine in this hot honey-baked chicken dish with glazed vegetables.

Glazed Carrots: Culinary Nostalgia

Ah, glazed carrots. This is a dish I remember fondly from culinary school—where we learned how to balance the sweetness of brown sugar with the natural, earthy flavor of carrots.

That skill has stuck with me for decades, and it’s influenced my approach to creating this recipe’s glazed vegetables. Instead of just carrots, I’m throwing in sweet potatoes and beets for a colorful, flavor-packed update.

Make Use of your Air Fryer

Modified Recipe

This recipe has gotten significantly more attention from me throughout the creative process—a recipe revamped from chicken quarters, which take a long time to cook. Plus, we are trying to cut down on fat and don't usually eat a lot of dark meat chicken with the skin on.

The roasted vegetables and hot honey beet sauce are so delicious, and I really love making them, but I knew something had to give. Evidently, it was time for our old recipe to get a makeover. As a result, this air fryer chicken breast recipe is easier, quicker, and healthier. Bon Appetit!

More Delicious Recipes

Ingredients with Steps

To prepare the dish, mix the Ras El Hanout, hot honey, salt, and oil in a large bowl. Then, halve the chicken breast into chicken cutlets, pat dry, and coat them in the spiced honey mixture. Preheat the air fryer to 350°F or the oven to 400°F.

Toss the vegetables in the remaining Ras El Hanout mixture, then cook them for 15 minutes in the air fryer or 20 minutes in the oven. Add the chicken on top and cook for an additional 10-12 minutes in the air fryer or 12-15 minutes in the oven until the golden brown chicken reaches 165°F.

While cooking, make the hot honey sauce by sautéing onions, grated beets, and garlic, then adding low-sodium chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, and hot honey, simmering for 5 minutes. Once the chicken is done, let it rest, slice it, and serve with the vegetables, drizzling the sauce on top and garnishing with parsley.

Culinary Glossary

This section provides concise definitions of key ingredients and techniques to enhance understanding and improve cooking skills related to this recipe. Check out the live Culinary Glossary here.

Hot Honey - Spicy honey infused with chili, used for adding heat and sweetness.
Ras El Hanout - A North African spice blend made from cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and other spices.

See the hot honey chicken recipe card for quantities below.

ingredients for the hot honey baked chicken recipe in containers on a round tray.

butterflied chicken breasts in a rectangle glass container

Instructions with Pictures

For the Chicken

chicken breast on a cutting board being sliced in two by gloved hands for the air fryer chicken breast

Use your hand to feel the movement of the knife to stay in the middle. Additionally, make sure to keep one side of the chicken breast intact.

Get the PAUDIN 7-Inch Santoku Knife.

butterflied chicken breast on a cutting board for the air fryer chicken breast recipe with gloved hands pointing to it.

Both sides should be evenly flat. This helps when cooking it in the air fryer.

Get Color Coded Cutting Board Mats.

animated chef maika holding a chef knife.

Learn more about prepping chicken.

What is a Butterfly Chicken Breast?

It's when a chicken breast has been divided into two with one side still intact, creating the visual butterfly effect. Place the chicken breast flat on a cutting board at a 45-degree angle, with the thickest part at the top.

Hold your whole hand on the chicken breast to hold it steady. Take your knife and begin slicing from the thickest part to the thinnest while keeping the long side of the meat away from you and intact.

While cutting, you will try to feel where the knife is, ensuring it stays in the center while slicing. Don't worry if you don't get it exactly right on your first try, and practice makes perfect. Update: The recipe uses chicken cutlets, which is just butterflied chicken cut all the way into two halves.

For the Vegetables

hands cutting a small carrot diagonally into sticks for the air fryer chicken breast recipe.

Cut the ends of the carrots diagonally.

two thick round slices of sweet potato on a cutting board with a knife for the air fryer chicken breast recipe

For quick uniform dice, slice the sweet potatoes 1 inch thick.

the thick round sweet potato slices cut into six pieces each

Then, dice into 1-inch pieces.

Do the same for the beet. Slice 1 inch thick.

a beet cut into six pieces while two others stay intact as thick round slices next to a knife on a cutting board for air fryer chicken breast

Dice into 1-inch pieces. After peeling and cutting, rinse all tools immediately to prevent stains. In addition, you can use a plastic cutting board and a pair of gloves.

assorted vegetables of sweet potatoes, carrot, beets and red bell pepper tossed in a wet rub for the air fryer chicken breast

Toss as instructed with the oil and spices.

For the Sauce

beets being grated on a box grater on a plastic cutting board

Use the small wholes to grate the beets for the sauce.

Get a Box Grater.

grated beets next to a box grater on a green plastic cutting board for the air fryer chicken breast recipe.

You want the beets grated fine to make the sauce.

Substitutions

Dairy-Free

Yay! This recipe is already dairy-free.

Gluten-Free

Bonus! It's already gluten-free.

Vegetarian

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - To make this recipe vegetarian, simply replace the chicken with mushrooms, firm tofu, or tempeh. Marinate and bake it just like the chicken for a delicious plant-based alternative.

Convenience

Turmeric Powder - Use yellow or Jamaican curry powder with cinnamon. It's not the same, but it may get you there.
Low-Sodium Chicken Broth - Use vegetable broth for a lighter flavor.
Fresh Garlic - Try garlic powder.
Fresh Onion - Use onion powder.
Hot Honey - I developed this recipe using Mike's Hot Honey. Use your favorite brand or substitute with a combination of chili powder or cayenne pepper and honey for homemade hot honey.
Minced and Chopped - Use a food processor instead to speed up the prep process for busy weeknights.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - Use boneless skinless chicken thighs. Or if you already have leftover chicken, just make and serve it with the roasted vegetables and sauce.
Roasted Vegetables - Add green beans, zucchini, or squash. Broccoli doesn't do so well in the air fryer.
Ras El Hanout - See the recipe's note for more information.

Change Heat Level - Modify the recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

Variations

For that Perfect Crunch - To make a breaded version, coat the seasoned chicken in panko breadcrumbs before baking. After brushing on the spice blend and hot honey, press the chicken into the panko until well-coated. Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until golden and crispy.

Equipment

Grater - Used to grate beets for the hot honey sauce, providing a fine texture that blends into the sauce. Martha Stewart has an excellent post on this if you want to learn more about using box graters.
Mixing Bowl - These are used to toss the vegetables and mix the spice rub.
Silicone Brush - Perfect for evenly spreading the hot honey glaze onto the chicken and vegetables.
Air Fryer - Used to cook the chicken breast and roast the vegetables. This recipe was developed using the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill. If you do not have an air fryer, you can try roasting in the oven. Visit the recipe card to learn more.
Frying Pan - Used for sautéing the onions, beets, and garlic when making the hot honey sauce. Preferably a 10-inch pan. I used the All-Clad Stainless Steel Nonstick Fry Pan to develop this recipe. I've trusted All-clad for years and invested in them because they last long. Compared to other non-stick pans, this one is safe under the broiler!

Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

Airtight Food Containers - I interchange glass food storage containers with plastic clipping lids or wooden push-ins. I always suggest glass storage containers because they can be microwaved, they hold food without staining, and the glass keeps the food at a more stable temperature, keeping it fresher and longer.

Try the OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Rectangle Food Storage Containers or the Pyrex Freshlock Glass Food Storage Containers.

Storage

Refrigerator - Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezer - Freeze in individual portions for up to 3 months.
Reheating - Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350°F until warmed through.

Cooking Tips

Air Fryer & High Smoke Point Oils - Use oils with high smoke points for the best results with your air fryer. These oils can withstand high temperatures above 400 degrees Fahrenheit before smoking.
- And since the air fryer uses compact hot air, it is best to use avocado, canola, and grapeseed oil instead of olive oil. You may also find these oils in a cooking spray.
- Also, not all air fryers are created equal. Watch the last couple of minutes when cooking chicken and vegetables at their instructed times. And jot it down on your recipe card. Learn more about high smoke point oils.
Benefits of Butterflying Chicken Breast - This skill will take practice, but once you get the hang of it, you'll learn the many benefits of butterflying chicken breast. For one, it helps reduce cooking time. And you take it a step further by pounding out the thickest part to make cutlets for dishes like schnitzel or chicken parmesan.
Best Way to Check the Chicken's Temperature - Use an instant-read thermometer for an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit at the thickest part of the meat.

Your Cooking Tips Resource Guide - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on the Cook's Notebook tab. Click here for an extended live Culinary Glossary.

Learn more about prepping chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why use oil for roasted vegetables?

After you brush the chicken with the wet rub, you will use the rest of the spice blend mixture to toss your vegetables for roasting. Nicely coat them, and they are ready for the air fryer, which is perfect for this roasted vegetable recipe. The wet rub allows the spices to stick to the vegetables with a nice, even coat for a great taste.

Why use avocado oil in the air fryer?

It has a higher smoking point. This oil is beneficial for air fryers, preventing a smoky kitchen.

What is hot honey?

It is a type of honey that has been mainly infused with chili peppers. For example, I have developed many recipes with Mike's Hot Honey, made with pure honey, chili peppers, and vinegar. But you don't taste the vinegar at all. It tastes just like the ingredients, making it a perfect balance of sweet and spicy.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Yes! Chicken thighs will add extra juiciness. Adjust the cooking time, as thighs may take a bit longer.

What can I use instead of hot honey?

You can mix regular honey with red pepper flakes or cayenne for a similar sweet and spicy flavor.

How do I know the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer—your chicken is done when it reaches 165°F.

Can I make this recipe with sweet potato fries?

Absolutely! Just swap the diced sweet potatoes for sweet potato fries. They may need less cooking time, so check them halfway through.

Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?

Yes! You can make this ahead of time, portion it out, and reheat it for easy lunches or dinners.

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