Hot Honey Rub Recipe
This Hot Honey Rub recipe blends a spicy, smoky, and sweet combination of spices with honey and apple cider vinegar to create a tantalizing glaze for chicken. Perfectly balanced with cayenne pepper heat, aromatic garlic and onion powders, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar and honey, this rub elevates grilled, baked, or fried chicken wings, tenders, or other cuts to restaurant quality. The honey mixture caramelizes during cooking, creating a sticky, flavorful coating that is both spicy and sweet—a crowd-pleaser for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl, thoroughly mix the cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, brown sugar, salt, and black pepper until well blended to form the spice rub.
- Prepare Chicken: Select your preferred chicken cut—wings, tenders, or grilled pieces—and prepare them for cooking. This step can be done immediately if you plan to cook right away.
- Apply Rub: Generously coat the chicken evenly with the prepared spice mixture, ensuring every piece is well covered for maximum flavor.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey and apple cider vinegar until the mixture is smooth and well combined. This will be used as a glaze.
- Cook Chicken: Cook the spiced chicken by grilling, baking, or frying according to your preference until each piece reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), ensuring it is safely cooked through.
- Drizzle the Sauce: In the last few minutes of cooking, drizzle the honey and apple cider vinegar mixture over the chicken. Allow it to caramelize and stick, creating a sticky, flavorful glaze.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from heat and let it rest for a few minutes to allow the flavors to set. Serve warm for a delicious sweet and spicy treat.
Notes
- You can adjust the cayenne pepper amount to control the heat level based on your preference.
- If not cooking immediately, store the dry rub and wet mixture separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- For extra crispiness, bake or fry the chicken before applying the honey glaze in the last few minutes to avoid burning the sugars.
- This rub works well on other proteins like pork or vegetables for a spicy-sweet kick.
- Make sure the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is fully cooked.
Keywords: hot honey rub, spicy chicken rub, honey glaze chicken, grilled chicken recipe, spicy sweet chicken, Wingstop style chicken rub
Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/hot-honey-rub-recipe/
