Hot Honey Fried Chicken

Ingredients

• 8 chicken thighs, bone-in
• 2 cups buttermilk + 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 cups flour + 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 tbsp each: paprika, garlic powder, black pepper
• 3/4 cup honey
• 2 tsp chili flake, 1 tbsp cider vinegar
• Neutral oil for frying

Method

Tap a step to check it off while you cook.

1. 01Brine thighs in spiked buttermilk at least 4 hours, overnight if you have the patience.
2. 02Dredge in seasoned flour, then splash in 3 tbsp of the buttermilk and toss — those shaggy bits are the crunch.
3. 03Fry at 325F for 12-14 minutes, turning once. Internal 175F for thighs, not 165F.
4. 04Warm honey with chili flake and vinegar until loose but not thin.
5. 05Rest chicken on a rack 2 minutes, then drizzle. Never sauce chicken sitting on a plate.

The grown-up move

Add a splash of pickle brine to the hot honey. It cuts the sugar and makes it taste expensive.