Ever since I discovered hot honey, I’ve been thinking of ways to incorporate it into my home menu. A sheet pan chicken dinner has been in the back of my mind for awhile now. How long it takes: If you make the hot honey ahead (recommended), allow yourself 45 minutes to make dinner. Equipment you’ll need: small saucepan, sheet pan, large bowl Servings: 4 Many of you may be familiar with hot honey on fried chicken. It’s just plain good eating and it’s served in a lot of restaurants lately. Hot and spicy, sweet and crisp, it covers all the bases. Maybe your favorite Chinese take-out is honey chicken which is somewhat similar. Unfortunately, fried chicken is a bit time-consuming and messy , and it’s not the healthiest way to make chicken. And then there’s Brussels sprouts. Wow! That sweet and spicy honey just soaks into all those tiny “cabbages” and you won’t believe how tasty they are. I often top my sautéed Brussels sprouts with hot honey. Okay, so a one pan dinner with healthy chicken and Brussels sprouts, topped with hot honey sauce. I think I’ll throw in some sweet potatoes and onions and make it a whole meal. Yaaay!
About This Recipe
We tested this recipe a few times. It wasn’t a big hardship or anything. My family was glad to try it out as many times as we made it. We wanted to get the recipe just right for you and I think we finally got it. You can be the judge and let me know what you think! First off, let’s talk a bit about hot honey. You can buy hot honey; a popular brand is Mike’s Hot Honey but there are lots more brands popping up every day. We found that our homemade hot honey is quite a lot milder than Mike’s. If you have tender palates, you may want to make your own. It can be adjusted to a spice level you’re comfortable with. Hot honey is very easy to make (only 3 ingredients). You can make it ahead and store it until you’re ready to use it. It keeps for a long time. This sheet pan meal is cooked in two stages. The Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and onions spend a short time in the oven to get a head start, then bite-sized chicken pieces are added to the pan to roast for another 15 minutes until everything is golden brown. Drizzle hot honey over the whole pan and you’ve got an absolutely delicious and healthy one pan dinner that includes vegetables, potato, and meat. This one knocks it out of the ballpark. If you like the idea of making your whole dinner on one sheet pan, be sure to browse through my list of 20+ healthy sheet pan dinners. You’ll find recipes for salmon, chicken, steak, sausage, and even eggs. Try making an entire turkey dinner on a sheet pan!
What you’ll need
Hot Honey: Make your own (you’ll find the recipe on the recipe card below) or buy a commercial brand. Like I mentioned, hot honey keeps well and can be used on lots of different dishes. To make your own, you’ll need honey, red pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar. Seasoning Mix: You’ll be seasoning both the vegetables and the chicken with this blend which includes: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley flakes, and paprika. If you happen to have a jar of my all-purpose seasoning on hand, you’ll be on easy street because it’s the same thing. Olive Oil: Use any oil that can withstand high temperatures. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: You’ll need about one pound of chicken. That’s a 4 ounce serving per person. If you prefer dark meat, boneless skinless chicken thighs are fine, too. Brussels Sprouts: Look for dark green Brussels sprouts that are firm and unblemished. If you see a lot of yellowing leaves or dark spots, the sprouts probably aren’t fresh and should be avoided. Sweet Potato: You’ll need roughly one pound. One large sweet potato can weigh in at a pound or you can buy a couple of smaller ones. There’s no need to peel the potatoes as long as they are well scrubbed. Trim off any bad spots. Red Onion: If you’re not a fan of red onions, any type of sweet onion will work fine.
How To Make This Recipe
Begin by making the hot honey, if you haven’t done so already. Simply measure out the honey, red pepper flakes, and apple cider vinegar into a small saucepan. Bring it to a simmer, take it off the heat, and let it set for 30 to 45 minutes. This can be done ahead of time. Preheat the oven and get out a rimmed sheet pan. Measure out the ingredients for the seasoning into a small bowl, and set it aside for now. Prep the vegetables. Clean and trim the Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, and onion and cut them into bite-size pieces. Put half of the seasoning mix and a bit of olive oil in a large bowl. Add the cut-up veggies, and mix well until the veggies are coated with the oil/seasoning mixture. Arrange the vegetables on the sheet pan in a single layer. Try to place the Brussels sprouts cut side down for the best browning. Put the pan in the oven and roast the vegetables for fifteen minutes. While they are baking, cut the chicken into small pieces. Put the rest of the seasoning in the large bowl you used for the vegetables along with a bit more oil. Toss the chicken with seasoning and oil until it’s well-coated. Take the pan out of the oven, give the vegetables a stir and add the chicken, making sure everything is in a single layer. Roast for another 15 minutes. That’s it! Dinner is ready. Divide the chicken and vegetables between four plates and drizzle with the hot honey. If you prefer, serve the hot honey on the side so everyone can add as much or as little as they like. Serve this dinner with a fresh green salad, like this arugula salad. Keep it simple with a lettuce salad topped with homemade ranch dressing or a citrus salad with mint, honey and lime.
Make It Your Own
Not a fan of Brussels sprouts? Substitute broccoli or cauliflower. This recipe is delicious without the hot honey, too. If you’re cutting back on sugar, or just don’t care for hot honey, simply omit it. Try it with chimichurri or pesto! Substitute boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer dark meat. Looking for something different? Try orange chicken or bourbon chicken. My crockpot teriyaki chicken is super popular, too.
Make Ahead Ideas
By all means, make the hot honey ahead of time. It’s better if it has time to cool off, letting the red pepper flakes infuse the honey. Much of the dinner can be prepped ahead of time. Make the seasoning and store it in a small container or use my all-purpose seasoning. Prep the onions and Brussels sprouts and refrigerate. Prep the sweet potatoes, cover with cold water, and refrigerate or leave on the counter. Prep the chicken and refrigerate. Dinnertime will be a snap! And remember, cleanup will be easy too. Only one pan to wash!
Storage & Reheating Suggestions
If you have leftover chicken and vegetables, refrigerate them in covered containers for up to 4 days. Store the hot honey separately at room temperature. Reheat the chicken and vegetables gently in the microwave or put them in your air fryer for a few minutes. Serve with hot honey. Interested in a weekly meal plan (it’s free!) that includes this chicken sheet pan dinner? Take a look at my Meal Plan #9. You’ll find a wholesome recipe for each weekday plus a categorized grocery list. Let me do the planning for you this week!