Carolina Reaper Hot Honey Chicken
Crispy fried chicken gets a fiery-sweet finish in this Smokin' Ed's Carolina Reaper take on hot chicken. A touch of the famously potent pepper turns honey into a glossy glaze with serious heat, while white bread and tangy pickle chips provide the classic cooling counterpoint. The key is restraint. With a Carolina Reaper, a little goes a very long way. Serves 4.
Ingredients
Ingredients (chicken)
- 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Vegetable or peanut oil for frying
Ingredients (hot honey)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/16 teaspoon Carolina Reaper pepper minced
Ingredients (for serving)
- 4 slices white bread
- Dill pickle chips
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken. Place the chicken thighs in a bowl with the buttermilk, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Make the hot honey. Wearing disposable gloves, combine the honey, butter, vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, salt and minced Carolina Reaper pepper in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat until the butter melts and the ingredients are combined. Do not boil. Taste cautiously, and add more Reaper only if desired. Keep warm.
- Bread the chicken. Combine the flour, paprika and garlic powder in a shallow dish. Remove each thigh from the buttermilk, allowing the excess to drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour.
- Fry. Heat about 1 1/2 inches of oil in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven to 350 degrees. Working in batches, fry the chicken until deeply golden and the thickest part reaches 165 degrees, about 5 to 7 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Transfer to a wire rack.
- Glaze. While the chicken is still hot, generously brush both sides with the warm Carolina Reaper hot honey.
- Serve. Place each piece of glazed chicken over a thick slice of white bread, and top with dill pickle chips. Drizzle with a little extra hot honey for those willing to tempt fate.
Notes
Safety note: Carolina Reapers are exceptionally hot. Wear disposable gloves when handling fresh peppers, avoid touching your face or eyes, and wash utensils and surfaces thoroughly afterward. Avoid heating or blending large amounts of fresh Reaper in ways that can send capsaicin into the air. Start with an extremely small amount, and increase only after tasting.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!