Name: Hot Honey Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: ¼ cup butter (melted); ¼ cup honey; 1 tablespoon smoked paprika; ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper (*see note); ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

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This Hot Honey Sauce is the recipe that sparked our love for all things sweet and spicy! Out of the 400+ recipes we have published, it's easily the most requested and universally loved in our family (even by the pickiest eaters!). It's packed with deep, smoky flavors that we've been pairing with crispy chicken, biscuits, fries, and so much more for years! With just 5 ingredients and 2 minutes to make, it's the sauce that inspired our entire collection of Hot Honey Recipes!

Hot honey sauce in a jar with a honey stick dripping some over the side.

The first time I tried a version of this spicy honey sauce on chicken sandwiches from Spoon Fork Bacon, I knew it was something that would be delicious on just about everything. We have since created our own version of Hot Honey Chicken Sandwiches that are one of the best things we've ever eaten.

This is a go-to for parties and gatherings of all kinds and is a top favorite on our collection of Game Day Recipes!

Recipe Notes from Danielle & Misty

This is not the viral hot honey you've seen all over Instagram and Tik Tok. This is next level. Obsessively sticky, bold, and worthy of finger-licks, this recipe was specifically made to be a true sauce (not just a drizzle).

We've made this hundreds of times (seriously!) and tried all kinds of variations, including different spices, substituting oil instead of butter, and even using crystallized honey. After all that testing, this is the only version we make now. It's just way too good to mess with!

I make this all the time. I mostly use it for my hot honey salmon and rice and mango salsa recipe. It's so so good. I've tried others and this one is the best.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Kat

Helpful kitchen tools

Key ingredients for hot honey sauce

There is nothing complicated about this recipe (it's only 5 ingredients after all), but we've highlighted a couple of tips we've learned over the years.

Ingredients for spicy hot honey sauce on countertop.

Honey: Any fresh, smooth honey will work for this recipe, whether it's local, raw, alfalfa, wildflower, or the honey bear from the grocery store. Although you can technically gently reheat crystallized honey, we have found that it makes the final sauce a little grainy, especially if you don't use it immediately. The internet might disagree with me on this one (true story, lol!), but I've made this sauce countless times and would always suggest smooth honey.
Cayenne pepper: This is where the heat comes from, so adjust the spice level to your liking. Feel free to substitute other dried hot peppers (red pepper flakes, dried smoked ghost chili peppers, Carolina reapers, etc..) keeping in mind that it may change the flavor profile. I don't suggest using hot sauce as a substitute because it will change the consistency and also add a vinegar flavor that changes the final taste.
Smoked paprika: Don't skip or substitute this one! While all are important, this is the secret to the signature smoky flavor! We've tried regular paprika and it's just not the same, trust me. Any brand will do, but I love the one from Trader Joe's.

How to make hot honey sauce

Honey, butter, cayenne pepper, and spices in bowl.

Start by melting the butter in a bowl or small saucepan over low to medium heat. Once melted, add the honey and spices.

Hot honey sauce mixed in a glass dish with a whisk.

Use a whisk to stir all the ingredients together until it is thoroughly combined and smooth.

Chef's note

Before you taste the sauce...

If you're anything like me, you'll want to taste this as soon as you mix it together. Just know that tasting it straight from the bowl isn't the best way to experience it. The sauce is highly concentrated with spices, so you'll only see the true magic when you put it on something else (like fried chicken!). The flavors will mellow in the best way, leaving you with really incredible flavor.

How to serve honey hot sauce

There are endless ways to use this sauce, but here are my top 5 suggestions.

Spread it over fried crispy chicken or chicken fingers. You can eat it just like that, or turn it into the most amazing crispy chicken sandwiches. This is hands down THE best way to use this sauce.
Toss it onto baked or grilled chicken wings to make Hot Honey Wings. I would fight to eat the last one!
Stir it into shredded chicken to make these super easy Hot Honey Chicken Sliders.
Drizzle it over biscuits or savory bread, like these Cornmeal Drop Biscuits or this Cast Iron Cornbread.
Drizzle it over crispy or savory veggies, like Crispy Smashed Potatoes, these Baked Sweet Potatoes, or grilled corn on the cob.

Closeup of a honey dipper dripping sauce.

Tips & Tricks

To make measuring the honey less messy, spray the measuring cup with a tiny bit of oil or non-stick spray first. Now the honey should pour out easily!
It is normal for this sauce to thicken as it cools. If it is too thick to drizzle or brush on your food, just warm it in the microwave for 10-12 seconds at a time, stirring well in between, until it is smooth and a loose enough to use.

More recipes

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Hot Honey Pasta Salad
Crock Pot Chuck Roast Recipe (easiest feel-good dinner)
Jalapeno Deviled Eggs with Candied Bacon
Pan Fried Potatoes
Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
Scalloped Potato Recipe

This post was photographed by Rhadonda Sedgwick.

Recipe

A honey stick dipped in a jar of hot honey.

Hot Honey Sauce Recipe

4.79 from 38 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Condiment, Dipping Sauce

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 2

Total Time: 2

Servings: cup

Calories: 1388kcal

Author: Danielle

Ingredients

Instructions

Melt the butter in a bowl or small saucepan over low to medium heat. Once melted, add the honey and spices. Whisk well until the sauce is smooth and thoroughly combined.
¼ cup honey, ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, ¼ cup butter, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Time to use it! You will not see the magic of this sauce until you add it to something else, like fried chicken, cornbread, etc. Serve it warm, or see the notes for storage instructions if you want to use it later.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

To make measuring the honey less messy, spray the measuring cup with a tiny bit of oil or non-stick spray first. Now the honey should pour out easily!
It is normal for this sauce to thicken as it cools. If it is too thick to drizzle or brush on your food, just warm it in the microwave for 10-12 seconds at a time, stirring well in between, until it is smooth and a loose enough to use.

*Spice level: This sauce has a mild heat with the amount of cayenne listed. For a spicier sauce, simply add more cayenne pepper.

Storage instructions: Store the sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Before using it, bring it to room temperature or warm it gently in the microwave or on the stove until it is loose enough to drizzle or brush on your food.

Freezer instructions: You can store the finished sauce in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw it completely at room temperature for 2-3 hours, then warm it gently in the microwave or on the stove until it is loose enough to drizzle or brush on your food.