Crunchiest Cornflake Chicken with Sriracha Honey Mayo

There’s nothing like crispy, crunchy coated chicken.  These crispy bundles start with a tangy buttermilk marinade that tenderizes and flavors the chicken,  then gets an ultimate crunch from cornflake style cereal.  You can even make these gluten free if your cornflakes are a gluten free variety as many are.  

MY NINJA FOODI ON THE AIR CRISP SETTING MAKES THESE SUPER CRUNCHY WITHOUT FRYING

My Ninja Foodi air fryer is my favorite way to prepare these for a fabulous crunchy finish, but using a skillet or oven will work as well.  You can find the Ninja Foodi here or on our Shop page.  It’s seriously one of my favorite kitchen helpers.

A GOOD BUTTERMILK BATH TENDERIZES AND FLAVORS THE CHICKEN. I ADDED CHILI FOR SOME KICK

Giving your chicken time to marinate for at least 20 minutes in the buttermilk mixture ensures a very tender flesh with a bit of tang, and essence of heat from the chili that you add, which is of course optional.  If you’re going dairy free you can use an unsweetened, plain non-diary yogurt drink.  I often purchase one made by Califia Farms which I find the ideal non-dairy replacement for buttermilk in pancakes (like my Grandmother’s Buckwheat Pancakes) and lots of other things.

THE CHICKEN GOES STRAIGHT FROM THE BUTTERMILK, INTO THE CRUSHED CORNFLAKES THEN INTO THE AIR FRYER. EASY!

Every good crunchalicious chicken needs a good dipping sauce and my super easy sriracha honey mayo is perfect for dunking.  You may want to make extra of the sauce for…well…everything.  It’s just that good, it seems to go with so many things.  I like it on burgers or turkey burgers, fish, chicken, hot dogs…you get the idea.  A delicious, multi purpose sauce that hints of sweet heat.  It also couldn’t be easier with just mayo, sriracha and honey.  That’s it.  Easy!

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YOU CAN'T BEAT A FLAVORFUL 3 INGREDIENT SAUCE

While I’ve been using a lot of chicken thighs lately, you can certainly sub in chicken tenders or chicken breasts that you cut into smaller strips.  I just tend to really love the moistness that chicken thighs retain, but this preparation method works wonders in keeping chicken breasts or tenders moist as well.

Your family are going to love these.  Putting crunchy chicken in front of the kiddos will always garner you some applause.  Putting this in front of my hubby along with that delightfully addictive honey sriracha mayo garners me some applause as well.

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My Ninja Foodi is awesome & serves many uses.  It's not just an air fryer, but also bakes, steams, pressure cooks, roasts & more!!!

Also love my Pyrex Mixing Bowls.  So useful.

Crunchy Cornflake Chicken
Serves 4-6


2 cups cornflake cereal
6 chicken thighs (or chicken breasts cut into smaller strips or tenders)
1 cup buttermilk (or dairy free plain probiotic yogurt drink-like Califia)
1 chopped cayenne pepper or 1 teaspoon of tabasco (more if you like it spicy)
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste (I like course sea salt)
Spray oil such as olive oil or ghee spray


I use my Ninja Foodi for this to air fry these crispy chicken pieces.  You can also do these in a 425 degree oven for about 25 minutes or also in a skillet over medium heat with a but of oil, turning when one side is golden.


Combine buttermilk and cayenne or tabasco.  Add the chicken thighs and let marinate for at least 20 minutes in a large bowl.  You can leave them to marinate for a couple hours if you prefer.  The buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken.


Crush the cornflakes well by adding them to a large sealable bag and bashing until there are mostly medium fine crumbs.  If the bits are too large they won’t stick well to the chicken.  Mix in the salt.


Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, letting the excess drip off then dredge in the cornflake crumbs making sure they’re well coated.  I like to press the crumbs into the chicken to get good adhesion.  


Place in the basket of the air fryer/Ninja Foodi and spray with the olive oil spray.  Set for 15 minutes at 390 or the higher temperature.  Once they’re done and crispy, serve with the Honey Sriracha Mayo.


Honey Sriracha Mayo
1/3 cup mayonnaise (I like to use olive oil mayo or Thrive Market's Coconut Oil Mayo)
1 tablespoon sriracha (more if you like it spicy)
1 tablespoon honey
Pinch of salt (I like to use course sea salt)


Whisk thoroughly together.