If you’ve ever drizzled hot honey over pizza, fried chicken, or roasted vegetables, you already know how addictive that sweet-spicy combination can be.
The good news is that making homemade hot honey is incredibly easy. With just a few pantry ingredients, you can create a bold, flavorful drizzle that instantly upgrades everything from crispy chicken to biscuits.
This simple recipe uses honey, red pepper flakes, and a splash of vinegar to create the perfect balance of sweetness and heat.
Once you make it, you’ll want to keep a jar in your pantry at all times.
Hot Honey Recipes You’ll Love
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Takes less than 10 minutes to make
• Uses 3 simple ingredients
• Much cheaper than store-bought hot honey
• Perfect for pizza, fried chicken, biscuits, and veggies
• Stores for months
What Is Hot Honey?
Hot honey is simply honey infused with chili peppers or red pepper flakes.
The heat from the peppers slowly infuses into the honey, creating a sweet, spicy condiment that works with both savory and sweet foods.
Hot honey became popular in restaurants for drizzling over:
- pizza
- fried chicken
- wings
- roasted vegetables
- biscuits and cornbread
It’s now a pantry staple for many home cooks.
Ingredients for Homemade Hot Honey
You only need a few simple ingredients.
½ cup honey
1–2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional but recommended)
How to Make Hot Honey
Making homemade hot honey only takes a few minutes.
Step 1: Warm the Honey
Add the honey and red pepper flakes to a small saucepan.
Heat over low heat for about 2–3 minutes, just until the honey becomes warm and slightly thinner. Do not boil.
Step 2: Infuse the Flavor
Remove from heat and allow the chili flakes to infuse for 10–15 minutes.
The longer it sits, the spicier it becomes.
Step 3: Add Vinegar
Stir in the apple cider vinegar for a subtle tang that balances the sweetness.
Step 4: Strain (Optional)
If you prefer smooth honey, strain out the chili flakes.
Otherwise, leave them in for a stronger flavor.
Step 5: Store
Pour the hot honey into a glass jar or squeeze bottle.
Ways to Use Hot Honey
Hot honey is incredibly versatile.
Try drizzling it on:
• fried chicken
• pizza
• biscuits or cornbread
• roasted carrots or sweet potatoes
• grilled chicken
• deviled eggs
• avocado toast
• fried chicken sandwiches
• goat cheese crostini
It’s also amazing brushed onto roasted vegetables or wings.
Other Make Your Own Pantry Staples:
Tips for the Best Hot Honey
Use good quality honey
The flavor of the honey really shines through.
Adjust the spice level
Use 1 teaspoon chili flakes for mild heat or 2 teaspoons for spicier honey.
Don’t boil the honey
Too much heat can change the flavor and texture.
Variations
Garlic Hot Honey
Add one smashed garlic clove while warming the honey.
Habanero Hot Honey
Use sliced habanero instead of red pepper flakes.
Lemon Hot Honey
Add a small splash of lemon juice for brightness.
Storage
Store hot honey in a sealed glass jar at room temperature.
Shelf life: up to 3 months
If the honey crystallizes, gently warm the jar in warm water.
Homemade Hot Honey
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 1/2 cup 1x
Description
This easy homemade hot honey recipe combines honey and red pepper flakes to create a sweet and spicy drizzle perfect for fried chicken, pizza, biscuits, roasted vegetables, and more. Ready in just minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
½ cup honey
1–2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (optional)
Instructions
-
Add the honey and red pepper flakes to a small saucepan.
-
Heat over low heat for about 3–5 minutes until the honey is warm and the chili flakes begin to infuse. Do not let the honey boil.
-
Remove from heat and allow the mixture to sit for about 10 minutes so the heat from the chili flakes fully infuses into the honey.
-
Stir in the apple cider vinegar if using.
-
Strain the chili flakes out for a smooth hot honey or leave them in for a stronger flavor.
-
Pour into a glass jar or squeeze bottle and store at room temperature.
Notes
Adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer red pepper flakes.
For extra heat, let the chili flakes steep longer before straining.
Hot honey is delicious drizzled over fried chicken, pizza, biscuits, roasted vegetables, deviled eggs, and grilled meats.
Store in a sealed jar at room temperature for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 2 mins
- Cook Time: 5 MINUTES
- Category: CONDIMENT
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: American
Frequently Asked Questions
Is hot honey very spicy?
It has a gentle heat balanced by sweetness. You can adjust the spice level by adding more or fewer chili flakes.
Can I make hot honey without vinegar?
Yes. Vinegar simply adds a little tang to balance the sweetness.
Do you need to refrigerate hot honey?
No. Hot honey is shelf stable and can be stored at room temperature.
What honey is best for hot honey?
Raw or local honey works best because it has more flavor.
Final Thoughts
This easy hot honey recipe is one of the simplest ways to add bold flavor to your cooking.
Sweet, spicy, and incredibly versatile, homemade hot honey is perfect for drizzling over pizza, fried chicken, roasted vegetables, and more.
Once you try it, you’ll want to keep a jar in your pantry at all times.
