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October 14, 2026
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What Is Hot Honey? A Plain-English Guide to Sweet Heat

Short answer: hot honey is honey infused with chili peppers. You taste the sweetness first and the heat second, which is why it works so well on fried chicken. Here is how it is made, how hot it really is, what to put it on, and where to try it on halal hot chicken.

What is hot honey?

Hot honey is regular honey that has been infused with chili, usually dried chili flakes or peppers, so it keeps honey’s sweetness and picks up a slow, warm heat. Some recipes add a splash of vinegar for tang. You will also see it sold as spicy honey, and it is easy to make at home.

What does hot honey taste like?

Sweet first, then a gentle burn that builds. The honey mellows the chili, so hot honey usually tastes milder than the same chili in a hot sauce. How hot it gets depends on the chilies used and how long they steep.

How is hot honey made?

The simple version takes about half an hour:

Warm the honey gently in a saucepan. Do not let it boil.
Add dried chili flakes, about 1 to 2 tablespoons per cup of honey, and let them steep for 20 to 30 minutes.
Strain it if you want it smooth, or leave the flakes in.
Stir in a teaspoon or two of vinegar if you like some tang, then cool it and jar it.

Stick to dried chilies. Fresh peppers and garlic add water, which can make infused honey spoil; if you use them, keep the jar in the fridge and use it quickly.

Hot honey vs honey vs hot sauce

	Taste	Heat	Best on
Honey	Sweet	None	Tea, toast, yogurt
Hot honey	Sweet, then spicy	Mild to medium	Fried chicken, biscuits, pizza, cheese
Hot sauce	Tangy and salty	Medium to very hot	Eggs, wings, tacos

What do you put hot honey on?

Fried chicken and chicken sandwiches, the classic
Biscuits and cornbread
Pizza
Cheese boards and fried cheese
Roasted vegetables such as carrots and Brussels sprouts
Waffles and ice cream, if you like sweet heat

Why does hot honey work so well on fried chicken?

Crispy fried chicken is salty and rich, and it needs contrast. The sweetness balances the salt, the heat cuts through the richness, and the sticky glaze clings to the crust. That is the whole reason hot honey chicken took off.

Where can I try hot honey chicken?

At Asad’s Hot Chicken, Hot Honey is a flavor you choose when you order, next to our heat levels. It is one of our most requested flavors across all 19 stores and it first took off at our Burlington, NJ store. Guests choose it most often on chicken sliders and tender wraps.

See our hot honey chicken page for what to order, or read why hot honey chicken became a customer favorite. All of our chicken is halal: here is how it is sourced and certified.

Hot honey questions

Is hot honey spicy?

It has a real but gentle heat. The honey mellows the chili, so hot honey usually tastes milder than the same chili in a hot sauce. How hot it is depends on the chilies used and how long they steep.

What is hot honey made of?

Honey and chili peppers, and sometimes a little vinegar. Bottled versions can add other ingredients, so check the label.

Is hot honey vegan?

No. Honey is made by bees, so hot honey is not vegan.

Can babies have hot honey?

No. Honey should not be given to children under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism, and chili is not suitable for babies either.

Does hot honey go bad?

Honey keeps very well, and hot honey made with dried chilies keeps in an airtight jar. If you infuse it with fresh peppers or garlic, the added water can make it spoil, so refrigerate it and use it quickly.

Is hot honey halal?

Honey itself is generally considered halal. For bottled hot honey, check the label for added ingredients. The Hot Honey chicken at Asad’s comes from a certified halal poultry program; see halal chicken near me for how it is sourced.