There is just something about savoring a plate of comfort food that feels like home. It brings back memories of cooking in the kitchen with my mom and smelling the warm, cozy meal we shared as a family.
We cooked a lot of comfort foods in my family growing up. Homemade macaroni and cheese, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup, biscuits and gravy and my very favorite, fried chicken and coleslaw.
As I started learning more about health and wellness, I set out to recreate my favorite childhood recipes, but with a healthy spin to add a little extra nourishment to our plates without sacrificing flavor. That’s why I decided to create a new fried chicken recipe, with coleslaw of course, and add raw honey to the mix. You may be thinking, what? But trust me, raw honey elevates fried chicken like nothing else can.
I was thinking of ways I could add a healthy twist to fried chicken, and came across a recipe online for honey-fried chicken. I tried it out, swapping a few ingredients to avoid seed oils, and tried a gluten-free variation too.
After some practice, this meal quickly became a family favorite recipe. I always have to make some fresh homemade coleslaw on the side, too; it keeps that childhood meal combo alive.
Besides being downright mouthwatering and addictive, I chose to use raw honey in my fried chicken recipe for the health perks. Before we get into the recipe details and how to make it, I want to tell you about some of the awesome health benefits that raw honey offers.
Raw Honey’s Wonderful Health Benefits
Every chance I get, I use raw honey in baking and cooking. That’s because of all the fantastic things it can do for my health, and my family’s too. Adding raw honey to your meals can do the same for you.
First, you may be wondering, why raw honey? To answer that, it helps to understand how raw honey differs from conventional honey.
Raw honey is simply the purest honey you can buy from the store. It’s in its most natural form, unfiltered, unpasteurized and pure, without additives. This ensures the honey retains more of its nutrients, antioxidants, enzymes and propolis, which contains microbial properties.
Conventional honey, on the other hand, is highly processed, undergoing pasteurization and heavy filtration. This strips so many beneficial enzymes, propolis, nutrients and antioxidants from the honey. In some cases, conventional honey is even mixed with additives like corn syrup and sugar.
At Elderberry Queen, our Local Raw Honey is harvested here in Ramsey, Minnesota. This is honey you can trust. It’s high-quality and packed with benefits that conventional honey doesn’t have.
Here are some health benefits you’ll love:
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Packed With Antioxidants: Raw honey is full of antioxidants that help relieve oxidative stress on the body and boost the immune system.
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Supports Gut Health: The enzymes and prebiotics in raw honey can help protect your gut and keep it balanced and healthy.
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Naturally Antibacterial: Containing natural antimicrobial properties, raw honey can help fight against infections and bacteria that we are often exposed to.
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Soothing for Sore Throats & Coughs: The thick consistency of honey is very soothing for sore throats and coughs. The same microbial properties can help fight off throat infections.
This is why I incorporate raw honey into any recipe I can. It tastes amazing, and is so good for you too. This honey-fried chicken recipe creates a beautiful sweet-and-savory combo that is health-boosting and tasty.
Now, let’s take a look at what you need to gather to whip up this cozy meal of homemade honey-fried chicken and coleslaw.
Grab Your Ingredients
Just thinking about this recipe makes me crave it, which usually ends up with me speeding through the grocery store, grabbing what I need so I can whip it up for dinner. This is one of those recipes that stays in the meal rotation, and I doubt it’ll be leaving anytime soon.
Before you get to cooking this comfy meal of honey-fried chicken and coleslaw, make sure to have all these ingredients on hand.
Ingredients for Honey-Fried Chicken:
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Avocado oil (as needed)
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1 cup of whole wheat flour (or almond flour for a gluten-free option)
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1 large egg
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½ cup of whole milk (or plain almond milk)
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1 tbsp of Local Raw Honey (plus more for drizzling)
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1 tsp salt
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1 tsp black pepper
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1 pound of chicken tenders
Ingredients for Coleslaw:
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3 cups of shredded green cabbage
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2 cups of shredded red cabbage
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1 cup of shredded carrots
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1 tbsp of minced shallots
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2 tsp Dijon mustard
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2 tbsp of white wine vinegar
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½ cup of mayo
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½ tsp salt
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½ tsp black pepper
That’s all you’re going to need to create this recipe that I promise you’ll love and repeat, it’s that good. Now, let’s get into the simple steps for cooking this staple.
Step-By-Step Instructions
I really don’t like overly complicated fried chicken recipes, so I simplified some steps to make it as easy as possible. The coleslaw is super easy to whip up on the side or make ahead and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.
Instructions for Honey-Fried Chicken:
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Pour about 1 inch of avocado oil into a large cast-iron skillet and heat over medium heat while you prepare the chicken.
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Mix together the flour, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
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Then beat the egg and add it to the flour mixture, along with the milk and raw honey, to create a batter.
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Toss your chicken tenders in the batter until evenly coated, then use tongs to add them to the skillet.
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Cook them until golden, flipping one to two times. Once the chicken is thoroughly cooked, set it aside to keep warm, and drizzle honey over top to serve.
Instructions for Coleslaw:
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Chop your cabbages and carrots into strips, or use prebagged mixtures.
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Whisk together the shallots, Dijon mustard and white wine vinegar.
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Then, whisk the mayo, salt and pepper into that mixture.
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Toss the mayo mixture with the veggies and refrigerate until ready to serve.
I’m sure your kitchen smells absolutely amazing right now, like warm, cozy comfort food. This meal will leave you feeling full and glad you tried out this recipe.
If you have leftovers, make sure to store them in airtight glass containers. Both the honey-fried chicken and coleslaw will stay good in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Comfort Food at Its Best
Cooking wholesome and healthy comfort foods will always be one of my favorite ways to spend time in the kitchen. That’s why this honey-fried chicken with fresh coleslaw is one of my favorite cozy recipes.
The raw honey complements the fried chicken so well, adding a sweet edge to the savory flavors. The coleslaw wraps it up perfectly, with a creamy and crunchy side to complete the meal.
If you are looking for more clean, delicious meal ideas, you’re in the right place. Here at Elderberry Queen, we are dedicated to creating nourishing recipes that the whole family will love.
If you liked this recipe, check these out:
Here’s to comfort food, made healthy!
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