The ultra-easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken comes with melt-in-your-mouth chicken that is golden brown and set in a comforting honey garlic sauce with umami from the seductive soy sauce. Unforgettable in its crunchy texture and sweet yet savory flavor, the chicken serving here makes natural comfort food or a familiar guest-placer. Pair with rice or veggies that produce a meal that is satisfying with a good deal of flavors.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Restaurant Quality at Home: You will have crispy gold-tossed chicken tossed with great honey garlic sauce. You will not leave the comfort of your kitchen.
Versatile: Rice, noodles, or veggies would make a great partner.
User-Oriented Heat: There is cayenne for some mild kick, but depending on the heat level you prefer, adjust appropriately.
Quickly Filling: This dish is ready within an hour, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or weekend indulgences.
Crowd Pleaser: Versatile, kid- and adult-friendly, a real showstopper for family meals or dinner parties.
Key Ingredients
Chicken Breast: The lean and tender closet of the chicken provides a juicier backdrop. A proper thwack with the mallet affords even cooking.
Flour: Gives a golden, crispy crust.
Eggs: They glue the flour to the chicken.
Cayenne Pepper: This very hot little pepper offers a going heat to the coating; you can taste the heat, or you can avoid it, depending on your preference.
Honey: The shining star in your sauce. It rivals the natural sweetness, keeping everything glossy.
Garlic: With its strong aromatic punch, minced garlic adds flavor to the dish, visually and otherwise.
Soysauce: The salty flavor and umami lend well to the sweetness of the honey.
Cornstarch Slurry: The cornstarch, appropriately leveraged in the form of a slurry, brings about sufficient thickening and a glossy finish.
Vegetable Oil: Almost flavorless, making way for its excellent deep-frying capabilities for producing crispy glory with the chicken.
Complete list of ingredients with quantities and instructions is located in the recipe card below
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Sauce
Combine Ingredients:
In a medium saucepan, combine:
½ cup honey
4 cloves of minced garlic
⅓ cup soy sauce
Bring to a Boil:
Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until it begins to boil.
Thicken the Sauce:
In a small bowl, mix:
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
Stir until smooth, then pour the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan. Continue to stir until the sauce thickens.
Remove from Heat:
Once thickened, set the sauce aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken
Mix the Coating:
In a bowl, combine:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
Prepare the Egg Wash:
In a separate bowl, whisk together:
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons water
Coat the Chicken:
Dip each piece of chicken (e.g., thighs, tenders, or nuggets) into the egg mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated.
Transfer the chicken to the flour mixture and coat thoroughly, pressing gently to adhere the flour.
Step 3: Cook the Chicken
Heat the Oil:
In a large skillet, heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil over medium heat until hot but not smoking (approximately 350°F or 175°C).
Fry the Chicken:
Place the coated chicken pieces in the skillet, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan.
Cook for 4-5 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should read 165°F (74°C) when checked with a meat thermometer.
Drain Excess Oil:
Remove the chicken from the skillet and place it on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Step 4: Combine and Serve
Toss in Sauce:
In a large bowl, toss the fried chicken pieces with the prepared honey garlic sauce, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
Serve:
Serve immediately with your favorite side dishes such as steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a crisp salad.
Serving Suggestions
For a restaurant-like meal, serve your crispy honey garlic chicken with one or more of these sides:
Steamed White Rice: The best way to absorb the sweet and savory sauce.
Vegetable Stir-Fry: Broccoli, snap peas, and bell peppers lend color and crunch.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy, comforting mashed potatoes make a great match for Crispy Chicken.
Asian-Style Slaw: A tangy mixed slaw with crispness shall balance out the Honey Garlic sauce.
Sesame Noodles: Combine sesame oil with cookery-love and sprinkle some scallions;- a perfect, quick accompaniment to noodles!
Storage and Meal Prep Tips
Cooling: Store and keep the leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for at best three days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for crispiness.
Extra freezing, of freezing, is doable. You can freeze cooked chicken without the sauce over a maximum of 2 months. Defrost in a refrigerator and reheat with sauce just before serving.
Make-Ahead: The chicken could be totally coated with the flour mixture and refrigerated up to 24 hours before frying. Just cook the sauce ahead of time as well and save it in the refrigerator for 5 days.
Variations
Spicy Kick: Add some extra cayenne pepper or Sriracha drizzle to the sauce.
Gluten-Free: Substitute the flour and soy sauce with gluten-free counterparts. Ensure all other ingredients are gluten-free.
Air Fryer Option: Rather than frying the coated chicken, place chicken in the air fryer and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Vegetarian Twist: Swap firm tofu or cauliflower floret for the chicken fillet as an option.
Lemon Honey Garlic: Instead of the soy sauce, use the zest and juice of lemon for a tangier flavor.
Conclusion
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken brings together textbook crunchy chicken with a beautifully sweet-and-savory sauce. The recipe for it is easy to follow; there is no beating that. Simple, humble ingredients and an end product as good as the takeout of your dreams. Dinner will be ready in no time. Whether with rice, noodles, or a simple green salad, this recipe is destined to become a favorite. So go grab a skillet; make sure you have the ingredients ready-almost nothing but impressive results are coming! Enjoy!
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts halved and pounded to an even thickness
- 2 large eggs beaten with 1 tbsp water
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp smoked paprika or regular paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ cup vegetable oil for frying
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, combine honey, minced garlic, and soy sauce. Bring to a boil over medium heat. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water until smooth, then pour into the saucepan. Stir until the sauce thickens, then remove from heat and set aside.
- In one bowl, whisk together eggs and water. In another bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Dip each piece of chicken into the egg mixture, then dredge in the flour mixture, pressing gently to coat.
- Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot. Fry the coated chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Drain on paper towels.
- Toss the fried chicken in the prepared honey garlic sauce until evenly coated. Serve immediately with rice, vegetables, or a side salad.
