Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken is a delicious and irresistible dish that combines crispy fried chicken pieces with a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. With its golden brown exterior and tender, juicy interior, this recipe is sure to satisfy your cravings for takeout-style Chinese food right at home. Perfect for dinner or as a party appetizer, Honey Garlic Chicken is a crowd-pleaser that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Why Make Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken is a homemade version of a popular restaurant favorite, allowing you to enjoy the flavors of sweet honey and savory garlic in a crispy, bite-sized format. By making it yourself, you can control the quality of ingredients and customize the level of sweetness and spiciness to suit your taste preferences. Plus, it’s quick and easy to prepare, making it a great option for busy weeknights when you’re craving something delicious and satisfying.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken
- Prepare Breading Stations: Set up three shallow bowls for breading stations. Place cornstarch in one bowl, lightly beaten eggs in another, and a mixture of flour, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) in the third bowl.
- Bread Chicken Pieces: Dredge the chicken pieces in cornstarch, then dip them in the beaten eggs, and finally coat them in the flour mixture. Transfer the breaded chicken pieces to a parchment paper-covered baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
- Fry Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until golden brown on the other side. Remove cooked chicken to a plate and continue frying in batches until all chicken is cooked through.
- Make Honey Garlic Sauce: Wipe the skillet clean and reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter and minced garlic, cooking for 1 minute. Stir in honey, water, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened.
- Finish and Serve: Return cooked chicken to skillet and top with sliced green onions. Serve promptly.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Honey Garlic Chicken as a main dish with steamed rice and vegetables for a complete meal. You can also serve it as an appetizer with toothpicks for dipping into the sauce. Garnish with additional sliced green onions for extra flavor and visual appeal.
Storage Info
Any leftover Honey Garlic Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or oven until heated through before serving.
Some Techniques or Tips
- For extra crispy chicken, you can double-coat the chicken pieces by dipping them in the egg and flour mixture twice before frying.
- Adjust the sweetness and spiciness of the sauce by adding more or less honey and cayenne pepper to suit your taste preferences.
- To prevent the breading from becoming soggy, serve the Honey Garlic Chicken immediately after tossing it in the sauce.
Variation
Feel free to customize Honey Garlic Chicken by adding your favorite ingredients or flavorings. You can incorporate minced ginger for extra warmth, crushed red pepper flakes for added heat, or sesame seeds for a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
FAQs about Honey Garlic Chicken
- Can I use bone-in chicken for this recipe? While boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs are commonly used for this recipe, you can certainly use bone-in chicken pieces if you prefer. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure that the chicken is cooked through.
- Can I bake the chicken instead of frying it? While frying the chicken gives it a crispy texture, you can also bake the breaded chicken pieces in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. Once baked, toss the chicken in the prepared honey garlic sauce and serve.
- What can I serve with Honey Garlic Chicken? Honey Garlic Chicken pairs well with a variety of side dishes such as steamed rice, fried rice, lo mein noodles, or stir-fried vegetables. You can also serve it with a side of broccoli or a mixed green salad for a lighter option.
Recipe Card
Honey Garlic Chicken
Equipment
- Heavy Skillet
- Shallow Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- ⅓ cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- ½ cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare your breading stations. Place cornstarch in a shallow bowl, beat the eggs in another bowl, and mix flour, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) in a third shallow bowl.
- Dredge the chicken pieces in cornstarch, then dip them in the beaten eggs, and finally coat them in the flour mixture. As you finish breading them, transfer them to a parchment paper-covered baking sheet, leaving some space between each piece.
- Heat about 1/4-inch of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on one side, then flip and cook until the other side is also golden brown. Remove the cooked chicken to a plate and continue frying in batches until all the chicken is browned and cooked through.
- Carefully wipe the skillet clean, as it will be hot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the butter. Once melted, add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
- Add the honey, water, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Allow it to simmer for 10 minutes or until it thickens slightly.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and top it with sliced green onions. Serve promptly.
