Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken

This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is ridiculously simple and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, friends. Chicken thigh pieces are well-seasoned and pan-fried until nice and crisp; and then bathed in a luxurious, honey chili umami sauce loaded with garlic. It’s a dish that has drool-worthy, big-time flavorrr. Serve alongside hibachi-style fried rice for the ultimate takeout experience (or your favorite sides)!

Oh, hello my dearest friends! I’ve been itching to get this new post up on the website for you! Before a few of y’all come for me, yes, it’s been a little minute since I last shared a recipe, ha. The summer treated me well and ever since fall began, I’m ready to roll out with all the deliciousness sitting pretty in my drafts! Everything from weeknight eats to cozy soups/stews and much more.

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken 🤤

This recipe is giving mall food court-style vibes and I’m obsessed with it. Y’all know those Asian-American restaurant chains in the food court (or takeout in general) that serve up piles of glazed chicken on top of fried rice?! This very recipe was inspired by it. That’s right, skip the takeout and whip up this decadent, saucy chicken that comes together in under 30 minutes!!!

Why You’ll Go Nuts For This Saucy Chicken:

• EASY, WEEKNIGHT PERFECTION: I know I’m not alone in loving a recipe that comes together quick, fast, and in a hurry! Well, this honey garlic chicken dish is super easy and will be ready to serve in practically a flash. This recipe is clutch for whipping up on busy weeknights or whenever you want something really good that doesn’t take hours!
• LOW-EFFORT, HIGH-REWARD: There isn’t a whole ton of fuss going on with this one. The entire recipe is ridiculously straightforward and fuss-free, I promise. In addition to that, the recipe ingredient lineup is minimal and you likely already have much of the goods in your pantry! Yesssirrr.
• LICK-THE-FORK-GOOD: C’mon flavor, mmm. Even with minimal, simple ingredients the flavor within this honey garlic chicken is freakin’ amazinggg. The crispy chicken is bathed in a sauce that is so good you’ll wanna lick your utensil clean I tell ya! Honestly, what’s better than saucy chicken?! 👅

Ingredients Needed For This Dish:

(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card directly below.)

• Chicken thighs: I use boneless/skinless chicken thighs for this honey garlic chicken recipe. Dark meat chicken is loaded with flavor + juiciness. Chicken thighs > chicken breasts…listen, I don’t make the rules 😤.
• Spices: We’re keeping it super simple and using salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
• Sesame oil: A little touch of this goes a long way, it adds a subtle nutty flavor.
• Cornstarch: This ingredient is what coats the chicken before pan-frying to give the chicken exterior a nice, crisp crust…chefs kiss.
• Oil: I use vegetable oil, but canola oil works as well.
• Honey: For that signature honey sweetness!
• Sweet chili sauce: This is a popular Thai condiment.
• Soy sauce: I love how soy sauce adds a little umami goodness.
• Garlic: Chopped– not minced for big bursts of garlicky bites throughout!

How To Make This Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe:

(Note: please see the recipe card directly below for the complete written instructions.)

1. Season & marinate chicken. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the chicken pieces, spices, and sesame oil. Then seal the bag and shake everything to fully combine, ensuring the chicken is well coated. Transfer the chicken to the refrigerator to marinate.
2. Add cornstarch. Right before cooking, add the cornstarch to the chicken and toss to combine. Then set the cornstarch-coated chicken aside for 20 minutes to reach room temperature.
3. Crisp the chicken. In a large skillet, heat oil. Cook the chicken in batches until golden brown and lightly crisp on both sides. Then add all browned chicken back into the skillet.
4. Build the honey garlic chicken. Add the honey, sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and chopped garlic into the skillet. Stir all the ingredients until well combined. Let the mixture simmer for about 4-5 minutes for the flavors to meld and the sauce thickens some.
5. Serve this honey garlic chicken immediately over your rice of choice (fried rice is suhhh good with this). Garnish the dish with sesame seeds + sliced scallions if you wanna lean into the moment a little extra. Gahhh 🙌🏾!

Recipe Tips + Tricks & More Information

As with many recipes, you may have additional questions about this crispy honey garlic chicken recipe. Like other BBR recipes, I always advise sticking to the recipe as it is written in the recipe card directly below. However, here’s some extra info:

• Can I use chicken breasts? Eh. Honestly, I highly recommend the juiciness of chicken thigh meat over chicken breasts here. However, feel free to use chicken breasts if you prefer.
• Is cornstarch gluten-free? Why yes, yes it is!
• Need a soy sauce alternative? Sure thing, use coconut aminos.

>> If you love Asian-inspired recipes, some of my favorites on the BBR site include these Chinese-style fried chicken wings, these restaurant-worthy creamy braised short ribs, and these short rib steamed buns (bao)—Yum! 😋

This Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken dish is insaneee. It comes together so easily and it’s full of flavor, mmhmm. Be sure to tag @butterbeready in your BBR recipe creations, I sure love to see it when you do. Until next time! 🤟🏾

More incredible eats you can’t miss:

• Bacon Fried Cabbage and Sausage
• Slow-Cooked BBQ Short Ribs
• Hibachi Steak Bowls
• Creamy Shrimp and Grits
• Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
• Mexican Birria & Birria Tacos

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Recipe by: Quin Liburd- Butter Be Ready

Photography by: Ashley McLaughlin