Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe: Sweet & Savory Magic

Tender chicken pieces glazed with a mouthwatering honey garlic sauce capture the hearts of busy home cooks everywhere.

This sticky honey garlic chicken recipe delivers bold flavors that dance across your taste buds with every bite.

Weeknight dinners demand simple yet delicious solutions that don’t compromise on taste.

The combination of sweet honey and aromatic garlic creates a perfect balance of flavor that will have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds.

Marinating the chicken ensures maximum flavor penetration and incredible tenderness.

Quick to prepare and even faster to devour, this dish transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Prepare to savor every single succulent morsel of this irresistible chicken sensation.

Tools to Make Honey Garlic Chicken

• Large skillet or deep frying pan: Essential for frying chicken evenly and safely.
• Thermometer: Helps monitor oil temperature for perfect crispy chicken.
• Three medium mixing bowls: Crucial for setting up dredging station with flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.
• Paper towel-lined plate: Helps drain excess oil from fried chicken.
• Small saucepan: Perfect for preparing honey garlic sauce.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring sauce and coating chicken.
• Cutting board: Useful for chopping garlic and green onions.
• Sharp knife: Needed for mincing garlic and chopping green onions.

Cooking Honey Garlic Chicken at Home

• Chicken Prep

Grab chicken pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Create three bowls: one with flour blend, another with whisked eggs, and last with crunchy breadcrumbs. Coat each chicken piece by rolling it through flour, dunking in eggs, then covering with breadcrumbs.

• Sizzling Fry Time

Pour vegetable oil into a deep pan, heating until it reaches a hot 350F. Carefully drop chicken pieces into oil, flipping occasionally until they turn golden brown and cook completely through. Rest fried chicken on paper towels to drain extra oil.

• Magical Sauce Creation

Combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and minced garlic in a small pot. Warm the mixture gently, stirring until ingredients meld together. Add cornstarch to create a smooth, slightly thick sauce.

• Final Flavor Coating

Transfer crispy chicken into a large bowl. Pour warm honey garlic sauce over pieces, gently tossing until every bite is generously covered.

• Serve and Enjoy

Plate the glistening chicken. Sprinkle chopped green onions and sesame seeds on top for extra pizzazz. Serve immediately alongside steamed rice or quick stir-fried vegetables.

Crave-Worthy Tweaks for Honey Garlic Chicken

• Cooking Tips & Variations
• Perfect Crispiness Hack: Pat chicken pieces completely dry before dredging to ensure maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy breading. Extra dry chicken means extra crispy results every time.
• Oil Temperature Precision: Use a digital thermometer to maintain consistent 350F oil temperature. Fluctuating temperatures can lead to unevenly cooked or greasy chicken.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Replace wheat flour with gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs. Swap regular soy sauce for tamari to make the entire dish celiac-friendly.
• Spicy Twist Option: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha to the honey garlic sauce for those who enjoy a kick of heat. Start with 1 teaspoon and adjust according to personal spice preference.
• Healthier Baking Method: For a lighter version, skip deep-frying and bake chicken pieces on a wire rack at 425F for 20-25 minutes, spraying with cooking oil to help achieve golden exterior.

How to Present This Chicken Like a Pro

• Flavor-Packed Plate Partners: Pair this crispy honey garlic chicken with steamed jasmine rice to soak up the delicious sauce and balance the dish's rich flavors.
• Veggie Companion Delight: Quickly stir-fry some broccoli, bell peppers, or snap peas with a touch of sesame oil to create a fresh, colorful side that complements the chicken's sweet and savory profile.
• Crunch Factor Boost: Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and finely chopped green onions over the chicken to add an extra layer of texture and a pop of fresh, zesty flavor that elevates the entire meal.
• Dipping Sauce Adventure: Prepare a quick side of extra honey garlic sauce or create a spicy mayo dip with sriracha for those who love an additional flavor kick and want to customize their eating experience.

Meal Prep & Leftover Tips for Chicken Lovers

• Meal Planning & Storage Advice
• Smart Batch Cooking: Prepare extra chicken pieces during cooking to enjoy quick meals throughout the week. Portion cooked chicken into individual containers for easy grab-and-go lunches or dinner.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store crispy honey garlic chicken in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Keep sauce and chicken separately to maintain crispiness and prevent soggy texture.
• Reheating Hack: Restore crispy texture by using an air fryer or oven at 375°F for 5-7 minutes. Avoid microwave reheating, which can make chicken soggy and compromise the delicious crunch.
• Freezing Wisdom: Freeze uncoated fried chicken pieces for maximum freshness. Place in freezer-safe bags, removing excess air. When ready to eat, thaw in refrigerator overnight and reheat with fresh honey garlic sauce for best flavor and texture.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 500 kcal

Servings: 4

Honey Garlic Chicken: Pantry Picks

• Chicken Breasts: Tender protein centerpiece, choose fresh, evenly sized pieces for consistent cooking.
• Salt: Enhances chicken's natural flavor, use kosher or sea salt for better taste.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and aromatic depth, freshly ground provides more intense flavor.

• All-Purpose Flour, Cornstarch: Creates crispy, golden exterior with perfect crunch, sift together for smooth texture.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Delivers extra-light, airy crispiness, Japanese-style breadcrumbs recommended for superior texture.
• Large Eggs: Binds coating ingredients, ensures breadcrumbs adhere perfectly to chicken.

• Honey: Provides sweet, glossy finish, use raw or local honey for rich flavor.
• Soy Sauce: Adds savory umami depth, low-sodium version recommended for balanced taste.
• Rice Vinegar: Introduces bright, tangy undertone, helps balance sauce's sweetness.
• Garlic: Delivers intense, aromatic flavor, fresh minced garlic preferred over pre-chopped.
• Vegetable Oil: Enables perfect frying, choose high smoke-point oil like canola or peanut.
• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Optional garnish for fresh color and nutty crunch.

Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Crispy honey garlic chicken combines golden-brown, perfectly seasoned chicken with a sweet and savory glaze that tantalizes taste buds. Rich flavors from Asia inspire this simple yet elegant dish that you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 pound (454 grams) chicken thighs or breasts, boneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• Vegetable oil (for frying)
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 tbsps soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• ¼ cup water
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp cornstarch (mixed with 1 tbsp water to make a slurry)
• Chopped green onions
• Sesame seeds

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Seasoning Preparation: Generously coat chicken pieces with salt and pepper, ensuring thorough and even coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
2. Coating Station Setup: Arrange three separate containers – one with flour and cornstarch blend, another with whisked eggs, and the third filled with panko breadcrumbs for a comprehensive breading process.
3. Breading Technique: Systematically coat each chicken piece by first dredging in flour mixture, then dipping in egg wash, allowing excess to drip off before rolling completely in panko breadcrumbs for a crisp exterior.
4. Oil Heating: Warm vegetable oil in a deep skillet to a precise 350F, maintaining consistent temperature to guarantee optimal crispiness and even cooking.
5. Frying Process: Gently introduce breaded chicken into hot oil in small batches, preventing overcrowding and preserving oil temperature, rotating pieces to achieve a uniform golden-brown crust and ensure safe internal temperature, approximately 4-5 minutes per batch.
6. Excess Oil Removal: Transfer fried chicken to paper towel-lined surface, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining the crispy texture.
7. Honey Garlic Sauce Creation: Combine honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and finely minced garlic in a saucepan, heating over medium flame and introducing a cornstarch slurry to develop a glossy, thickened sauce.
8. Sauce Coating: Pour warm honey garlic sauce over crispy chicken in a large mixing bowl, gently tossing to ensure complete and uniform coverage.
9. Final Presentation: Plate the sauced chicken, garnishing with thinly sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to enhance visual appeal and add textural complexity, serving immediately with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.

Notes

• Control Oil Temperature: Maintain precise 350F for perfectly crispy chicken without burning, using a deep-fry thermometer for accuracy.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Fry chicken in small batches to preserve oil temperature and ensure even, golden-brown crispiness.
• Pat Chicken Dry: Remove excess moisture before breading to guarantee maximum crunch and prevent soggy coating.
• Cornstarch Magic: Use a mix of flour and cornstarch for an extra-crispy, light breading that stays crunchy even after saucing.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 340
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 450 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg