Description
This Crispy Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken features tender chicken pieces coated in a golden, crispy batter and tossed in a sticky, sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. It’s a restaurant-style dish made easily at home! Serve it over rice or steamed vegetables for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- Vegetable oil for frying
For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- 3 tbsp butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar (or white vinegar)
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (slurry)
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 tsp sesame oil (optional, for extra flavor)
For Garnish:
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken Batter
- In a large bowl, whisk together cornstarch, flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- In a separate bowl, whisk egg, cold water, and soy sauce until well combined.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, whisking until smooth (it should be slightly thick but not too runny).
- Add the chicken pieces to the batter and toss to coat.
2. Fry the Chicken
- Heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pan or wok over medium-high heat (350°F/175°C).
- Carefully drop the battered chicken into the hot oil, frying in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove and drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
3. Make the Honey Garlic Sauce
- In a clean skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the cornstarch slurry and stir until the sauce thickens (about 1 minute).
- Turn off the heat and mix in sesame oil for extra flavor (optional).
4. Coat the Chicken & Serve
- Toss the crispy fried chicken in the honey garlic sauce until fully coated.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice or stir-fried veggies.
Notes
- Extra crispy tip: Double-fry the chicken for even more crunch! Fry once for 3 minutes, remove, then fry again for 1-2 minutes until extra golden brown.
- Want it spicier? Add sriracha or extra red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet for best results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg