Description
Sticky Honey Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken coated in a sweet and savory honey glaze with hints of garlic and soy sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, this easy recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners and pairs beautifully with rice or vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch (or all-purpose flour)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Honey Glaze:
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce (low sodium)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Garnishes (Optional):
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken
- In a bowl, mix cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Coat chicken pieces evenly in the mixture, shaking off excess.
- Cook the Chicken
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
- Cook chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Make the Honey Glaze
- In the same pan, reduce heat to medium and sauté garlic and ginger for 30 seconds.
- Add honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, and red pepper flakes. Stir well.
- Bring to a simmer and add cornstarch slurry, stirring until thickened (1–2 minutes).
- Coat the Chicken
- Return chicken to the pan and toss to coat. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Serve and Garnish
- Remove from heat, garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
- Serve hot with steamed rice or vegetables.
Notes
- Baked Version: Bake coated chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes before tossing in sauce.
- Spicy Kick: Add extra red pepper flakes or a dash of Sriracha.
- Air Fryer Option: Cook at 375°F (190°C) for 12–15 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- Gluten-Free Alternative: Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Vegetarian Twist: Substitute crispy tofu or cauliflower for chicken.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: asian
Keywords: Sticky honey chicken, honey garlic chicken, easy chicken recipe, Asian chicken, weeknight dinner