Description
This Crispy Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken recipe features tender bite-sized chicken pieces coated in a flavorful batter, fried to golden perfection, and tossed in a luscious honey garlic sauce. Perfect as a savory and sweet main dish, it offers a delightful contrast of crispy texture and sticky, aromatic glaze that’s ideal for a quick weeknight dinner or casual entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Batter
- 1 pound boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil (for frying)
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (mixed with 1 tablespoon water for thickening)
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.
- Add water to form batter: Gradually pour in the water while stirring continuously until a smooth, slightly thick batter forms, ensuring there are no lumps.
- Coat the chicken: Dip each bite-sized piece of chicken thigh into the batter, making sure it is fully and evenly coated for a crispy crust.
- Fry the chicken: Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan or deep fryer over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully add battered chicken pieces in small batches to avoid crowding. Fry for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Make the honey garlic sauce: In a separate saucepan, combine the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally to meld flavors.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) into the boiling sauce and continue stirring until the sauce thickens slightly. Remove the saucepan from heat once the sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Toss chicken with sauce: Place the crispy fried chicken pieces into a large mixing bowl, pour the thickened honey garlic sauce over them, and gently toss to evenly coat each piece.
- Serve: Immediately serve the honey garlic chicken garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired for extra flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For extra crispy chicken, ensure the oil is hot enough before frying (around 350°F or 175°C).
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for juicier meat compared to breasts.
- Adjust honey quantity based on your preferred sweetness level.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free soy sauce.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan to maintain oil temperature and crispiness.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 2 days but are best enjoyed fresh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 4 ounces cooked chicken with sauce)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: crispy honey garlic chicken, Chinese chicken recipe, fried chicken with honey garlic sauce, easy Chinese dinner, sweet and savory chicken
