Crispy Honey Chicken

This Crispy Honey Chicken is an easy and delicious version of your favorite Chinese takeout. The homemade version is just as awesome for an easy weeknight dinner.

Learning about my human design has opened my eyes to so many of the gifts I take for granted, but as a food blogger, possibly the greatest revelation was my digestion. I have closed taste which means I'm meant to eat just a few things over and over again. It also says I don't need to try something to know if I'm going to like it. Lookin' at you, broccoli.

There was a phase in my life around 2008 where I wanted to eat the honey chicken from Pei Wei pretty much every day. Unfortunately, or probably fortunately, it was about a 20 minute drive from my house on the way to nowhere, and it was pretty expensive. I probably still treated myself way too much. But now I can make my own version at home for much cheaper. Is once a week too much?

What makes Crispy Honey Chicken so awesome?

It's actually been a very long time since I had that fast casual version of Crispy Honey Chicken, so I don't know if it tastes the same, but I do know that this tastes absolutely awesome. There's a deep savoury flavor that's balanced with just the right amount of sweetness from the honey in the sauce. The crispy texture on the chicken with the sticky, flavorful honey coating is absolutely perfect. Piled on top of a bowl of brown rice, I can't get enough.

This recipe is totally achievable on a weeknight, especially if you've done a bit of meal prep and have chicken breasts already cut into chunks ahead of time. It's also easy to double if you have a bigger family. Just remember to start the rice straight away so it's hot and waiting for you when the chicken is ready to go. Then prepare to be very satisfied and maybe even a little sad when it's over.

Magical Properties of Honey

Honey has been used in magical practices across history and in a variety of cultures. With its sweetness, it has strong properties of attraction. Honey jar spells can be used to attract any intention. It's not just Earthly entities that enjoy honey, either. Leave a dish of honey out as an offering to attract angels and other beneficial spirits. Mix milk and honey and leave it outside as an offering to the Fey. (Source: The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes)

For more on the magical properties of the ingredients in this recipe, check the Kitchen Magick page.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to create this recipe. All the details are in the recipe card below.

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar - light or dark will both work
• Ketchup
• Sweet chili sauce
• Honey
• Rice vinegar
• Fresh garlic - garlic paste would also work
• Sesame oil
• Boneless skinless chicken breast - thighs could probably also suffice if you prefer
• Eggs
• Corn starch - aka corn flour
• All-purpose flour - aka plain flour
• Seasoning & spices - salt, pepper, garlic granules, cayenne pepper
• Vegetable oil - for frying

Tips for making this Crispy Honey Chicken

This is super simple, but it does help if you're a bit organized. The first thing you'll want to do is mix up your sauce. You're simply dumping and stirring. No big deal. Set that aside.

To prepare your chicken, chop it into bite-size pieces, and season it with salt. Then create a little assembly line. You'll need a bowl or shallow dish with the beaten egg, and the same with the corn starch, flour, and spices all combined. You'll also want to pre-heat your oil in your skillet.

When you've got everything ready to go, work in batches to dip your chicken pieces in the beaten egg, then dredge them in the flour mixture, and then pop them into the skillet. I use tongs for this, but it still gets pretty messy. Just embrace the mess. It's gonna be so worth it.

Turn your chicken in the oil to make sure it's cooked through and crispy on all sides. Once the pieces are cooked, remove them to a plate. Pour the oil out of your skillet and return it to medium heat. Pour your sauce into the skillet and let it bubble fiercely until it thickens and gets sticky. Then add your chicken back into the skillet and toss it in the sauce until every piece is deliciously coated.

Serve with rice, noodles, or whatever your favorite accompaniment may be.

FAQ

This Crispy Honey Chicken is definitely becoming a regular feature in our house. It's that awesome. I hope you eat it all the time, too.

Looking for more awesome chicken recipes? Try this Chicken & Goat Cheese Pasta or some easy Baked Chicken Parm Nuggets.

Crispy Honey Chicken

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

This Crispy Honey Chicken is an easy and delicious version of your favorite Chinese takeout. The homemade version is just as awesome for an easy weeknight dinner.

• Author: Renee Rendall
• Prep Time: 15
• Cook Time: 15
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 3 servings 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

For the sauce:

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cloves garlic, grated with a zester
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

For the chicken:

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks
• 1 egg, beaten
• ¼ cup corn starch
• ½ cup all-purpose or plain flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic granules
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Sesame seeds, for garnish
• Sliced scallions, for garnish, optional

Instructions

For the sauce:

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for your sauce until combined. Set aside.

For the chicken:

1. Once your chicken is chopped, sprinkle it with a bit of salt and set aside while you make your dredging assembly line.
2. Beat your egg into a shallow bowl or dish. In another shallow bowl or dish, add the corn starch, flour, salt, pepper, garlic granules, and cayenne pepper. Stir with a fork to combine.
3. Add enough oil to a skillet to cover the pan, then heat the oil over medium heat.
4. In batches, coat your chicken pieces in egg, letting the excess drip away. Then toss them in the flour mixture to coat. Then add them to the hot oil. Continue this process until all the chicken is coated and cooking.
5. You'll need to keep an eye on the first pieces of chicken as you add more. Turn them occasionally to get them browned and crispy on all sides. When the pieces are chicken are cooked through, remove them to a paper-towel lined plate.
6. Pour out any excess oil from your skillet and return it to the heat. Pour the sauce into the pan and bring it to a boil. Let it bubble away for a few minutes until it thickens. Then add the chicken pieces back in and toss to coat. Turn the heat off, and sprinkle over your sesame seeds before serving.
7. Serve hot with rice. To add a pop of green freshness, scatter over some chopped scallion.

Equipment

skillet

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mixing bowl

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measuring cups/spoons

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Keywords: chicken, chinese

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Recipe slightly adapted from Cookies & Cups.