Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken is the best takeout copycat recipe you’ll ever make. After making this dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to getting that perfect crispy texture. This golden, crispy chicken in a sweet and tangy sauce will become your family’s favorite. Jump to Recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Cookies and Sour Cream and Onion Biscuits.
Why This Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy chicken
- Sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce
- Better than takeout
- Easy to make
What You'll Need for Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken breasts
- honey
- garlic
- soy sauce
- cornstarch
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
- honey: Use real honey for the best flavor.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast Iron Skillet — Even heat for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Digital Meat Thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature. → See on Amazon
How to Make Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
- Prepare the chicken: Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Cook until sauce thickens.
- Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice or noodles.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
- : Use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to an even thickness for better cooking.
- Common mistake and fix: If your sauce is too thin, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and add it to the skillet. Cook until sauce thickens.
- : For a spicy version, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- : To make ahead, cook chicken and sauce separately. Reheat in the skillet before serving.
Storing & Reheating Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Chicken can be cooked and sauce made ahead of time. Combine and reheat before serving.
Freezing Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat in the skillet.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven or skillet.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent chicken from sticking, ensure your skillet is hot before adding the chicken.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: Chicken and sauce can be made ahead of time. Reheat in the skillet before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is not browning, increase the heat or flip the chicken more frequently.
Want to level up this recipe?
Instant Read Thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to a safe temperature, preventing overcooking. → Check price on Amazon
Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- honey
- garlic
- soy sauce
- cornstarch
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- black pepper
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Slice chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in honey, soy sauce, and cornstarch. Cook until sauce thickens.
- Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet and toss to coat in sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent chicken from sticking, ensure your skillet is hot before adding the chicken.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts for boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a more flavorful dish.
- Make-ahead: Chicken and sauce can be made ahead of time. Reheat in the skillet before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
- Troubleshooting: If your chicken is not browning, increase the heat or flip the chicken more frequently.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken and sauce separately for up to 2 months. Thaw and reheat in the skillet.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven or skillet.
- Make ahead: Chicken can be cooked and sauce made ahead of time. Combine and reheat before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sat. Fat: 2g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken FAQs
Yes, cook chicken at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, then toss in sauce.
Add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water to the skillet and cook until sauce thickens.
Yes, they will be more flavorful but may take longer to cook.
Serve Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken as a main dish for your holiday feast. It's a family favorite that's better than takeout.
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken. Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C).
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
