Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken

Craving something delicious and spicy? Look no further than our recipe for spicy honey garlic chicken. It’s easy to make and will leave your taste buds tingling with anticipation.

Serve this dish at your next party and watch as your guests devour it. They won’t be able to resist the sweet and spicy flavor combination. If you want to make a takeout meal come to life, then check out this crispy Mongolian beef recipe. It's another great choice that is packed with flavor.

Ingredients

To brine the chicken

2 ¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken (1 kg)
2 cups water (500ml)
1 tablespoon salt (18g)
1 tablespoon sugar (12.6g)
1 tablespoon black pepper (6.9g)
½ teaspoon Chinese 5-spice (1.5g)
½ teaspoon ginger powder (1g)
½ teaspoon white pepper (1.25g)
½ teaspoon onion powder (1g)
2 bay leaves

For the wet batter

⅓ cup all-purpose flour (42g)
½ cup water (120ml)
1 large egg

For the seasoned flour coating

2 cups all-purpose flour (240g)
2 tablespoons chicken seasoning (3g)
1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice (3g)
1 teaspoon paprika (2.3g)
1 teaspoon black pepper (2.3g)
1 teaspoon onion powder (2g)
½ teaspoon ground ginger (1g)
½ teaspoon mustard powder (1g)
½ teaspoon white pepper (1.25g)

For the honey garlic sauce

10 garlic cloves, minced
¼ cup + 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (100g)
⅓ cup honey (80ml)
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon soy sauce (15ml)
1 teaspoon paprika (1g)
½ teaspoon salt (3g)

crispy spicy honey garlic chicken on bed of lettuce

Handy Kitchen Tools

yellow napkin behind white platter of chicken tenders

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken

Start by preparing the brine for the chicken. In a large bowl with lid, whisk together the water, salt, sugar, black pepper, ginger powder, white pepper, Chinese 5-spice, and bay leaves. Then, add the chicken tenderloins and cover them. Refrigerate this for 1 hour.

pink tong holding chicken above white bowl of brine

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, water, and egg for the wet part of the dredge.

whisk stirring flour and egg in white bowl

Then, whisk together the flour, chicken seasoning, Chinese 5-spice, paprika, black pepper, onion powder, ground ginger, white pepper, and mustard powder to form the seasoned flour.

pepper being added to white bowl of flour

Dredge the chicken tenders first into the seasoned flour, then into the wet mixture, and lastly back again in the seasoned flour.

Heat oil for frying in a large deep skillet or deep fryer. Place the battered chicken into the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until it has reached 165°F internally. Make sure to not crowd the pan too much and do this in batches if necessary.

Drain the chicken on paper towels, then start preparing your garlic sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter and add in the garlic. Cook this for 3 minutes while stirring regularly.

To this, add the paprika, honey, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and salt. Cook this for 1 to 2 minutes to heat through, combine the flavors, and reduce.

adding spices to spicy honey garlic chicken in skillet with blue spoon

Brush the fried chicken with the sauce before serving.

sauce being brushed on top of chicken tender

Serve with additional sauce for dipping. This also pairs great with ketchup or ranch dressing.

fork holding chicken on plate while knife cuts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Honey Garlic Chicken Made Of?

The base of this recipe is chicken breast tenders that are soaked in a brine then fried and covered with a sticky sauce. Everything comes together to make a sticky sweet and slightly spicy chicken that is tender and delicious. This is a great replacement for Chinese takeout or Korean fried chicken at home.

Can I Make Garlic Chicken with Chicken Thighs?

Yes, you can make this spicy honey garlic chicken using chicken thighs. While chicken breast is lower in fat and calories, chicken thighs are usually moister and have more flavor than most chicken breast recipes.

However, they can also be more difficult to cook evenly. If you choose to use chicken thighs, make sure to cook them through because the cooking time will be different than using chicken breast. I recommend cutting the chicken thighs into small bite-sized pieces for this recipe.

How Long Does it Take To Cook Chicken Thighs?

Chicken thighs typically take about 8 to 10 minutes to cook all the way through when frying whole. However, this will vary depending on the size of your chicken thighs. When cooking chicken, it is always best to use a meat thermometer to ensure that it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F.

white platter of fried chicken on table with yellow cloth napkin

What Should I Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken?

This chicken dish is delicious on its own. However, if you want to round out your meal, several sides go well with it. You can go with classic side dishes of things like baked potatoes, roasted potatoes, or mashed potatoes. Or, you can go with more traditional Asian-themed sides like fried rice.

Other options include serving with steamed vegetables, over steamed rice, or even with a side of quinoa. Of course, you can go totally unique and serve this with pasta or over zoodles.

black plate with chicken tenders on lettuce

More Asian-Inspired Recipes

If you are looking for more Asian-inspired meals, below are some of our favorite dishes. From sides to entrees, these recipes are perfect for weeknight meals with many being ready in just 30 minutes. Make sure that you bookmark the recipes you like, print out the recipes, or pin them to Pinterest to make them soon.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 6