Description
Crispy Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken brings golden-brown magic from classic Asian kitchens to dinner tables worldwide. Sweet, tangy sauce glazes tender chicken pieces that crunch with each delightful bite you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating Ingredients:
- 1 pound (450 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup (65 grams) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (65 grams) cornstarch
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Sauce and Garnish Ingredients:
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) honey
- ¼ cup (60 milliliters) soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions
Instructions
- Create a seasoned coating by blending flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and baking powder in a spacious mixing vessel.
- Whisk egg and cold water together in a separate container to form a smooth, light batter.
- Immerse each chicken fragment into the egg mixture, ensuring complete coverage, then roll thoroughly in the seasoned dry mixture until fully encased.
- Warm vegetable oil in a deep skillet, maintaining medium-high temperature. Test oil readiness by dropping a batter morsel which should immediately sizzle and float.
- Carefully submerge chicken pieces into hot oil, frying in small batches to maintain optimal crispiness. Cook each batch approximately 4-5 minutes until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior.
- Transfer fried chicken onto paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining crunch.
- In a separate saucepan, gently toast minced garlic in sesame oil, releasing aromatic notes for approximately 30 seconds.
- Incorporate honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and optional crushed red pepper flakes into the garlic base, stirring to create a harmonious blend.
- Simmer sauce mixture, introducing cornstarch-water combination to enhance thickness. Continuously stir for 1-2 minutes until achieving desired viscosity.
- Gently fold crispy chicken pieces into prepared sauce, ensuring complete and delicate coating.
- Plate the glazed chicken, garnishing with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for visual appeal and enhanced flavor profile.
- Serve immediately alongside steamed rice or preferred accompaniment for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk or yogurt for extra tenderness and deeper flavor before coating, allowing the proteins to break down and create a more succulent texture.
- Adjust cornstarch ratio for gluten-free diets by using rice flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, ensuring crispy coating remains intact without compromising texture.
- Control oil temperature precisely between 350-375°F using a digital thermometer to prevent soggy or burnt exterior, maintaining consistent golden-brown crispiness throughout chicken pieces.
- Reduce sauce’s sugar content by substituting honey with maple syrup or agave for lower glycemic impact, balancing sweet and savory elements while accommodating dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg