Sticky Honey Butter Chicken Recipe
Sticky Honey Butter Chicken is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner featuring tender boneless skinless chicken thighs pan-fried to golden crispiness and coated in a luscious, glossy honey butter glaze with a subtle garlic kick. This Asian-inspired dish balances sweet and savory notes perfectly and comes together in just 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy evenings.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Mains
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 lb chicken thighs, boneless skinless, cut into 2” pieces
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp flour (Bob’s gluten free 1 to 1 works well)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Sauce and Cooking
- 3 garlic cloves, sliced thinly
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten free)
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp cold unsalted butter
- Optional: splash (about 2 tbsp) water to thin the sauce
Garnish
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into 2-inch bite-sized pieces. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Toss the chicken pieces thoroughly in the mixture until they are lightly and evenly coated.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the coated chicken pieces in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding to ensure maximum crispiness. Cook for about 8 minutes on one side until golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook for another 8 minutes on the other side. Once cooked and crisp, remove chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the Garlic: Add the sliced garlic cloves to the now empty skillet and cook for about 1 minute over medium heat until fragrant and slightly golden, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Make the Honey Butter Sauce: Lower the heat and add the cold unsalted butter to the skillet. Once the butter begins to melt, stir in the honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Optionally add a splash (about 2 tablespoons) of water to adjust the sauce consistency. Stir continuously to combine and let the sauce become smooth and glossy.
- Toss the Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet. Toss well to coat all pieces thoroughly in the sticky honey butter sauce.
- Serve: Garnish the glazed chicken with finely chopped parsley for a fresh pop of color and flavor. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy your sticky honey butter chicken!
Notes
- For crispy chicken, ensure the pieces are well coated in the dry mixture and cook them in a single layer without crowding the pan.
- Use cold butter when adding to the pan to create a silky and glossy sauce that clings perfectly to the chicken.
- You can add about 2 tablespoons of water to the sauce if it is too thick to help thin it out and make coating easier.
- Using tamari instead of soy sauce makes the dish gluten free.
- To enhance texture, make sure the skillet is hot before adding the chicken to get that perfect golden sear.
Keywords: Honey Butter Chicken, Sticky Chicken Thighs, Pan-Fried Chicken, Quick Dinner, Asian Chicken Recipe
Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/sticky-honey-butter-chicken-recipe/
