Last Updated on June 14, 2025 by Barbara
When I first made this recipe, I was so surprised at how good it was and that I was able to make restaurant quality crispy honey chicken in my own kitchen. The combination of the crispy fried chicken and the delicious sauce is out of this world. It’s a quick weeknight dinner recipe that can be made in no time. And best of all it’s made with simple ingredients that you already have. Let’s make some Crispy Honey Chicken!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
You’re going to just love this Crispy Honey Chicken recipe for a number of reasons! First, the sweet and savory flavor combo is seriously addictive. The sticky honey sauce has just the right balance of sweetness and tanginess. And it’s crispy too! Thanks to the double-fry method, the chicken stays super crispy even after it’s coated in sauce. The best part? It’s really easy to make at home with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, so you can skip the takeout and eat in. Plus, it’s super customizable—you can easily tweak it to be gluten-free, vegetarian, or even a little spicy if that’s your preference.
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Watch This Video For Crispy Honey Chicken
Ingredients For Crispy Honey Chicken
- Chicken breast: Chicken breast is tender and will absorbs flavors well and crisps up nicely when fried.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the chicken and balances the sweetness of the sauce.
- Garlic powder: Adds a savory, aromatic depth that complements the sweet and tangy sauce.
- White pepper: Gives the chicken a mild heat and earthiness without overpowering the other flavors.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the batter, helping to create a crispy outer coating.
- Corn starch: Lightens the batter and makes the coating crispy when fried.
- Baking powder: Helps the batter rise slightly for a crisp, airy texture.
- Canola oil: Used for both the batter and frying, it has a neutral flavor and high smoke point ideal for deep frying.
- Honey: Provides the signature sweetness and stickiness in the sauce that makes the dish so addictive.
- Ketchup: Adds tanginess and body to the sauce while balancing out the honey’s sweetness.
- Sugar: Intensifies the sweetness and helps caramelize the sauce for a glossy finish.
- Sesame seed: Adds a nutty flavor and a touch of texture for a finishing garnish.
Substitutions
You have several options in this recipe for alternative ingredients. For protein substitutions, you my opt for chicken thighs for a juicier cut of chicken. If you prefer not to use chicken at all, you can substitute it with shrimp. For a vegetarian option Tofu works perfectly.
If you are looking to change the flavor, then seasoning substitutions can be made to your preference. A few options include swapping out the salt for kosher salt for a slightly different texture and flavor. You can use onion powder in place of the garlic powder and black pepper instead of white pepper. You can add cayenne for a little kick to literally spice it up. These slight change is seasoning can create a whole new taste that may better suit your preferences.
For the batter, you can swap the all-purpose flour for rice flour for a gluten-free option. For a lighter batter use Club soda instead of water. And of course vegetable oil is a great substitution for canola oil.
Be mindful that whatever changes you make will change the overall flavor of this recipe. So use this recipe as a guide but feel free to make it your own!
What You Will Need
Instructions for Crispy Honey Chicken
Step 1: Season the Chicken
In a large bowl, combine the chicken with salt, garlic powder, white pepper, and water. Mix well, ensuring all pieces are evenly coated. Cover then place the bowl in the refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Step 2: Prepare the Honey Sauce
While the chicken is marinating in the fridge. In a separate bowl, whisk together the honey, ketchup, sugar, and water until well combined. Set this sauce aside for later.
Step 3: Making the Batter for Crispy Honey Chicken
In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and garlic powder. Add water, egg, and canola oil. Whisk until smooth and lump-free.
Step 4: Coat and Fry the Chicken
Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge then add it to the batter and mix until each piece is well coated.
Heat oil in a deep frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in small batches for 1 minute, then remove from the oil.
Once all chicken is pre-fried, return it to the oil and fry again for 4 minutes, or until they are crispy and golden brown. Remove the chicken from the oil and set it aside.
Step 5: Coat the Chicken with Sauce
In a separate pan, warm the prepared honey sauce over low heat. Add the fried chicken to the pan and toss until each piece is evenly coated.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Plate the crispy honey chicken and sprinkle with sesame seeds for garnish. Serve immediately and enjoy this crispy chicken recipe!
Serving Suggestions
Crispy Honey Chicken is great with steamed rice, fried rice or noodles. Try it with a side salad and a light egg roll or spring roll. I have also pair it with my delicious Egg Drop Soup and the flavors were simply delicious!
What to Know About Crispy Honey Chicken
To keep the chicken crispy, make sure to double-fry it—first for a quick cook, then again to crisp it up—and only toss it in the honey sauce just before serving to prevent sogginess.
It’s best to mix the batter right before using, but you can prep the dry ingredients in advance and store them in an airtight container—just add the wet ingredients when you’re ready to cook for the freshest texture.
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Crispy Honey Chicken Recipe
4
servings20
minutes30
minutesIngredients
For the Chicken:
1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
salt
¼ garlic powder
1 tsp white pepper
3 tbsp water
For the Batter:
¾ all-purpose flour
½ cup corn starch
2 tbsps baking powder
¼ tsp salt
⅛ tsp garlic powder
1 egg
2 tbsps canola oil
water
For the Honey Sauce:
3 tbsp honey
5 tbsp ketchup
sugar
3 tbsp water
sesame seeds (for garnish)
Directions
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add salt, garlic powder, and white pepper.
- Pour in the water and mix until the chicken is evenly coated and well combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, ketchup, honey and water. Mix well until smooth and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and garlic powder. Mix well.
- Add the water and egg to the dry mixture and stir until well combined.
- Stir in the canola oil until the batter is smooth and lump-free.
- Add the seasoned chicken to the batter, mixing until each piece is evenly coated.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Fry the chicken in small batches for 1 minute. Remove and set aside.
- Once all batches are done, return the chicken to the oil and fry again for 4 more minutes, or until crispy and golden brown.
- Remove the chicken from the oil and drain on paper towels.
- In a clean pan over low heat, add the honey sauce and warm it up.
- Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat each piece thoroughly.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds over the coated chicken.
