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Sometimes you just need a plate of crispy fried chicken coated in a sticky, sweet, and garlicky sauce. That’s where honey garlic fried chicken comes in. It’s one of those dishes that you can whip up when you’re craving something packed with flavor but don’t feel like going out for takeout.
These super crunchy honey garlic chicken bites are perfect for a casual snack with cucumber or celery or even dinner paired with rice. And the best part? You don’t need to be a pro in the kitchen to nail this recipe. Let’s dive into it!
What you’ll need
Chicken Marinade:
- 1.5 lb chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp white pepper
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- Black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp ginger powder
Batter:
- ½ cup rice or wheat flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup soda water
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 6 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 6 tbsp cooking wine
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Garnish:
- Thai chili, chopped
- Green onion, sliced
- Sesame seeds
- Drizzle of sesame oil
How to make honey garlic fried chicken
- Marinate the Chicken:
- Start by cutting the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, mix the chicken with oil, salt, garlic powder, white pepper, chili powder, black pepper, oregano, and ginger powder. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight to let the flavors really soak in.
- Prepare the Batter:
- In another bowl, combine the rice or wheat flour with cornstarch. Divide the mixture in half. Add soda water to one half and mix until smooth. The other half will be added later when frying.
- Coat the Chicken:
- Add the marinated chicken to the wet batter mixture (the one with soda water). Mix until the chicken is fully coated. When you’re ready to fry, add the reserved dry batter mix into the chicken and wet batter mixture, this will give the chicken an extra layer of crunch.
- Fry the Chicken:
- Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches, ensuring they don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3-6 minutes until golden, then remove and let them rest. For that extra crispy chicken, crank up the heat and double fry the chicken for another 2-3 minutes until they’re super crispy.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- In a pan over medium heat, melt some butter and add the sauce (garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, cornstarch and cooking wine). Let it simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
- Toss the Chicken:
- Once the sauce is ready, toss the fried chicken pieces in it until they’re evenly coated.
- Turn off the heat, drizzle in the sesame oil and toss the chicken for the sesame oil to distribute evenly.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Plate the honey garlic fried chicken and garnish with chopped Thai chili, green onions, and sesame seeds.
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Tips to make perfect fried chicken
- Double Fry for Extra Crunch: Double frying makes a huge difference in the crunch. The first fry cooks the chicken through, while the second fry makes it extra crispy.
- Customize the Heat: If you want more heat, throw in extra Thai chili or a splash of hot sauce into the sauce.
- Marinating: if you’re in a hurry, even 30 minutes of marinating will add some flavor, but if you have the time, let the chicken soak for longer—overnight is even better.
- Soda Water for Light Batter: Soda water makes the batter light and crispy, almost like tempura. If you don’t have soda water, you can use regular cold water.
- Cornstarch for Glossy Look: The cornstarch thickens the sauce, giving it that glossy look of the chicken. Don’t skip it.
Side Dishes to Complete the Meal
These honey garlic chicken bites are versatile, so you can easily turn them into a meal with the right sides:
- Steamed Jasmine Rice: Keep it simple and let the sticky-sweet sauce be the star of the show.
- Roasted Broccoli: roasted broccoli pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the honey garlic sauce. Just toss some florets in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and roast them in the oven.
- Sesame Cucumber Salad: A fresh and tangy cucumber salad with sesame oil and rice vinegar will complement the taste of the chicken.
- Korean Kimchi: For a little spice and crunch, serve with some kimchi.
- If you want to snack on these chicken bites, you can pair them with an entire cucumber, celery, cherry tomatoes, and/or baby carrots.
Japanese frying pot for frying chicken
I recently discovered this Japanese frying pot, and let me tell you, it’s been a game-changer for me when it comes to frying. No more splattered oil all over the stove or a greasy mess to clean up afterward.
This pot is designed with a built-in thermometer and high sides, which keeps the oil from splashing out, and it heats evenly. Every batch of chicken comes out perfectly crispy. If you’re someone who loves fried food but hates the cleanup, this pot is seriously a lifesaver. I started to like frying food ever since I discovered this pot.
So there you have it—Honey Garlic Chicken Bites that are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and sticky sweet all over. Enjoy making your own honey garlic fried chicken at home—it’s a lot easier than you’d expect, and the flavor? Way better than takeout.
Happy cooking!
Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
These bite-sized pieces of heaven start with tender chicken, seasoned to perfection. We’ll give them a crispy coating that’ll make you go “wow” with every bite. The sauce is a perfect balance between heat and sweetness. It’s a taste explosion you won’t want to miss
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade:
- 1.5 lb chicken thighs
- 2 tbsp oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tbsp garlic powder
- ⅛ tsp white pepper
- ½ tbsp chili powder
- Black pepper to taste
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp ginger powder
Batter:
- ½ cup rice or wheat flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup soda/water
Sauce:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 6 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- 1 tbsp ginger minced
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 6 tbsp cooking wine
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Garnish:
- Thai chili chopped
- Green onion sliced
- Sesame seeds
- Drizzle of sesame oil
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
- Start by cutting the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces. In a bowl, mix the chicken with oil, salt, garlic powder, white pepper, chili powder, black pepper, oregano, and ginger powder. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight to let the flavors really soak in.
Prepare the Batter:
- In another bowl, combine the rice or wheat flour with cornstarch. Divide the mixture in half. Add soda water to one half and mix until smooth. The other half will be added later when frying.
Coat the Chicken:
- Add the marinated chicken to the wet batter mixture (the one with soda water). Mix until the chicken is fully coated. When you're ready to fry, add the reserved dry batter mix into the chicken and wet batter mixture, this will give the chicken an extra layer of crunch.
Fry the Chicken:
- Heat oil in a deep pan over medium heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches, ensuring they don't overcrowd the pan. Fry for 3-6 minutes until golden, then remove and let them rest. For that extra crispy chicken, crank up the heat and double fry the chicken for another 2-3 minutes until they're super crispy.
Make the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- In a pan over medium heat, melt some butter and add the sauce (garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, cornstarch and cooking wine). Let it simmer for a few minutes until slightly thickened.
Toss the Chicken:
- Once the sauce is ready, toss the fried chicken pieces in it until they're evenly coated.
- Turn off the heat, drizzle in the sesame oil and toss the chicken for the sesame oil to distribute evenly.
Garnish and Serve:
- Plate the honey garlic fried chicken and garnish with chopped Thai chili, green onions, and sesame seeds.
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