Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken that’s better than takeout. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to perfectly crispy chicken every time. The golden, crispy chicken in a sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce will make your family beg for this recipe. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Banana Bread Brownies and Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy.
Why This Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout Is Pure Comfort
- Irresistible crispy chicken
- Sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce
- Better than takeout taste
- Easy to make at home
What You'll Need for Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- chicken breasts
- honey
- garlic
- soy sauce
- cornstarch
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Read Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked, juicy chicken every time. → See on Amazon
- Non-Stick Skillet — Prevents chicken from sticking and ensures even cooking. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Coat in cornstarch.
- Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until crispy and golden. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic. Add honey, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Stir in cornstarch mixed with water. Cook until thickened.
- Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice or noodles.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken, making it dry. To prevent this, use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) but no more.
- Time-saving tip: You can marinate the chicken in the cornstarch mixture for up to 24 hours in the fridge to save time.
- Substitution tip: If you don't have cornstarch, you can use all-purpose flour as a substitute.
- Presentation tip: For a fancier presentation, serve the chicken on a bed of noodles or rice and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezing Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
Freeze cooked chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container for up to 2 months.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Add a little water to the skillet to prevent burning.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Best substitution: If you don't have honey, you can use brown sugar as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in the skillet with the sauce before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little water to thin it out. If it's too thin, cook it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-Smoke Point Oil — Ensures even cooking and prevents hot spots in the pan. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- honey
- garlic
- soy sauce
- cornstarch
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- red pepper flakes
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Coat in cornstarch.
- Cook the chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until crispy and golden. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Make the sauce: In the same skillet, sauté minced garlic. Add honey, soy sauce, and red pepper flakes. Stir in cornstarch mixed with water. Cook until thickened.
- Combine and serve: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve over rice or noodles.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier version, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce.
- Best substitution: If you don't have honey, you can use brown sugar as a substitute.
- Make-ahead: The chicken can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in the skillet with the sauce before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, add a little water to thin it out. If it's too thin, cook it for a few more minutes to reduce and thicken.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Add a little water to the skillet to prevent burning.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 350
- Protein: 30g
- Fat: 10g
- Carbs: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 1.5g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout FAQs
Yes, cook the chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes or until crispy and golden. Then, proceed with the sauce as directed.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) but no more.
Yes, you can prepare the chicken and sauce ahead of time. Reheat in the skillet before serving.
Serve over rice, noodles, or with a side of steamed vegetables.
This recipe is gluten-free as written. However, always check your specific ingredients to ensure they are gluten-free.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken: Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
