Description
Irresistible sticky honey chicken delivers sweet and savory Asian-inspired flavors that dance across your palate. Crispy, golden-brown chicken pieces glazed with a luscious honey sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into bite-sized pieces
Sauce and Seasoning:
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce (optional, for depth)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Cooking and Garnish:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (for frying)
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Create a delectable coating for the chicken by thoroughly mixing cornstarch, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl, ensuring each chicken piece is uniformly enveloped.
- Activate a large skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high temperature, allowing the surface to become hot and shimmering.
- Carefully introduce the seasoned chicken pieces into the heated skillet, allowing them to transform into a golden-brown exterior while maintaining a juicy interior, stirring intermittently for approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Extract the perfectly cooked chicken from the pan and temporarily reserve on a clean plate.
- Utilize the same skillet to sauté minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes, releasing their aromatic essence for roughly 30 seconds.
- Craft a luxurious sauce by introducing honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, and sesame oil, stirring the ingredients to create a harmonious blend.
- Encourage the sauce to reach a gentle simmer, then incorporate a cornstarch slurry to enhance its viscosity, allowing it to thicken for 1-2 minutes.
- Reunite the golden chicken with the glistening sauce, gently tossing to ensure each piece is lavishly coated.
- Elevate the dish’s visual appeal and flavor profile by sprinkling freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
- Present the sticky honey chicken alongside steamed rice or vibrant stir-fried vegetables for a complete, mouth-watering meal.
Notes
- Maximize chicken crispiness by patting the pieces dry with paper towels before coating with cornstarch, ensuring a golden and crunchy exterior.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting soy sauce with tamari and using cornstarch from a dedicated gluten-free facility.
- Dial down the heat for sensitive palates by reducing or eliminating red pepper flakes, maintaining the sauce’s rich flavor profile without overwhelming spiciness.
- Boost protein intake by serving the chicken over quinoa or cauliflower rice, offering a nutritious alternative to traditional white rice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg