Description
Honey Butter Chicken is a deliciously crispy and golden skillet-cooked chicken dish, coated with a perfectly balanced honey butter glaze enhanced by garlic, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. This flavorful, quick-to-make recipe is ideal for a satisfying weeknight dinner, offering a harmonious combination of sweet and savory tastes with a buttery finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Coating
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Cooking and Sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
Garnish
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into 2-inch pieces. In a bowl, coat the chicken evenly with cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder, ensuring each piece is well covered for a crispy texture.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook for approximately 8 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and crispy. This thorough cooking ensures juicy meat inside with a crisp exterior.
- Sauté Garlic: Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside. In the same skillet, add the sliced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, allowing it to release its fragrant aroma without burning.
- Make the Sauce: Add honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar to the skillet with the garlic. Stir the mixture well to combine all the flavors, creating the sweet and tangy base for the glaze.
- Add Butter: Incorporate the cold unsalted butter into the skillet and stir continuously until the sauce becomes glossy and smooth, which beautifully coats the chicken later.
- Coat Chicken and Serve: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet and toss them thoroughly in the honey butter sauce, making sure each piece is well coated. Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately to enjoy the full flavor and texture.
Notes
- Using cold butter helps create a shiny, thick sauce when melted slowly into the glaze.
- Avocado oil is preferred for its high smoke point, but you can substitute with vegetable or canola oil.
- Chicken thighs are recommended for juiciness, but boneless chicken breasts can be used if preferred.
- Adjust honey quantity to taste for more or less sweetness.
- For a thicker sauce, let it reduce slightly before returning the chicken to the pan.
- Serve with steamed rice or sautéed vegetables for a complete meal.
