Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Introduction

This Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights. Tender chicken bites are coated in a crispy exterior and tossed in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce that’s sure to please the whole family.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken breast or chicken thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce (for coating chicken)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 5 tablespoons honey
• ¼ cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for sauce)
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes.
2. Step 2: In a bowl, toss the chicken cubes with cornstarch, salt, pepper, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce until well coated.
3. Step 3: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken in a single layer in the basket and spray the tops with a little more oil.
4. Step 4: Cook at 350°F for 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for another 3-5 minutes until golden and cooked through. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Step 5: While the chicken cooks, mix honey, chicken broth, rice vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
6. Step 6: Heat a pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
7. Step 7: Pour in the sauce mixture and cook for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
8. Step 8: Toss the cooked chicken in the warm honey garlic sauce until evenly coated. Serve immediately with rice and garnish with green onions and additional red pepper flakes if desired.

Tips & Variations

• For extra crispiness, double coat the chicken with cornstarch before air frying.
• Use chicken thighs for juicier results or chicken breast for a leaner option.
• Add a pinch of ginger to the sauce for a fresh, zesty flavor.
• Serve with steamed vegetables or a side salad for a balanced meal.

Storage

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave to keep the chicken tender without drying out the sauce.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken for this recipe?

It’s best to use fresh or fully thawed chicken for even cooking and to achieve the perfect crispy texture in the air fryer.

How spicy is the dish?

The red pepper flakes add a mild heat that can be adjusted to taste or omitted entirely for a milder flavor.

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 86 reviews

• Author: Thomas
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
• Diet: Halal

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Description

This Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken recipe offers a quick and flavorful way to enjoy tender, juicy chicken coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Air frying the chicken results in a perfect crispy texture without the excess oil, making it a healthier alternative to traditional frying. The dish is finished with a rich homemade honey garlic glaze, suitable for a quick weeknight dinner served over rice.

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Ingredients

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For the Chicken

• 1 pound chicken breast or chicken thighs, cut into bite-size cubes
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• Oil spray for air fryer basket

For the Honey Garlic Sauce

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 5 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

For Garnish

• Green onions (optional)
• Additional red pepper flakes (optional)

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Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and allow it to preheat for 5 minutes, ensuring even cooking when the chicken is added.
2. Prepare the chicken: In a bowl, combine the cubed chicken with cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and 1 teaspoon soy sauce. Stir well to coat the chicken pieces evenly.
3. Prepare the air fryer basket: Spray the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket with oil using a spray bottle to prevent sticking.
4. Air fry the chicken: Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the basket. Spray lightly with oil on top. Cook at 350°F for 5 minutes, then flip the chicken pieces over and continue cooking for another 3 to 5 minutes until the chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
5. Make the sauce: While the chicken cooks, mix the honey, chicken broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of black pepper in a bowl.
6. Sauté the garlic and thicken the sauce: Heat a pan over medium heat and melt the butter. Add chopped garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the prepared sauce mixture and cook for approximately 2 minutes until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat.
7. Toss chicken in sauce: Once the chicken is cooked, transfer it to the pan with the honey garlic sauce. Stir gently to coat the chicken pieces evenly with the sauce.
8. Serve: Serve the honey garlic chicken hot over rice, garnished with chopped green onions and extra red pepper flakes if desired.

Notes

• Check the internal temperature of the chicken with an instant-read thermometer to ensure it reaches 165°F for safety.
• You can use chicken breast or thighs depending on preference; thighs tend to be juicier.
• Use oil spray rather than pouring oil to keep the air fryer basket clean and ensure even cooking.
• If you prefer less spicy food, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes in the sauce.
• The sauce can be prepared ahead and reheated if desired.
• Garnish with sesame seeds for an added nutty flavor if you like.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Keywords: Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken, Easy Chicken Recipe, Honey Garlic Sauce, Healthy Air Fryer Recipes, Quick Chicken Dinner