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.
Ingredients
Scale
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)
Instructions
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare the air fryer basket: Spray the bottom of the preheated air fryer basket with oil using a spray bottle to prevent sticking.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
