This Honey Butter Chicken recipe features crispy air-fried chicken tenders coated in cornstarch and tossed in a lusciously sweet and savory garlic-infused soy and honey butter sauce. Not to worry though, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the chicken in the oven until it’s nice and crispy.
These tender chunks of seasoned chicken are coated with cornstarch so they turn out crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. The honey butter sauce is simmered with garlic and soy sauce until it’s sweet and bubbly and then the two come together for a scrumptious family meal.
Serve this easy chicken recipe garnished with green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds along with your favorite sides.
If you like this chicken recipe, you may also like Ginger Chicken, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Honey Hot Chicken Wings, Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, Tequila Lime Chicken Wings, Kung Pao Bowl, Air Fryer General Tso's Chicken, Oregano Chicken and our delicious Air Fryer Chicken Katsu recipe.
Why You Will Love This Butter Honey Chicken Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This honey butter chicken recipe comes together in just 25 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Crispy Texture: Coating the chicken in cornstarch before air frying results in a wonderfully crispy exterior while keeping the chicken bites tender and juicy on the inside.
- Flavorful Honey and Butter Sauce: The sweet and savory sauce adds a burst of flavor to the dish, complementing the crispy chicken perfectly.
- Versatile: This recipe is highly adaptable, allowing you to customize it with your favorite seasonings and spices. You can also adjust the sweetness of the honey and saltiness of the sauce to suit your taste.
Ingredients
- Chicken Tenders: They're perfect in this recipe because of their tender texture and quick cooking time. They absorb flavors well and remain juicy after cooking. You can substitute tenders with chicken thighs, chicken wings, or large chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces.
- Kosher Salt: Salt enhances the natural flavors of the chicken and helps to season it evenly. You can substitute with table salt, but be sure to adjust the amount to taste.
- Black Pepper: Adds a subtle heat and depth of flavor to the chicken. I recommend freshly ground black pepper for the best flavor, but you can use pre-ground pepper if that's what you have.
- Garlic Powder: Provides a savory flavor to the chicken and blends perfectly into the coating for the chicken.
- Onion Powder: Adds a hint of sweetness and depth of flavor to the chicken. It also complements the garlic powder and enhances the overall taste of the crispy honey butter chicken.
- Olive Oil: Used to coat the chicken before cooking. You can substitute it with vegetable oil or canola oil.
- Cornstarch: Coating the chicken with cornstarch creates a crispy crust when air fried. It also helps to lock in moisture, keeping the juicy chicken tender. You can substitute it with all-purpose flour or potato starch.
- Honey: Provides sweetness to the sauce and balances out the savory flavors. I recommend choosing high-quality honey for the best flavor.
- Unsalted Butter: Adds richness and creaminess to the sauce.
- Garlic: Adds a subtle aroma and flavor to the sauce. While garlic powder is ok for seasoning the coating, I recommend fresh minced garlic in the honey butter sauce for the best flavor, but you can use garlic powder as a substitute.
- Light Soy Sauce: Adds depth of flavor to the butter and honey sauce. Light soy sauce has a milder flavor compared to dark soy sauce, but you can use dark soy sauce or coconut aminos instead.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Variations
- Add some spice: Stir red chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or sriracha into the honey and butter sauce for a touch of heat. You can also try one our homemade spices, including jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder.
- Change up the seasoning: Swap the spices used on the chicken for whatever you’ve got on hand and try Italian seasoning, dried basil and oregano, or cumin and coriander.
- Mix in some citrus: Add lemon juice and zest or orange juice and zest to the sauce for a more pungent flavor.
- Make it gluten-free: Use tamari instead of soy sauce or look for a gluten-free soy.
How to Make Honey Butter Chicken
Step 1: Prepare the chicken. Mix together the diced chicken tenders, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Step 2: Coat chicken with cornstarch. Place cornstarch in a separate bowl and evenly coat each seasoned chicken piece with cornstarch. Spray them with oil or cooking spray for browning.
Step 3: Place in air fryer. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook the chicken in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding.
Step 4: Cook. Air fry the chicken for about 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and golden brown on the outside and cooked through.
Step 5: Make the honey butter sauce. Melt the unsalted butter in a saucepan. Stir the minced garlic, honey, and light soy sauce into the melted butter mixture. Cook until the sticky sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened.
Step 6: Coat the chicken. Pour the prepared honey butter sauce over the chicken and then toss until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.
If you like recipes like this, try our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour, Crockpot Apricot Chicken, Chicken Casserole with Cream of Mushroom Soup and our Crockpot Huli Huli Chicken recipe.
Storage
- Storing: To store leftovers, allow them to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To freeze, place the cooled chicken in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag and freeze it for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: To reheat refrigerated chicken, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and air fry for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is heated through. If it's frozen, I recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating using the same method.
Serving Suggestions
This butter and honey chicken goes well with loads of dishes. Here are some great examples:
- Pair the chicken with these Crispy Smashed Red Potatoes or these Sliced Potatoes In Air Fryer on the side.
- Make for Sunday night dinner with this Broccoli Crunch Salad or this Mixed Green Salad With Fruit and Nuts with this Instant Pot Cheesy Broccoli Rice as a side dish followed by these yummy Tiramisu Cookies for dessert.
Recipe Tips
- Pat Dry the Chicken: Before seasoning the chicken, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture will help the seasonings stick better and ensures a crispy exterior when air frying.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps to create a crispier crust on the chicken.
- Cook in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and becomes crispy. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary.
- Flip the Chicken: Halfway through the cooking time, flip the chicken pieces to ensure that both sides cook evenly and become golden brown.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with a little water or chicken broth. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to thicken.
- Serve Immediately: Butter honey chicken is best enjoyed fresh and hot, because the crispy coating may lose its texture if it's left to sit for too long. I recommend serving it immediately after tossing it with the sauce for the best taste and texture.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can bake the chicken in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
es, you can make the honey butter sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before tossing it with the cooked chicken.
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Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Honey Butter Chicken in the Air Fryer
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Mixing spoon
- Bowl for serving
Ingredients
- 2 lbs chicken tenders cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Cooking spray or 3 tablespoons olive oil in a spray bottle.
- ½ cup cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together the diced chicken tenders, Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Place cornstarch in a separate bowl and coat each seasoned chicken piece with cornstarch, ensuring that each piece is evenly coated. Spray them with oil or cooking spray for browning.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Spray the air fryer basket with oil or cooking spray as well to prevent sticking.
- Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook the chicken in batches if necessary to prevent overcrowding. Air fry the chicken for about 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until the chicken is crispy and golden brown on the outside and cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, prepare the honey butter sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the unsalted butter. Add minced garlic, honey, and light soy sauce into the melted butter mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sticky honey butter sauce is bubbly and slightly thickened.
- Once the fried chicken is cooked, transfer it to a large bowl. Pour the prepared honey butter sauce over the chicken and then toss until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.
- Serve the honey butter chicken hot, garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds. Enjoy your delicious meal!
- Oven: Prepare baking sheet with cooking spray and tinfoil for easy cleanup and bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20-24 minutes and sizzling.
Notes
- Pat Dry the Chicken: Before seasoning the chicken, make sure to pat it dry with paper towels. Removing excess moisture will help the seasonings stick better and ensures a crispy exterior when air frying.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer helps to create a crispier crust on the chicken.
- Cook in Batches: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure that the chicken cooks evenly and becomes crispy. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary.
- Flip the Chicken: Halfway through the cooking time, flip the chicken pieces to ensure that both sides cook evenly and become golden brown.
- Adjust Sauce Consistency: If the honey butter sauce is too thick, you can thin it out with a little water or chicken broth. If it's too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes to thicken.
- Serve Immediately: Honey butter chicken is best enjoyed fresh and hot, because the crispy coating may lose its texture if it's left to sit for too long. I recommend serving it immediately after tossing it with the sauce for the best taste and texture.
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