The Perfect Honey Butter Chicken Recipe Everyone Will Love

Sweet and irresistible honey butter chicken upgrades ordinary poultry into a culinary sensation that dances between delicate flavor profiles.

Imagine golden-brown meat glistening with a luxurious coating that balances rich sweetness and subtle saltiness.

This crowd-pleasing recipe combines unexpected ingredients to create a mouthwatering experience that surprises and delights.

Home cooks adore how quickly the dish comes together without complicated techniques or hard-to-source components.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of caramelized edges and juicy interior that feels simultaneously indulgent and approachable.

The magic happens when simple ingredients interact, producing a result far more impressive than individual elements might suggest.

You’ll find this dish becomes an instant favorite among family and friends.

Honey Butter Chicken: Sweet, Savory, and Irresistible

• Elevate Flavor Sensation: Combining sweet honey with savory butter creates an explosive taste profile that dances between rich, tangy, and subtly spicy notes, making every bite an unforgettable culinary experience.
• Quick and Crispy Cooking Method: The pan-frying technique ensures a perfectly golden, crispy exterior while keeping the chicken tender and juicy inside, delivering restaurant-quality results in just 15-20 minutes of total cooking time.
• Versatile Comfort Food Delight: This dish works brilliantly as a weeknight family dinner, casual weekend meal, or impressive party centerpiece, appealing to both kids and adults with its irresistible sweet-and-savory flavor combination.
• Minimal Ingredient, Maximum Impact: Using simple pantry staples like butter, honey, and basic spices, home cooks can easily transform ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal without complicated techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.

What You Need for the Best Honey Butter Chicken

• Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs work best for even cooking and tender texture.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a crispy exterior and helps spices adhere to the chicken.
• Garlic Powder, Onion Powder: Adds depth of flavor and aromatic seasoning to the coating.
• Cayenne Pepper: Provides a subtle heat and mild spiciness to the chicken.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Enhances overall seasoning and balances the flavors.

• Butter, Vegetable Oil: Combination provides rich flavor and helps achieve golden-brown crust.
• Honey: Adds sweetness and creates a glossy, sticky sauce for coating the chicken.
• Soy Sauce: Brings umami and saltiness to the honey butter sauce.
• Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds tangy brightness and helps balance the sweetness of the honey.

How to Make Perfectly Glazed Honey Butter Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Seasoned Flour Coating

Mix flour with garlic powder, cayenne, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. Thoroughly coat each chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring even coverage.

Step 2: Sear Chicken to Golden Perfection

Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place floured chicken pieces into the hot skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes on each side until chicken turns a beautiful golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 3: Create Luscious Honey Butter Sauce

• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt
• Pepper

Stir all ingredients until well combined and slightly thickened.

Step 4: Combine Chicken with Sauce

Return cooked chicken to the skillet. Gently toss each piece to ensure complete coating with the rich, glossy honey butter sauce.

Step 5: Rest and Serve

Allow chicken to rest in the sauce for 5 minutes, which helps the flavors meld and the chicken to absorb the delicious sauce. Serve hot and enjoy the sweet and savory combination.

Tips for the Juiciest Honey Butter Chicken

• Maximize Flavor Coating: Ensure even, thick coverage by mixing dry ingredients thoroughly and patting chicken pieces completely before frying.
• Perfect Golden Crust: Use a cast-iron skillet for consistent heat distribution and achieve that crispy, beautiful brown exterior without burning.
• Temperature Control: Keep oil at medium-high heat to guarantee chicken cooks evenly and develops a delectable golden color without drying out.
• Sauce Consistency Magic: Whisk honey butter sauce ingredients quickly and continuously to prevent separation and create a smooth, glossy coating.
• Resting is Key: Allow chicken to rest for those 5 minutes after coating, which helps sauce slightly thicken and flavors deeply penetrate the meat.

How to Store and Enjoy Leftover Honey Butter Chicken

• Store leftover Honey Butter Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Carefully place the chicken pieces and sauce together to maintain moisture and flavor.
• Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat to prevent drying out the meat. Add a splash of chicken broth or water to help restore the sauce's consistency and keep the chicken juicy.
• Microwave as a quick alternative, covering the dish with a damp paper towel to prevent the chicken from becoming tough. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and maintain the sauce's rich flavor.

Best Pairings for Honey Butter Chicken

• Sip Crisp White Wine: Pair this honey butter chicken with a chilled sauvignon blanc or pinot grigio to balance the rich, sweet flavors of the dish.
• Serve with Creamy Coleslaw: Complement the chicken's buttery texture with a tangy, crunchy coleslaw that cuts through the richness and adds refreshing contrast.
• Add Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Create a perfect side dish that soaks up the delicious honey butter sauce while providing a smooth, comforting base for the crispy chicken.
• Garnish with Fresh Herb Salad: Top the dish with a light mixed herb salad featuring parsley, cilantro, and chives to bring brightness and a fresh, zesty element to the meal.

Fun Variations on Honey Butter Chicken

• Spicy Honey Glazed Chicken: Add extra cayenne or red pepper flakes to the flour coating for a fiery kick, creating a bold and zesty flavor profile that complements the sweet honey sauce.
• Herb-Infused Honey Butter Chicken: Mix dried herbs like thyme, rosemary, or oregano into the flour mixture and sauce for an aromatic, garden-fresh taste that elevates the classic recipe.
• Citrus Honey Chicken: Replace apple cider vinegar with fresh lemon or orange juice in the sauce, adding bright, tangy notes that balance the richness of the butter and honey.
• Asian-Inspired Honey Chicken: Swap soy sauce for tamari or add a splash of sesame oil, then garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onions for an international flair.

Honey Butter Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 37 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Honey butter chicken delivers a symphony of sweet and savory flavors from Korean culinary traditions. Crispy golden chicken pieces glazed with a luscious honey butter sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breasts, diced

Coating:

• ½ cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt

Cooking and Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon canola oil (or any vegetable oil)
• 5 tablespoons butter, room temperature
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Garnish:

• 1 tablespoon green onions, sliced

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Instructions

1. Prepare a seasoned flour coating by combining all-purpose flour with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper in a shallow dish.
2. Thoroughly dredge each chicken piece in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
3. Heat a combination of unsalted butter (/ 28 grams) and vegetable oil (/ 30 milliliters) in a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Carefully place the flour-coated chicken into the hot skillet, cooking for 5-7 minutes on each side until a rich golden-brown crust forms and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
5. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a wire rack to maintain crispiness.
6. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium-low and melt additional unsalted butter (/ 42 grams).
7. Whisk in pure honey, low-sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, a pinch of salt, and a dash of black pepper to create a glossy, fragrant sauce.
8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet, gently turning and basting each piece to ensure complete sauce coverage.
9. Allow the chicken to simmer in the honey butter sauce for 1-2 minutes, helping the flavors meld and the sauce slightly thicken.
10. Remove from heat and let the chicken rest for 3-4 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to slightly cool and cling to the crispy exterior.

Notes

• Marinating the chicken in the seasoned flour ensures a flavorful, crispy exterior that locks in moisture.
• Butter and oil combination creates a perfect golden-brown crust while preventing burning during frying.
• Cooking chicken in the same skillet after sauce preparation maximizes flavor absorption and reduces dish cleanup.
• Honey adds natural sweetness that balances the savory soy sauce and vinegar in the glaze.
• Resting the chicken allows the sauce to slightly thicken and helps distribute heat evenly before serving.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Korean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 735 kcal
• Sugar: 37g
• Sodium: 1160mg
• Fat: 34g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 1g
• Carbohydrates: 97g
• Fiber: <1g
• Protein: 32g
• Cholesterol: 100mg