These Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are so easy to make! I like to lightly coat the chicken pieces in cornstarch, then pan-fry them to give them a thin crust. The crust protects the chicken from drying out and helps the honey garlic sauce cling to every bite! Ready in only 20 minutes.
About This Recipe
This honey garlic chicken recipe is, without a doubt, one of my favorite weeknight recipes. It's quick, easy, and tastes super delicious. Whenever I make this for guests, people always ask how I make the sauce because it tastes so damn good. The secret is really just a ton of garlic and honey. I like to season the sauce with soy sauce (rather than plain salt) to give it some extra savory depth, and I also like to add a dash of rice vinegar for acidity to make all the flavors come alive.
In terms of the chicken, I like to lightly dredge it in cornstarch and then pan-fry it to form a thin crust. You could deep-fry the chicken as well, but then you'd have to deal with a big pot of oil afterwards, which is not ideal for most people. After frying, the chicken is tossed with a super quick 4-ingredient honey garlic sauce that comes together in only a few minutes.
Honey garlic chicken bites are so satisfying for dinner. Just combine it with some freshly steamed rice and simple veggies, and you have the perfect meal.
Key Ingredients
Chicken thighs: I recommend boneless skinless chicken thighs because they stay juicy even if you fry them at high heat. You can also use chicken breasts, but be careful not to overcook them, otherwise the meat will get dry.
Cornstarch: We use cornstarch to coat the chicken to give it a thin crust. If you don't have cornstarch, potato starch is a good substitute, or you can use all-purpose flour.
Oil: Any neutral-flavored oil with a high smoke point, like vegetable oil or canola oil, works well. Avoid extra virgin olive oil as the smoke point is too low. You need the oil to be hot enough to sear the chicken.
Minced garlic: Use freshly minced cloves for the most pungent and savory flavor. Jarred minced garlic works in a pinch, but the flavor won't be as fresh.
Honey: Use your favorite honey here!
Brown sugar: Brown sugar adds another layer of sweetness and flavor to the sauce. You can also use white sugar.
Soy sauce: Adds savory and salty flavor. If you prefer a less salty sauce, use low-sodium soy sauce or reduce the amount by half.
Rice vinegar: Use unseasoned rice vinegar- not the seasoned rice vinegar, which is usually only used for sushi. If you don't have rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar works well too.
Instructions
STEP 1: In a small bowl, combine all the honey garlic sauce ingredients and set aside.
STEP 2: In a medium bowl, toss the chicken cubes with cornstarch and black pepper until evenly coated.
STEP 3: Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook both sides for 2-3 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
STEP 4: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds. Watch it closely and make sure you don't burn the garlic.
STEP 5: Pour in the honey garlic sauce and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce cook for 30-60 seconds until it starts foaming. Return the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat the chicken. Serve immediately.
📋 Recipe
Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Bites (20 minute dinner)
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper (or more to taste)
- 4 tablespoons oil (divided)
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
For the honey garlic sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all the honey garlic sauce ingredients and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, toss the chicken cubes with cornstarch and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook both sides for 2-3 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove to a plate.
- Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds.
- Pour in the honey garlic sauce and bring to a simmer. Let the sauce cook for 30-60 seconds until it starts foaming. Return the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat the chicken. Serve immediately.
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