Here’s a quick and easy, comforting dinner that goes from pan to table in 20 minutes. Crispy chicken thighs are tossed through a sticky, honey garlic butter sauce made with a handful of ingredients you’ll likely find in your pantry and fridge. Soy sauce, honey, butter and garlic create the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours making this recipe a flavour bomb with minimal effort required. Serve it over a bowl of steamed rice and your favourite greens and you’ve got a delicious dinner thats bound to be a regular on your weekly menu rotation!
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Why You’ll Love This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken
This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken is the perfect quick comfort food dinner, featuring crispy chicken tossed in a sticky, buttery honey garlic sauce that comes together in just 20 minutes. Here’s why I think you’ll love it to:
- Ready in 20 minutes – Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something quick but comforting.
- A family favourite – Easy, approachable flavours make this dish a winner with adults and children alike.
- Crispy, sticky and buttery – The combination of crispy chicken and glossy honey garlic butter sauce is seriously addictive. A crowd favourite!
- Made with simple ingredients – Everything in this recipe is fridge and pantry-friendly and easy to find.
- Better than takeaway – Big flavour with minimal effort, all made in one pan. Better (and often quicker) than takeaway!
- Serve with your favourite sides – Steamed white rice and broccoli is my go-to, but this chicken would also work beautifully with a noodle dish as well.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken thighs – Boneless, skinless chicken thighs stay juicy and tender while developing a crispy coating in the pan. You can also use chicken breast if preferred, although thighs give the best texture and flavour.
- Corn flour – Also known as corn starch. Lightly coats the chicken and helps create a golden, crispy exterior while also helping the sauce cling to the chicken. Substitute with plain, all-purpose flour if you don’t have corn flour available.
- Salt & white pepper – Simple seasoning that enhances the savoury flavour of the chicken. White pepper gives a subtle warmth that works especially well in Asian-inspired dishes.
- Vegetable oil – Any neutral oil will work here.
- Butter – Opt for unsalted butter so you can control the seasoning.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic works best for this recipe, but used jarred garlic in a pinch.
- Honey
- Light soy sauce
Equipment You’ll Need
You don’t need anything fancy to make this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken, but a few good kitchen staples will make the process much easier:
- Large frying pan – A heavy-based pan helps the chicken develop a crisp golden coating while evenly cooking the sauce.
- Sharp knife – Makes prepping the chicken and garlic quick and easy.
- Tongs – Helpful for flipping the chicken without disturbing the crispy coating.
- Rice cooker – Perfect for hands-off fluffy rice while the chicken cooks.
- Microplane or garlic crusher – Makes mincing garlic much faster and gives the sauce a smoother texture.
If you’re building out your kitchen essentials, you can browse my favourite cooking tools and everyday kitchen finds here.
How to Make Honey Garlic Butter Chicken
Step 1: Pat the chicken thighs dry, then season both sides with salt and white pepper. Lightly coat each piece in corn flour, shaking off any excess.
Step 2: Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for around 5–6 minutes per side, or until golden, crispy and cooked through. If needed, cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.
Step 3: Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Reduce the heat slightly, then add the butter and minced garlic to the same pan. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant, being careful not to let the garlic burn.
Step 4: Add the honey and soy sauce, stirring well until combined and glossy. After about 1 minute, the sauce should have thickened slightly.
Step 5: Return the chicken to the pan and toss until evenly coated in the sticky honey garlic butter sauce.
Step 6: Serve immediately with hot steamed rice and vegetables.
Tips for the Best Honey Garlic Butter Chicken
- This is a 20 minute recipe, so prep is key! Prepare the ingredients in advance and have them ready to go to make cooking simple.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when cooking the chicken, otherwise it will steam instead of crisping up properly. Cook in batches if necessary!
- Patting the chicken dry before coating it in corn flour helps create a crispier texture.
- Keep the heat at medium rather than too high so the coating has time to turn golden without burning.
- Once you add the garlic, stir constantly and keep an eye on it as garlic can burn quickly in butter.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest chicken and glossiest sauce.
Serving Suggestions
This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken is best served fresh with hot steamed rice to soak up all of the sticky honey garlic butter sauce. For an easy weeknight dinner, serve it alongside:
- Spring onion butter rice
- Steamed broccoli
- Stir fried bok choy or other Asian greens
- A spicy, tangy cucumber salad
- Kimchi
A sprinkle of sliced spring onions or sesame seeds to serve also works beautifully for extra flavour and texture.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover Honey Garlic Butter Chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through thoroughly. The chicken coating will soften as it sits in the sauce, but the flavour will still be delicious! For best texture, serve freshly cooked.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breast instead of chicken thighs?
Yes absolutely! Although chicken thighs stay more moist and juicy during the cooking process, which is why they are my preferred cut. If using chicken breast, cut one breast in half lengthways, to make it thinner. This will help it cook faster and more evenly without burning the coating.
Why is my chicken not getting crispy?
This usually happens when the pan is overcrowded or the heat is too low. Cook the chicken in batches if needed and make sure the oil is properly heated before adding the chicken.
Can I make this ahead of time?
You can, although the chicken will lose some of its crispiness as it sits in the sauce. For best results, serve freshly cooked.
What should I serve with Honey Garlic Butter Chicken?
Steamed rice, spring onion butter rice, broccoli, bok choy or cucumber salad all pair really well with the sticky honey garlic butter sauce.
Can I make this gluten free?
Yes. Simply use gluten free soy sauce or tamari in place of regular soy sauce. Corn flour is gluten free!
More Easy Comfort Food Dinners to Try
If you loved this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken, here are a few more comforting and flavour-packed dinner recipes to add to your weeknight rotation:
- Salted Egg Yolk Pasta – A rich and creamy pasta coated in a savoury salted egg yolk sauce with plenty of umami flavour.
- Japanese Beef Curry – A cosy and comforting curry made with tender beef, potatoes and carrots in a rich Japanese-style curry sauce.
- Curry Udon – Thick chewy udon noodles served in a warming Japanese curry broth that comes together quickly for the ultimate comfort meal.
📖 Recipe
Honey Garlic Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 700 g boneless skinless chicken thighs about 6-8
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- ½ cup corn flour
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 40 g butter
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoon light soy sauce
- Steamed rice to serve
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry, then season both sides with salt and white pepper. Lightly coat each piece in corn flour, shaking off any excess.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and cook for around 5–6 minutes per side, or until golden, crispy and cooked through. Cook in batches if needed.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Reduce the heat slightly, then add the butter and minced garlic to the same pan. Sauté for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the honey and soy sauce, stirring until combined and glossy. Allow to simmer for 1 minute – the sauce will thicken during this time.
- Return the chicken to the pan and toss until evenly coated in the sticky honey garlic butter sauce.
- Serve immediately with hot steamed rice.
Notes
- Chicken thighs give the juiciest result, although chicken breast can also be used.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan to help the chicken crisp properly.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest texture.
- Great served with spring onion butter rice, broccoli or Asian greens.
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