Crispy Honey Chicken is the ultimate sweet-and-savory indulgence—crispy, golden chicken pieces coated in a light, airy batter and drenched in a sticky honey glaze that’s rich, glossy, and finger-licking good. This takeout favorite comes together in just 30 minutes and delivers crunchy texture, bold flavor, and total satisfaction in every bite!
Crispy Honey Chicken Recipe
Serves: 2-4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
For the chicken:
1 ½ pounds chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 egg white
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
6 cups cooking oil, for frying
For the sauce:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
Pinch of salt
Pinch of white pepper
1 cup chicken stock
1 tablespoon cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
For the batter:
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 egg
3/4 cup water
For the garnish:
1/2 tablespoon scallions
1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame
Crispy Honey Chicken Instructions
1. Prepare the chicken and sauce:
- Tenderize both sides of the chicken breast with the back of your knife, then cut into 1-inch cubes.
- In a bowl, whisk the egg white, salt, white pepper, and a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 3 tablespoons water). Add the chicken and mix until evenly coated. Marinate for 10 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, honey, salt, white pepper, and chicken stock to make the sauce.
2. Make the batter:
- In a large bowl, combine the cornstarch, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, egg, and water.
- Add the marinated chicken into the batter and stir to coat evenly.
3. Fry the chicken:
- In a large pot over high heat, heat the cooking oil to 350°F/177°C.
- Carefully add the battered chicken and deep fry for 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove and drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Skim off any crumbs from the oil.
- Raise the oil temperature to 375°F/191°C. Return the chicken and deep fry for an additional 2 minutes until ultra crispy.
4. Glaze and serve:
- In a pan over medium heat, bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Stir in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch + 3 tablespoons water) and cook until the sauce thickens.
- Add the fried chicken and toss until evenly coated in the glaze.
- Top with scallions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately!
Tips & notes
- Baking soda vs. baking powder: Baking soda adds crispiness; baking powder makes the batter puff and light—don’t skip either!
- Double frying is key: The first fry cooks the chicken, and the second makes it extra crispy while removing excess oil.
- Use a thermometer: Maintain 350°F for the first fry and 375°F for the second to ensure a crispy, non-greasy finish.
- Make it ahead: You can prep the sauce and marinate the chicken a few hours ahead.
- Don’t overcrowd: Fry in batches to keep the oil hot and the coating crisp.
18 thoughts on “30-Min Crispy Honey Chicken Recipe”
You make this look so easy! And DELICIOUS! Thank you for sharing.
You are most welcome, JoAnne! Thanks for stopping by my website! 🙂
Please make your recipes minable. I save everything to Pinterest for easy access.
Hi Debbie, thank you for your valuable feedback! We will look into it. 😀
Just made this tonight and my guests and I LOVED every bite! I absolutely enjoy watching your videos, you are very talented… keep posting all your amazingly fabulous recipes.
Sincerely,
Holly ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you so much, Holly! I’m so happy to hear you and your guests loved it. That means the world to me! I’ll definitely keep sharing more delicious recipes! ❤️
Oh my goodness, just loved this recipe, not too sweet, just right, chicken was delicious and crispy , ty
You’re so welcome, Bronwyn! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! It’s great to hear the chicken turned out crispy and just the right level of sweetness.
I’m going to try to cook this.
Crispy honey chicken.
Looks yummy.
I like the way you prucedure your cooking.
I always watching your cooking.
Hi Helen,
Thanks a ton for your heartwarming comment and support! Have a wonderful Friday!
CiCi
Looks very delicious! Makes me hungry just watching! I’m definitely planning on making this in the very near future! Good, because I already have all the ingredients, except for the oyster sauce!
Hi Rosemary,
I hope you’ll enjoy this recipe. Please keep me posted on how it turns out! Cheers!
CiCi
This looks delicious!!! Can you do this with wings?
Absolutely! That’s a brilliant idea!
What if I waited to make it a honey garlic chicken?
Hi Geoff, thank you for stopping by! Yes, you could add about 3 cloves of garlic in the sauce and make it honey garlic chicken. It sounds tasty! 🙂
Hi Cici,
Thank you for sharing your recipes. Love them all.
Hi Paula, thanks so much for your kind words! Happy cooking! 😀