5 from 27 votes

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in 20 Minutes!(VIDEO)

By Chris JoePublished Feb 09, 2026
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23 Comments

Servings: 4

20 mins

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Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken is coated in a sweet and sticky honey garlic sauce that is SO delicious and perfect for an easy one-pan meal in just 20 minutes!

A plate of crispy Honey Garlic Chicken in a bowl with rice.

Watch the Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe Video!

A Note from CJ

Honey Garlic Chicken is my go-to easy meal!

Taking boring chicken thighs and turn it into a delicious easy dinner with my Honey Garlic Chicken! I am obsessed with the sweet and sticky sauce – it’s perfect with a simple Egg Fried Rice or Soy Sauce Pan Fried Noodles and vegetables like Garlic Bok Choy, Sesame Snap Peas , or Smashed Cucumber Salad!

If you liked this easy one-pan Honey Garlic Chicken, you should also try my one-pan Chicken Teriyaki!

This chicken is so good!! My boyfriend was shocked that I was able to make it so crispy and thought it was better than a restaurant!!

– Kaylin

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Ingredient Tips

Refer to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and measurements!

  • chicken thighs – I used boneless, skin-on chicken thighs – the skin is essential for the crispy crust! If you don’t care about the crispy crust, you can use skinless chicken. You can also use chicken breasts instead but keep in mind that chicken breasts will take longer to cook. I recommend butterflying them or pounding them thinner with a meat tenderizer to a 1/2″ thickness before coating them in cornstarch.
  • cornstarch – you can also use potato starch.
  • sambal chili paste – this is the perfect amount of heat (not overwhelming but complementary to the flavors) – adjust to your taste! If you don’t have sambal chili paste, you can also use sriracha.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken

Season the Chicken and Coat in Cornstarch – Season the skin side of the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Turn the chicken over and season the meat side with another 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder. In a bowl, add the cornstarch along with the remaining salt and black pepper and mix well. Coat the chicken with a thin layer of cornstarch on both sides, dusting off any excess.

Pan Fry the Chicken – In a pan, drizzle in the avocado oil and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, add in the chicken, skin side facing down. Pan-fry the chicken for 3 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown, flipping as needed. Remove and set aside.

Make the Sauce and Add Back Chicken – Wipe out any excess oil in the pan. Add garlic, honey, chili paste, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Mix to combine and cook over medium high heat until bubbling and thickened. Add back the chicken and coat in the glaze, or brush it on. Serve with freshly steamed rice and enjoy!

A 6 photo collage showing key cooking steps on how to make crispy Honey Garlic Chicken at home.

PRO TIPS

CJ’s Recipe & Storage Tips

Rest chicken on a wire rack especially if you are cooking the chicken in batches. This will help the fat drain while the chicken rests and preserve the crispy skin (vs. turning soggy)

I usually coat the chicken in the sticky honey garlic glaze but if you want the skin to stay super crispy for longer, I recommend brushing the glaze on instead.

Store any leftover Honey Garlic Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. The skin will no longer be crispy but the chicken coated in the sticky honey garlic glaze will still taste delicious!

Reheat in the air fryer or oven. If using the air fryer, reheat at 350°F for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and crispy. In the oven, place on a sheet tray and bake in a 375°F oven for 12-15 minutes until heated through and crispy.

If you tried this Honey Garlic Chicken or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below!

5 from 27 votes

Honey Garlic Chicken (SUPER CRISPY!)

By: Chris Joe
Servings: 4
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs cooked on a wire rack.
An easy one-pan crispy honey garlic chicken with a delicious honey garlic glaze that the whole family will love!
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Ingredients 

Easy Honey Garlic Glaze

Instructions 

  • Season the skin side of the chicken with 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Turn the chicken over and season the meat side with another 1/4 teaspoon salt, pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • In a bowl, add the cornstarch along with the remaining salt and black pepper and mix well. Coat the chicken with a thin layer of cornstarch on both sides, dusting off any excess.
  • In a pan, drizzle in the avocado oil and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, add in the chicken, skin side facing down.
  • Pan-fry the chicken for 3 minutes on each side or until crispy and golden brown, flipping as needed. Remove and set aside.
  • Wipe out any excess oil in the pan. Add garlic, honey, chili paste, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Mix to combine and cook over medium high heat until bubbling and thickened.
  • Add back the chicken and coat in the glaze, or brush it on. Serve with freshly steamed rice and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Chicken Tips – I recommend using boneless skin-on chicken thighs. You can substitute with chicken breasts but you should butterfly the chicken or pound them until they are roughly 1/2″ thickness and even. I don’t recommend using skinless chicken, as the chicken skin is what creates the crispy crust for this Honey Garlic Chicken. However, if you don’t care about that, you can definitely use skinless chicken and still enjoy the delicious honey garlic glaze!
Monitor the Oil Temperature – Even though we are sauteing the chicken (vs. deep frying), we need to make sure the oil is not too hot, otherwise, the cornstarch will burn before the chicken is cooked through. I love to use an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the oil and monitor it while cooking (also very useful for deep frying!). Aim for 325F to 350F.
When to Remove the Chicken from the Pan – There are two things you should look for before removing the chicken:
  • You should check that the skin is golden brown to your preference.
  • The internal temperature should be slightly below 165F. I recommend removing the chicken before it hits 165F because the chicken will continue to cook as it rests and will eventually hit the desired temperature of 165F.
Rest Chicken on a Wire Rack – I recommend this step especially if you are cooking the chicken in batches. Using a wire rack will help the fat drain while the chicken rests and preserve the crispy skin (vs. turning soggy)
Brush on Glaze for Crispy Chicken – I usually coat the chicken in the sticky honey garlic glaze but if you want the skin to stay super crispy for longer, I recommend brushing the glaze on instead.
Storage + Reheating – You can store any leftover Honey Garlic Chicken in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. The skin will no longer be crispy but the chicken coated in the sticky honey garlic glaze will still taste delicious! Reheat the Honey Garlic Chicken in the air fryer or oven. If using the air fryer, reheat at 350°F for 6-8 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and crispy. In the oven, place on a sheet tray and bake in a 375°F oven for 12-15 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 2gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 1340mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe was originally published in December 2023, and updated in February 2026.

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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5 from 27 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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23 Comments

  1. If I don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand, how many teaspoons of granulated garlic is 10 cloves?

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    This chicken is so good!! My boyfriend was shocked that I was able to make it so crispy and thought it was better than a restaurant!!

    @kaylinho

    Reply

  7. 5 stars
    This was so good! And I love that I had all the ingredients on hand- def a staple in our household now!

    @veil_in_motion

    Reply

  8. The air fryer wings using baking powder turned out to be fantastic. Great recipe, 5 star. Get creative and add some of your favorite spices.

    Reply