Description
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is a delicious Asian-American dish featuring crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a sticky, flavorful honey and soy sauce glaze with a hint of heat from crushed red pepper flakes. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, it’s perfect served alongside steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables for a satisfying main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Sauce:
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
Garnish:
- Sliced green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Season and coat the chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Dip each piece first into the cornstarch, coating thoroughly, then into the beaten eggs to ensure a full coating. This double coating helps create a crispy exterior when fried.
- Fry the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking each side for 3–4 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Prepare the sauce: In a separate saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes over medium heat. Stir the mixture and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Thicken the sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry to the simmering sauce while stirring continuously. Cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a sticky consistency.
- Toss chicken in sauce: Add the fried chicken pieces into the thickened sauce and toss thoroughly to coat evenly with the sweet and spicy glaze.
- Serve: Plate the coated chicken and garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot, ideally alongside steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables.
Notes
- For a healthier alternative, bake or air fry the chicken instead of deep-frying to reduce oil and fat content.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables for a balanced meal.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level according to your preference.
- Use rice vinegar for a more authentic flavor, but apple cider vinegar works as a good substitute.
