Sweet & Juicy Honey Butter Chicken Recipe for Family Dinners

Tender chicken meets a golden, sweet glaze in this irresistible honey butter chicken recipe that promises pure comfort on a plate.

Southern kitchens have long celebrated the magic of combining simple ingredients into something spectacular.

The rich, glossy sauce clings perfectly to each succulent piece of meat, creating a harmony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Juicy chicken breasts become a canvas for a luscious coating that balances sweet and savory notes with remarkable precision.

This dish delivers restaurant-quality results without complex techniques or hard-to-find ingredients.

Quick to prepare and even faster to devour, this recipe guarantees smiles around the dinner table.

Let’s find out a meal that transforms an ordinary evening into a delectable dining experience.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Calories: 487 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients Checklist for Honey Butter Chicken

• All-Purpose Flour: Fine powder that creates a crispy, golden exterior for the chicken, ensuring a delightful crunch.
• Garlic Powder: Adds a subtle, aromatic flavor that enhances the chicken's taste without overwhelming.
• Cayenne Pepper: Brings a gentle heat and vibrant kick to the coating, creating depth of flavor.
• Onion Powder: Introduces a sweet and savory undertone that complements the chicken perfectly.
• Ground Black Pepper: Provides a classic, mild spiciness and rounds out the seasoning blend.
• Salt: Amplifies the natural flavors and helps the coating adhere to the chicken.

• Chicken Breasts: Lean, tender protein that absorbs seasonings beautifully and creates a satisfying main dish.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds rich, creamy flavor and helps prevent burning during cooking.
• Canola Oil: Ensures even heat distribution and prevents sticking while cooking.

• Butter: Creates a luscious, silky base for the sauce with a smooth, creamy texture.
• Honey: Introduces natural sweetness and helps create a glossy, sticky coating.
• Soy Sauce: Adds depth, umami, and a touch of saltiness to balance the honey's sweetness.
• Salt: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the sauce.
• Ground Black Pepper: Provides a subtle warmth and complexity to the sauce.

• Green Onions: Adds a fresh, crisp brightness and a pop of color to the finished dish.

What Tools You’ll Need to Cook Honey Butter Chicken

• Large skillet: Heavy-bottomed pan for even cooking and searing chicken.
• Mixing bowl: For combining flour and spice mixture to coat chicken.
• Tongs: Perfect for flipping and handling chicken safely during cooking.
• Measuring spoons: Precise measurements for spices and sauce ingredients.
• Whisk: Helps blend honey butter sauce ingredients smoothly.
• Wooden spoon or spatula: Helps stir sauce and coat chicken evenly.

Cooking Honey Butter Chicken from Start to Finish

• Flavor Coating

A zesty blend of seasonings transforms ordinary chicken into a mouthwatering dish. Mix dry ingredients to create a tantalizing crust that will make your taste buds dance.

• Sizzling Skillet

Heat up your pan with a touch of butter and oil, creating the perfect golden landscape for your chicken. Let each piece sear to crispy perfection, developing a delectable exterior that locks in all the juicy goodness.

• Sweet and Savory Symphony

In the same magical skillet, craft a luscious sauce that marries rich honey with a splash of tangy vinegar. The combination creates a glossy, irresistible coating that will make everyone at the table swoon.

• Final Flourish

Gently nestle the chicken back into the bubbling sauce, ensuring every inch gets a luxurious bath of flavor. Allow the ingredients to mingle and create a harmonious blend that promises pure culinary bliss.

• Tempting Moment

Let the chicken rest briefly, allowing the sauce to settle and the flavors to intensify. This short pause transforms your dish from simply delicious to absolutely legendary.

Best Cooking Advice for Honey Butter Chicken

• Shake excess flour mixture off chicken before frying to ensure a super crispy, even golden-brown exterior that delivers perfect texture in every bite.
• Use a combination of butter and oil when frying to prevent burning while achieving a rich, golden color that locks in chicken's juiciness.
• Adjust honey and soy sauce quantities to create a personalized sweet-savory balance that matches your taste preferences – more honey for sweetness, more soy for depth.
• Drizzle remaining honey butter sauce over chicken just before serving to enhance flavor and add an extra glossy, mouthwatering appearance that makes the dish look restaurant-quality.
• Let chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring each piece remains tender and prevents dry meat when slicing or biting.

Plating and Serving Honey Butter Chicken

• Rustic Farmhouse Plating: Arrange golden-brown chicken pieces on a wooden cutting board, drizzling extra honey butter sauce over the top for a rustic, homestyle presentation that highlights the dish's rich colors and textures.
• Dinner Party Elegance: Serve chicken atop a bed of creamy mashed potatoes or fluffy white rice, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley or green onions to add a pop of color and fresh herbaceous notes.
• Comfort Food Combo: Pair the honey butter chicken with classic southern sides like crispy coleslaw, buttery corn on the cob, or creamy mac and cheese to create a hearty, satisfying meal that feels like a warm hug on a plate.
• Weeknight Meal Hack: Transform leftovers into a delicious chicken salad by shredding the meat and mixing with a light mayo, adding the remaining honey butter sauce for extra flavor and moisture.

Storing Honey Butter Chicken the Smart Way

• Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover honey butter chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The crispy coating might soften, so reheat carefully to maintain texture.
• Reheating Magic: Warm chicken in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to restore crispiness. Avoid microwave to prevent soggy chicken and maintain the delicious golden-brown exterior.
• Freezer-Friendly Option: Wrap individual chicken pieces in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer bag. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best quality and taste.
• Sauce Separation Tip: Keep honey butter sauce separate from chicken when storing to prevent sogginess. Store sauce in a small container and drizzle fresh when ready to enjoy, ensuring maximum flavor and crunch.

Crispy Honey Butter Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Savory honey butter chicken delights palates with its rich, golden-brown exterior and juicy interior. Southern comfort cuisine promises a delectable meal sure to satisfy hungry diners and bring warmth to family dinner tables.

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Ingredients

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• 1 lb (454 g) chicken breasts, diced
• ½ cup (60 g) all-purpose flour
• 5 tbsps butter, room temperature
• ½ cup honey
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp canola oil (or any vegetable oil)
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp green onions, sliced
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
• ¼ tsp ground black pepper
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1/8 tsp ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Flour Preparation: Blend all-purpose flour with garlic powder, cayenne pepper, onion powder, kosher salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish, creating a robust seasoning mixture for comprehensive chicken coating.
2. Chicken Coating: Thoroughly dredge each chicken piece in the seasoned flour, ensuring complete and uniform coverage for maximum flavor absorption and crispy texture.
3. Skillet Heating: Warm a blend of unsalted butter and vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, creating an ideal cooking environment for achieving a golden-brown exterior.
4. Chicken Searing: Carefully place flour-coated chicken into the hot skillet, cooking 5-7 minutes per side until a rich, crisp crust develops and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), guaranteeing perfectly cooked meat.
5. Sauce Creation: Reduce skillet heat to medium-low, melt additional butter, then whisk in honey, low-sodium soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper, forming a glossy, aromatic sauce that will elevate the chicken’s flavor profile.
6. Finishing Touch: Return cooked chicken to the skillet, gently turning to coat each piece with the honey butter sauce, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken during a brief 1-2 minute simmer, then remove from heat and let rest 3-4 minutes before serving to allow sauce to set and cling to the crispy exterior.

Notes

• Flour Power: Use fresh, sifted all-purpose flour for an extra-smooth, even coating that creates a crispier chicken exterior.
• Temperature Matters: Maintain medium-high heat to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without burning the flour coating or chicken.
• Sauce Balance: Whisk honey butter sauce ingredients quickly and thoroughly to prevent separation and ensure a smooth, glossy finish.
• Resting is Key: Let chicken rest after cooking to lock in juices and allow the sauce to slightly thicken, enhancing overall flavor and texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Korean

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 487
• Sugar: 26 g
• Sodium: 818 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 56 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 19 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg