Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
These crispy, sticky-sweet Honey Garlic Chicken Bites come together in under 30 minutes with pantry staples. Bursting with sweet and savory flavor, they’re perfect for weeknight dinners, entertaining, or even lunchboxes.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken (breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 large egg beaten
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves fresh garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger optional
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch optional, for thickening
- 1 tablespoon cold water if using cornstarch slurry
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken
- Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes.
- In a shallow bowl, mix flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Beat the egg in a separate bowl.
- Dip each chicken piece into the egg, then dredge in the flour mixture. Let coated pieces rest for 2 minutes.
- Cook the Chicken
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fry chicken pieces in batches, 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Make the Sauce
- In the same skillet, add honey, soy sauce, garlic, vinegar, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Stir and bring to a simmer.
- (Optional) Mix cornstarch with cold water and whisk into the sauce to thicken, simmering for 2–3 minutes.
- Combine & Serve
- Add cooked chicken back to the skillet. Toss until all pieces are coated in the sauce.
- Cook for another 1–2 minutes.
- Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Serve over jasmine rice, coconut rice, or cauliflower rice. Great with steamed broccoli, snap peas, or a cucumber salad. For a gluten-free version, use GF flour and tamari. To make it lighter, air-fry the chicken at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway. Prepare chicken and sauce ahead separately for easy party prep. Adjust heat level by modifying or omitting red pepper flakes.
