If you love that sweet and savory combo, this Honey Butter Chicken is about to become your new go-to recipe.
It’s juicy, packed with flavor, and comes together with minimal effort—whether you’re using an air fryer or your oven. These honey butter chicken thighs are sticky, garlicky, buttery, and seriously irresistible.
Why You’ll Love Honey Butter Chicken
- Easy to make: Minimal prep and quick cook time make this a weeknight win.
- Sweet and savory: The honey butter sauce is perfectly balanced and addictive.
- Crispy edges, juicy center: Air frying or oven-baking gives the chicken that irresistible texture.
- Versatile: Great with rice, veggies, or even tucked into a sandwich or wrap.
If you like this chicken recipe, then check out my Gochujang Chicken Thighs and Soy Sauce Chicken recipes!
Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: Juicy, flavorful, and ideal for soaking up marinades and sauces.
- Soy Sauce: Adds saltiness and depth to both the marinade and sauce.
- Honey: Brings natural sweetness and that glossy finish.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a punch of savory flavor to the marinade.
- Salt & Pepper: Enhances the natural flavor of the chicken.
- Garlic Cloves: Fresh and aromatic, perfect for infusing the sauce.
- Water: Helps balance out the saltiness and consistency of the sauce.
- Unsalted Butter: The key to a rich, velvety, and flavorful honey butter sauce.
Customizations
- Use chicken breasts or chicken wings: Swap in boneless skinless chicken breasts or chicken wings if that’s what you have on hand, just adjust the cooking time.
- Add spice: Toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of chili oil to give the honey butter sauce a spicy kick.
- More veggies, more fun: Serve it with sautéed green beans, broccoli, or even a fresh cucumber salad for crunch.
How to Make Honey Butter Chicken
Marinate the Chicken
In a large bowl, combine chicken thighs with soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Mix until everything is evenly coated. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes, or pop it in the fridge overnight for extra flavor.
Cook in the Air Fryer (or Oven)
Preheat your air fryer to 425°F. Arrange the chicken thighs in a single layer, cooking in batches if needed.
Air fry for 11–14 minutes, flipping halfway, until browned and fully cooked (internal temp should be 165°F).
For the oven, bake at 400°F for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden.
Make the Honey Butter Sauce
While the chicken is cooking, mix soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and water in a bowl.
In a small pan over medium heat, melt the butter. Pour in the sauce mixture and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat.
Toss and Serve
Once the chicken is ready, pour the honey butter sauce over and toss to coat evenly. Save a little extra sauce for dipping, if you’d like.
Serve with white rice, veggies, or anything you love. Enjoy!
Storage
This honey butter chicken is best fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Tips
- Don’t skip the marinade: Even 15 minutes makes a difference in how flavorful your chicken turns out.
- Watch the sauce: Simmer just until it thickens slightly—don’t let it reduce too much or it might become too salty.
- Use a meat thermometer: For juicy, perfectly cooked chicken, aim for 165°F internal temp.
Honey Butter Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
Honey Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Marinate for 15 mins up to overnight.
- Preheat air fryer to 425F for a few mins. Add chicken thighs (don’t overcrowd and cook in batches as needed) and air fry for 11-14 mins until browned and cooked through (internal temperature should be 165F or more)If you don't have an air fryer, see alternative cooking methods in the notes below.
- While the chicken is cooking, combine soy sauce, honey, garlic, and water in a cup or bowl and set aside. In a medium shallow pan on medium heat, add butter and let it melt down then add the sauce and cook down for 2-3 mins until thickened. Remove and set aside.
- Once chicken is done, pour the sauce over the chicken and coat evenly (save a little sauce for dipping later). Serve chicken with fluffy white rice, veggies, and other sides you desire.
Darren Fitzgerald says
OMG, my wife and I now have a favorite meal. Easy to make and so good.
Herman says
so happy to hear this and glad you and your wife enjoyed this!
Scott Barris says
Made this tonight. It achieved “plate-licking” status! Air fried chicken, honey butter sauce and rice combination are now on my “comfort-food rotation”. Thank you for this great recipe.
Herman says
This makes me so happy - glad you enjoyed it!
Angie says
OMG!!!!! This dish is soooo good and easy to cook. Thank you 😊
Herman says
so glad you enjoyed it Angie! thanks for the positive review 🙂
Miguel Loves Rice says
Found this through insta and it did not disappoint. This is one of the best chicken and rice dishes I have ever made. I pan fried the chicken and it worked perfectly. Thank you so much!!
Herman says
so happy to hear this! thank you so much for the support
Taryn says
Wow!! What a beautiful, easy and very tasty recipe! Thank you so much I found you on Insta and you send me your link! Thanks so much really appreciate you! Don’t stop creating! 🥰
Herman says
This comment made my day! Thank you and I will keep making easy and delicious recipes for everyone 🙂
Suneet says
So glad I chose to make this recipe. Found him on instagram and wow my whole family loved it and toddler approved. Served with broccoli on side with some of the sauce on top.
Herman says
Happy to hear you loved it! I will keep sharing more of these easy tasty meals 🙂
Diana Braud says
You had me sold at honey butter!
Herman says
it's too good 🙂
Liz says
Loved it but my but my butter sauce was a little watered.
Herman says
Make sure to reduce the sauce in a small saucepan until it becomes thickened so it isn't watery. This helps bring out the flavor and ensure the sauce is sticky and sweet
Marnie says
Fantastic! Tastes just like chicken I used to get at the mall. (Sarku) absolutely delicious!!
Herman says
Thank you so much and glad you liked this recipe. I appreciate the rating and nice comment!
Leslie Woods says
I’m going to try this recipe keto by subbing out honey for sugar free honey. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Herman says
Great idea and should taste almost the same!
Maria says
Family really loves it and asked me to make it again.
Herman says
So glad to hear your family loves it - Thank you for the review!
Vicki Lester-Smith says
Wow! Did not disapoint. I RARELY cook and it was really easy and SO flavorful.
Herman says
I am so happy to hear you loved it, thanks for the review!
Andrea says
Incredible!!! I can’t believe how easy this was and how amazing it tastes. I had no idea what to make for dinner after baseball practice so I just searched easy fast chicken thighs on TikTok and you popped up so I followed over to here and😱this is now forever in our dinner rotation. My son said he wants this for his birthday meal.
Home run. Thanks
Herman says
Wow, thank you so much for such a positive review! I am so happy to hear this is a easy and delicious that you want to eat over and over. Thank you again!
Dorene says
Made this tonight as I had chicken out to cook and it didn’t disappoint! Absolutely delicious and simple to make . This will be on my make over and over again list! Thank you!
Herman says
Thank you so much for the kind review and I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Karen says
Absolutely a fave! This will be on repeat especially when your normally quiet son sends you a text and says it was great! I grilled my thighs and added 1 T corn starch slurry. Delish!
Herman says
Thank you so much for the positive review! I am so happy to hear that your son (and family) loved this recipe!
Tuan says
Very good thanks
Herman says
Thank you for the positive review and feedback!
Becky Rousseau says
Very easy and delicious quick meal thank you
Herman says
I am so glad you enjoyed it, thanks for the review!
Christy says
Really good. Will make again. But the chicken needed a bit more time in the air fryer and I would add a little cornstarch slurry to the sauce to make it thicker. But it was really good and easy to make
Herman says
Thanks so much! I think some air fryers cook slightly different and baskets could also be different sizes so glad you adjusted the cooking time accordingly! Also, yes a cornstarch slurry helps to thicken faster if you find it taking longer than usual. I used a large shallow pan so it only took me a few mins.
Anne says
Making this now. Smells great - chicken looks lovely. However it’s taking waaaay longer than 2-3 minutes to reduce and thicken the sauce. More like 20 minutes. Did I do something wrong?
Herman says
Thank you so much! If you find it taking longer than usual, you can add a cornstarch slurry (1 tsp + 1 Tbsp of water mix together) to the sauce to thicken it up quicker. I used a large shallow pan which helped reduce it in a few mins.