This honey butter chicken is golden, sticky, and melts in your mouth, and it’s ready in just 20 minutes in the air fryer or oven. My version skips the breading and deep frying so you get golden, sticky chicken with less calories.
If you’d rather go totally hands off, my slow cooker honey butter chicken does all the work while you’re out. And if sticky glazed thighs are your thing, my honey garlic chicken thighs recipe belong in your rotation too.
Quick Summary: Honey Butter Chicken
- ⭐️ What It Is: Honey butter chicken is juicy chicken thighs tossed in a sticky, garlicky honey soy glaze.
- 👍 Why Make This Recipe: Takeout flavor using pantry staples, with over 100 five star reviews.
- ⏰ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🧂 Key Ingredients: Chicken thighs, honey, soy sauce, butter, and garlic.
- 🚫 Skip This: No breading or deep frying, since the air fryer gives you golden edges.
- 🫢 The Secret: Simmer the sauce just 1-2 minutes so it stays glossy.
- ❓ Can You Make Honey Butter Chicken Without an Air Fryer? Yes, pan fry 4-6 minutes per side or bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes.
- 🍽️ Best For: Weeknight dinners, rice bowls, and meal prep.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: Minimal prep and quick cook time make this an easy weeknight dinner for the family.
- Sweet and savory: The honey butter sauce is perfectly balanced and addictive. If you like a little heat with your honey, try my spicy harissa honey chicken next.
- Crispy edges, juicy center: Air frying or oven baking gives the chicken that irresistible texture and golden brown color, just like the other air fryer recipes I make on repeat.
Very easy recipe that packs a ton of flavor! This will be in my regular rotation!
- Renee
Key Ingredients
- Chicken Thighs: Juicy, flavorful, and ideal for soaking up marinades and sauces. Use boneless and skinless thighs for this recipe.
- Honey: Brings natural sweetness and that glossy finish.
- Soy Sauce: Adds saltiness and depth to both the marinade and sauce.
- Unsalted Butter: The key to a rich, velvety, and flavorful honey butter sauce.
Customizations and Substitutions
- 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. Chicken tenders work great in my honey butter chicken tenders and wings are next level with these sticky honey chili oil chicken wings.
- Sauce for fried chicken: You can also make this sauce for fried chicken! My crispy honey butter fried chicken is proof this glaze was made for a crunchy coating.
- Add spice: Toss in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of my homemade lemongrass chili oil to give the honey butter sauce a spicy kick.
How to Make Honey Butter Chicken
Marinate the chicken
Combine chicken thighs with soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
Mix until everything is evenly coated and marinate for at least 10 minutes up to overnight.
Cook in the air fryer or oven
Air fry at 425°F 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
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Pour in the sauce mixture, stir, and let it simmer for 1-2 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.
Serve with rice and veggies.
Herman's Expert Tips
- Don’t skip the marinade: Even 10 minutes makes a difference in how flavorful your honey butter chicken turns out. Overnight is even better, and it’s the same rule I swear by for my air fryer miso chicken thighs.
- Watch the sauce: Simmer just until it thickens slightly, about 1-2 minutes. The soy sauce gets saltier the longer it reduces, and the sauce keeps thickening as it cools.
- Use a meat thermometer: Aim for 165F inside for juicy, perfectly cooked chicken. Thighs are forgiving, but a thermometer takes out the guesswork, especially if you swap in breasts.
Storage
This is best fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheating in a large skillet or in the microwave.
Honey Butter Chicken FAQs
Yes! Cut them horizontally so they are thinner pieces and cook as usual but start checking a few minutes early, since breasts dry out faster than thighs.
Marinate the chicken in the fridge overnight, then cook it the next day. The sauce only takes 2 minutes, so I’d make it fresh right before tossing.
You can freeze the cooked chicken with the sauce for up to 2 months.
What to Serve with Honey Butter Chicken
If you loved this Honey Butter Chicken recipe or any other recipes on my site, please leave a ⭐️ rating and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Honey Butter Chicken
Video
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
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Marinate for 10 mins up to overnight.1.5 pounds chicken thighs, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, Freshly cracked black pepper
- 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, water, and cornstarch 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 1-2 mins until thickened. Remove and set aside.¼ cup soy sauce, ¼ cup honey, 4 garlic cloves minced, ¼ cup water, 1 tsp cornstarch, 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 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.
Notes
- Pan-fry the chicken on each side for 4-6 mins
- Bake them in the oven at 400F for 25-30 mins. Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165F.
- Marinate the chicken overnight if you can, since the soy sauce and honey have more time to season the meat all the way through.
- Pull the sauce off the heat as soon as it coats the back of a spoon, because it keeps thickening as it cools down.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket or the chicken won't get those golden crispy edges.
Kate says
First time trying this recipe and it was delicious. I didn’t have chicken thighs so I used chicken breast fillets and it worked out.
Herman says
Chicken breast works perfect with this recipe too!
Sami says
This is a brilliant recipe, full of flavour, easy to do and had the family begging for more! This is now a forever favourite. Thank you 🫶🏼
Herman says
So happy to hear this, thank you!
Greg Meare says
Mmmmmmm......It was so good and savory and sweet the same time. I would definitely cook again.
Herman says
so glad you liked it!
Pamela says
This recipe is fantastic! Restaurant quality! The sauce was saucy, not runny. The flavors were spot on! I love you recipes!!!!
Herman says
Thank you so much Pamela!
Sue Fritz says
Absolutely delicious and very easy to make. Definitely added this to our revolving menu. 5 stars!
Herman says
So happy to hear this, thank you!
Michelle says
I made this last night for my family and they loved it! My youngest is a little bit picky but he ate it up any gut seconds! Thank you so much
Herman says
Happy to hear you all loved it! This is one of my fav recipes too
Melissia says
It was quick to come together and tasted good.
Gordon says
Absolutely delicious and easy to make
Herman says
Thank you, glad you liked it!
Ari Cep says
Very good!! Easy and quick meal. I used oven at 425f 25 mins and hi broil for last 3 mins. Thank you!
Herman says
amazing! so glad you liked it!
JOANNA G STOUT says
Easy to follow, quick and delicious! May cut back on the butter a bit but it did add depth of flavor so I would not omit it! Will definitely make it again!
Herman says
That works to cut back on the butter a bit! You can also make a little less sauce or save any extra for next time 🙂
Lori says
Excellent recipe!
Among the best air fryer recipes I have made.
Thank you,
Herman says
Appreciate the positive review!
AngieB says
I came across this recipe a few day back (don't recall where though), and I'm thrilled that I did! Made it tonight using chicken tenders (as that's what I had on hand). To say it was a hit with the family is an understatement. We had it with Lo'Mein noodles, grilled peppers and broccoli. Perfectly lovely meal. Thank you.
Herman says
That sounds like a wonderful meal. Thanks for the positive review!
Peter Halt says
I make this on the grill once a week and have shown all my college kids this recipe. One of the easiest and tastiest recipes ever, with just a handful of ingredients.
Herman says
so glad you and the family love this one!
Laura says
Very quick response with recipe. Easy clear directions. Excellent chicken!
Herman says
thanks so much! glad you liked it 🙂
Terri says
This recipe was delicious and so easy to make!
Herman says
it's one of my favorites too!