If you’re craving a dish that’s crispy, sweet, and so irresistible, this honey butter fried chicken will hit the spot! This recipe combines perfectly seasoned, golden fried chicken with a sticky, savory-sweet honey butter glaze, making it a family-friendly dinner everyone will love.
It’s a crispy honey butter fried chicken recipe that’s easy to make and ready in under an hour, perfect for weeknight meals or weekend treat for your and the family.
What is Honey Butter Fried Chicken?
Honey butter fried chicken is a dish where juicy, bone-in chicken thighs are coated in a flavorful spice blend, air-fried or deep-fried to golden perfection, and then tossed in a sticky-sweet honey butter sauce.
Even if you’ve never made fried chicken at home, this honey butter fried chicken recipe delivers restaurant-quality results with minimal effort. This is the ultimate combination of crunch, sweetness, and savoriness in every bite.
Why You’ll Love This Honey Butter Fried Chicken
- Quick and easy to make: This recipe comes together quickly, especially if you use the air fryer, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Crispy, golden skin: The coating of flour, cornstarch, and spices ensures every piece of chicken is satisfyingly crunchy.
- Sweet and savory flavor: The honey butter sauce adds a rich, sticky-sweet glaze that elevates the chicken to irresistible levels.
- Family-approved: Kids and adults will enjoy this dish, making it a go-to for dinner parties or casual meals!
- Versatile serving options: Serve with fries, pickled vegetables, simple salad, or even waffles to turn it into a full meal.
Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: Bone-in and skin-on for juicy, flavorful meat and crispy skin. Make sure to use bone-in and skin-on for the juiciest and crispest honey butter chicken!
- Salt & black pepper: Required for seasoning and enhancing the natural flavors of the chicken.
- Garlic powder: Adds a subtle, savory depth to the seasoning mix.
- Buttermilk: Helps tenderize the chicken and adds a slight tang for extra flavor.
- Eggs: Bind the chicken coating and help the flour mixture stick.
- All-purpose flour & cornstarch: Create a crispy, golden crust for each piece of chicken. This mixture gives you ultimate crispy coating.
- Onion powder & smoked paprika: Add warmth, depth, and color to the coating.
- Avocado oil spray: Ensures the chicken crisps evenly without sticking in the air fryer. You can use vegetable oil if you are traditionally deep-frying the chicken in a pot.
- Honey & soy sauce: Combine for a sweet, umami-rich honey butter glaze.
- Garlic: Boosts flavor in the sauce and complements the honey perfectly.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and creates a luxurious sauce coating.
- Water & cornstarch: Thicken the honey butter sauce for a perfect consistency.
Customizations
- Protein change: Add or swap with chicken drumsticks if you want smaller pieces of chicken.
- Spice level: Add cayenne pepper to the coating or sauce for a mild kick.
- Cooking method: Deep-fry if you don’t have an air fryer but cooking times will vary (see recipe notes below).
How to Make Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Prep the Chicken
Pat the chicken dry and season evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
Mix buttermilk and eggs in a large bowl, then submerge the chicken for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for maximum flavor.
Coat the Chicken
In a plate, combine flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
Remove chicken from the buttermilk mixture, shake off excess, and coat thoroughly in the flour mixture.
Cook the Chicken
Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Spray the basket with oil, place chicken skin-side down, and spray the tops with oil.
Air fry for 13 minutes, flip skin-side up, spray with more oil, then cook another 12–14 minutes until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
If you don't have an air fryer, deep fry in a large pot of oil at 350°F for 13–16 minutes, until chicken reaches 165°F internally.
Make the Honey Butter Sauce
Combine soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, water, and cornstarch in a bowl.
Melt butter in a skillet, then add the sauce mixture and cook for 3–4 minutes until thickened. Turn off heat then toss the cooked chicken in the sauce to coat evenly.
Serve
Transfer the chicken to a wire rack to retain crispiness.
Serve with pickled vegetables, fries, or any preferred sides, and drizzle extra honey butter sauce on top if desired.
Storage
Store leftover honey butter fried chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the oven or air fryer to retain crispiness.
Tips
- Crispy skin tip: Pat chicken thoroughly dry before marinating to ensure maximum crunch.
- Even coating: Shake off excess buttermilk and press the flour mixture firmly onto the chicken for a thicker crust.
- Sauce consistency: Adjust water or cornstarch to make the honey butter sauce thicker or thinner depending on preference.
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Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2 pounds chicken thighs bone-in and skin-on
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 eggs
Coating
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Avocado oil spray
Honey Butter Sauce
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon honey
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup water
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 5 tablespoon unsalted butter
Instructions
- Pat your chicken dry with paper towels then season evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- In a large bowl, combine buttermilk and eggs and mix well to combine. Add chicken and submerge the chicken for 30 mins up to overnight.
- In a large plate, make the coating by combining all-purpose flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Remove chicken thighs from buttermilk mixture, shake off excess then dip in the flour mixture and coat well all over. Transfer to a clean plate. Repeat with remaining chicken thighs.
- Preheat air fryer to 375F for a few mins. Spray the air fryer basket then add chicken (don’t overcrowd and cook in batches as needed) skin side down and spray the top of the chicken generously with oil. Air fry for 13 mins, flip the chicken with skin side up, then continue frying for another 12-14 mins. The chicken should reach internal temperature of 165F and skin should be golden brown.If deep-frying, heat oil in a large pot at 350F then cook for 13-16 mins until internal temperature reaches 165F.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the honey butter sauce by combining soy sauce, honey, garlic, water, and cornstarch in a cup or bowl. Set aside until the chicken is done cooking.
- In a large skillet, add butter and let it melt down then add the sauce mixture and cook for 3-4 mins until thickened. Turn off the heat then add the chicken to the pan and coat evenly. Transfer chicken to a wire rack and save any extra sauce for drizzling later.
- Serve chicken with pickled vegetables, fries, and any other desired sides.
Notes
- Deep fry in large pot of oil at 350F for about 13-16 mins until internal temperature reaches 165F.
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