Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken is the best takeout copycat you’ll ever make! After making this 50 times, I discovered the trick to getting that perfect crispy texture and rich, tangy sauce. The golden, crispy chicken will make your kitchen smell amazing and your family beg for more. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy High Protein Pancake Muffins and Berry Cream Cheese Muffins.

What You'll Need for Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika (if using). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and cornstarch. Stir until well combined and bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to the skillet, spooning the sauce over the chicken. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Storing & Reheating Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge and reheat with the chicken.

Freezing Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven for 5 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, add 1 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp of water.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts with thighs for more flavor.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sauce separately. Reheat and combine when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe easily doubles. Simply increase all ingredients proportionally.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce isn't thickening, simmer it longer or add more cornstarch mixed with water.

Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout

⏱

Prep

10 mins

🍳

Cook

20 mins

⏳

Total

30 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-Free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp cornstarch

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika (optional, for color)
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika (if using). Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and crispy, about 5-7 minutes per side. Remove chicken and set aside.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, combine honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, and cornstarch. Stir until well combined and bring to a simmer. Add chicken back to the skillet, spooning the sauce over the chicken. Cook for an additional 5-7 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, add 1 tbsp of cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp of water.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts with thighs for more flavor.
• Make-ahead: Prepare the chicken and sauce separately. Reheat and combine when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe easily doubles. Simply increase all ingredients proportionally.
• Troubleshooting: If the sauce isn't thickening, simmer it longer or add more cornstarch mixed with water.

Storage

• Fridge: Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven for 5 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare the sauce up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge and reheat with the chicken.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 10g
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 90mg
• Sat. Fat: 1.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Better Than Takeout and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!