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My kids beg for Chinese takeout every week, but I finally cracked the code with this Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken! It's super crispy, coated in the most incredible sticky-sweet sauce, and ready in about 20 minutes. No more delivery needed!
Why We Love This
The air fryer makes the chicken so crispy with hardly any oil - way better than deep frying! The sauce hits all the right notes - sweet honey, tons of garlic, and just a tiny kick of heat if you want it. Plus, it's so easy to throw together when you're too tired to cook.
What You'll Need
- Chicken: I like thighs but breasts work great too - just cut them up bite-sized.
- Cornstarch: This makes them super crispy!
- For The Sauce: Honey, some broth, rice vinegar, soy sauce.
- Butter: Makes the sauce silky smooth.
- Fresh Garlic: Don't skimp here!
- Basic Seasonings: Just salt and pepper.
- Your Oil Spray: To keep things from sticking.
Let's Get Cooking
- First Things First
- Get your air fryer warming up to 350°F. While that's happening, toss your chicken pieces with cornstarch and seasonings until they're all coated. Think shake-and-bake style!
- Chicken Time
- Spray your basket with oil - don't skip this! Lay those chicken pieces in there, not touching each other. Give them a quick spray on top too. They'll need about 5 minutes, then flip and cook another few minutes until they're golden and done.
- Sauce Magic
- While the chicken's cooking, let's make that sauce. Melt your butter, throw in tons of garlic, then add honey, broth, vinegar, and soy sauce. Let it bubble away until it starts getting sticky. Want some heat? Toss in those pepper flakes!
- Bringing It Together
- Once your chicken's done, toss it in that hot sauce. It'll get all glossy and amazing. Don't wait to serve it - it's best when it's hot and the sauce is still sticky!
My Best Tips
Always check your chicken with a meat thermometer - 165°F is what you're after. If you love spice, add more pepper flakes, or keep it mild for the kids. This sauce works great on wings too, just cook them a bit longer. No cornstarch? Potato starch works just as well!
Saving Some For Later
This chicken keeps pretty well in the fridge for about 3 days - if it lasts that long! Just pop it in an airtight container. You can even freeze it for a couple months. When you reheat it, the microwave works fine, but it won't be quite as crispy as fresh.
Make It A Meal
We love this over fluffy rice to soak up all that yummy sauce. For veggies, I usually throw some green beans in the air fryer right after the chicken's done. My husband loves it with cucumber salad on the side - the fresh crunch works really well with the sticky chicken.
Switch It Up
Sometimes I add a spoonful of hoisin sauce to the mix, or throw in some ginger with the garlic. My sister makes it with chicken wings for game day. The sauce is so good, you might want to double it - we always do!
Family Favorite
This recipe's become our Tuesday night tradition - way better than takeout and so much cheaper too! Give it a try, I bet it'll become your go-to chicken recipe too!
Recipe FAQs
- → Why coat the chicken in cornstarch?
Cornstarch helps create a crispy coating and helps the sauce stick better to the chicken.
- → Can I make it spicier?
Yes, add more red pepper flakes. As written, it's mostly sweet with just a hint of heat.
- → Can I use whole chicken pieces?
Yes, whole thighs work but need 20-25 minutes cooking time at 350°F.
- → Why not use commercial spray oil?
It can damage the air fryer's non-stick coating. Use a regular spray bottle with oil instead.
- → Can I make the sauce ahead?
The sauce is best made fresh while the chicken cooks, but you can prepare the chicken coating ahead.