Description
These Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are a quick and flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breast cubes coated in a crispy cornstarch crust and coated in a luscious honey garlic glaze. Ready in just 20 minutes, this recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and a hint of spice, making it an irresistible meal for busy weeknights or casual dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb chicken breasts (2 pieces), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
Sauce and Cooking
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp red chili pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 3 tbsp water (to thin out the glaze)
- 2 tbsp cold butter
Garnish
- Chopped chives
Instructions
- Prep the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes. Place them in a bowl and season evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
- Coat with Cornstarch: Add the cornstarch to the seasoned chicken and mix thoroughly until each piece is well coated, ensuring a crispy texture when cooked.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken cubes and cook for about 5 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic and Chili Flakes: Lower the heat to medium and in the same skillet, add the minced garlic and red chili pepper flakes if using. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Create the Honey Garlic Sauce: Stir in honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, and water. Cook and stir the mixture for approximately 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Add Butter for Glossiness: Drop the cold butter into the skillet and swirl the pan to melt it, combining it with the sauce to create a luscious, glossy glaze.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it thoroughly in the honey garlic sauce to coat each piece evenly.
- Serve: Transfer the honey garlic chicken bites to a serving dish and garnish with chopped chives for a fresh pop of color and flavor. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of red chili flakes to your preferred spice level or omit them entirely for a milder flavor.
- Use avocado oil or any neutral oil with a high smoke point for best searing results.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
- Serve the chicken bites over rice or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days and gently reheated in a skillet.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: honey garlic chicken bites, quick chicken recipe, crispy chicken, chicken with honey garlic sauce, easy dinner, skillet chicken
