Honey Butter Fried Chicken

Easy Korean Honey Butter Fried Chicken recipe loaded with crispy fried chicken glazed with sweet and savoury honey butter sauce. One of the most popular Korean fried chicken recipes, and it is great for party finger food or a savoury snack! All the kids and adults are going to love it!

Do you love crispy fried chicken? If you are a fried chicken lover like me, this is one of the must-try recipes for you! It’s so easy, a simplified recipe, and better than takeout!

I am a big fan of K-drama and love to cook recipes from Korean series. Spicy Korean Fried Chicken Wing is my all-time favourite fried chicken and Korean Ground Beef and Rice Bowl is my go-to quick dinner recipe that you will also love!

You’ll love this easy honey butter chicken!

If you are trying this dish for the first time, it’s crunchy fried chicken pieces tossed with garlicky, buttery, sweet honey sauce. Before I haven’t tried it I wondered how fried chicken and honey butter could be a great combination.

They really are a perfect match and so addictive! That’s the reason it’s so popular in Korea! 

In this recipe, I’m sharing how to make the perfect crispy chicken coating texture that stays crispy even after you toss it with the butter sauce. And also my tips to achieve the best honey butter glaze with simple cupboard-friendly ingredients!

Now let’s get cooking! 

Ingredients You’ll Need

The following is a quick guide with photos. Please scroll down to see the detailed measurements and printable recipe on the recipe card. 

Ingredients for the Chicken and Coating

• Boneless chicken breast or thigh
• White pepper or black pepper
• Soy sauce 
• Egg
• Cornstarch or potato starch

For Honey Butter Sauce

• Garlic
• Honey
• Butter
• Brown Sugar
• Soy Sauce
• Sesame oil
• Cornstarch slurry ( cornstarch + water )
• Dried crushed chilli ( optional )

Other Ingredients

• Neutral oil for frying 
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Spring onions

How to Make Honey Butter Fried Chicken?

1. Prepare Chicken Coating

First, cut the chicken into bite-size cubes and place them in a large mixing bowl. Season the chicken pieces with soy sauce and white pepper powder. Break one egg inside and mix it well. 

Then add the cornstarch and coat the chicken piece well with the cornstarch. 

2. Double-fry the Chicken Pieces

Heat the oil over medium-high heat, about 350°F (180 °C). Add the coated chicken pieces and fry for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the oil and let it cool for a few minutes. 

Fry the fried chicken pieces in the hot oil for another 2-3 minutes or until crispy golden brown.

Tips: This double-frying method keeps the chicken coating extra crunchy without being overcooked. 

3. Make Honey Butter Sauce

Heat the large wok or pan to medium heat, add butter and let it melt for a few seconds. Then add minced garlic and saute the garlic for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. 

Reduce the heat to low and add soy sauce, honey, sugar, more butter, sesame oil, cornstarch slurry, and crushed chillies. Stir continuously until the sauce is starting to get thick and glossy. 

4. Coat Fried Chicken with Honey Butter Sauce

Now, add the fried chicken pieces and toss them well with the sauce. Make sure each chicken piece is coated well. Turn off the heat and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds, and spring onions. Serve immediately!

Khin’s Top Tips

• Do not fry the chicken only 1 time. Double fry the chicken pieces for the best crunchy coating without drying out the inside meat. 
• It’s also important to fry over medium-high heat to prevent the chicken from being overcooked. 
• Fry the chicken in batches and do not overload the frying oil to maintain the temperature. 
• For a kick of heat, I love adding a bit of dried crushed chilli. If you don’t like it spicy or prefer mild honey butter sauce, you can omit the crushed chilli. 
• Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds for an extra nutty flavour and texture. You can also add pumpkin seeds, toasted walnuts, or roasted crushed peanuts. 

Most Asked Questions and Answers

Can I use chicken wings to make honey butter fried chicken?

Yes! You can definitely use chicken wings or bone-in chicken pieces. You may need to adjust the frying time according to the size of the chicken pieces, as large chicken pieces need longer to be cooked. 

What type of butter to use?

Natural unsalted butter is ideal for this recipe. If you are using salted butter you might need to reduce the soy sauce as it can be a bit saltier than unsalted butter. 

I don’t want to deep fry it. Can I air fry or bake the chicken pieces?

If you don’t like frying with oil, you can simply air-fry or bake them in the oven. Air-frying is the second best option that I recommend. You need to spray cooking oil over the coated chicken pieces and air-fry them in the pre-heated 400F ( 200 C ) air fryer for 15-20 minutes or until crispy. 

More Crispy Fried Chicken Recipes

If you enjoyed this honey butter chicken recipe, here are some more recipe ideas for you to experiment with.

• Tori Karaage ( Popular Japanese-style crispy fried chicken )
• Taiwanese Fried Chicken ( Taiwanese street-food fried chicken with basil flavour )
• Crispy Panko Chicken ( Air-fried panko breadcrumbs coated crispy chicken )
• Crispy Honey Chilli Chicken ( Crispy fried shredded chicken with spicy sweet honey sauce )
• Crispy Orange Chicken ( Chinese takeout-style fried chicken with savoury tangy orange sauce )

If you've tried out this fried honey butter chicken recipe, please do share your feedback in the comments and give me star 🌟 ratings!

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