Description
Succulent double crunch honey garlic chicken breasts deliver irresistible flavor with crispy exterior and sweet-savory glaze. Golden-brown perfection awaits you in this simple yet extraordinary dish that promises restaurant-quality enjoyment at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasoning and Coating:
- 2 cups flour
- 4 teaspoons salt
- 4 teaspoons black pepper
- 3 tablespoons ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons ground thyme
- 2 teaspoons ground sage
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons paprika
Binding and Sauce Ingredients:
- 4 eggs
- 8 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 34 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Prepare chicken breasts by either pounding them to an even thickness or carefully slicing horizontally to ensure uniform cooking.
- Create a complex seasoning blend by combining flour with an aromatic mix of spices including salt, black pepper, ground ginger, nutmeg, thyme, sage, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Pro tip: Prepare extra seasoning mix and store for future use.
- Whisk eggs with water to create a smooth egg wash that will help the seasoning adhere to the chicken.
- Thoroughly coat each chicken piece by first seasoning with salt and pepper, then dredging in the spice mixture, dipping in egg wash, and coating again with the seasoning blend, pressing firmly to ensure maximum flavor coverage.
- For stovetop method, heat canola oil in a skillet to just below medium temperature, carefully managing heat to prevent burning while ensuring even cooking.
- Fry chicken pieces gently for 4-5 minutes per side until achieving a golden, crispy exterior that indicates perfect doneness.
- For honey garlic sauce, sauté minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat, being careful not to brown the garlic.
- Incorporate honey, soy sauce, and black pepper into the garlic base, simmering carefully to prevent foaming and develop a rich, glossy sauce.
- For oven-baked version, preheat a baking sheet in a 425°F oven to promote crispiness and prevent sticking.
- Lightly oil the hot baking sheet and arrange coated chicken pieces with space between them to ensure maximum crispiness.
- Lightly spray chicken tops with vegetable oil to enhance browning and create a crisp exterior.
- Bake on the second-lowest oven rack, first for 15 minutes without opening the door, then flip pieces and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Once cooked, immediately dip chicken in prepared honey garlic sauce and serve while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Prep chicken evenly to ensure consistent cooking and crispy texture throughout the meat.
- Use a sharp knife or meat mallet to create uniform thickness, preventing dry or undercooked sections.
- Double-dredging technique creates an extra crunchy exterior that locks in moisture and enhances flavor profile.
- Carefully monitor oil temperature when frying to prevent burning while maintaining a golden, crisp coating.
- Preheating baking sheet in oven helps achieve restaurant-style crispiness without deep-frying.
- Space chicken pieces apart during baking to prevent steaming and maintain crunchiness.
- Spray oil on chicken helps create additional golden brown and crispy exterior when baking.
- Store extra seasoned flour mixture in freezer for quick preparation of future meals.
- Watch honey garlic sauce while simmering to prevent boiling over and burning.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 73 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg