Who doesn’t love popcorn chicken? They’re honestly addictive. But what if we took it to the next level and made honey garlic popcorn chicken (with a spicy twist of course)? This is exactly how I came about to creating this hot honey garlic popcorn chicken recipe.
I am such a huge fan of honey garlic chicken and I went through a phase while still in college where I made it almost every day. It’s just so good with the sweet splash of honey and the rich flavor of garlic that forms a delicate sauce to smother your chicken in. But all that aside, today we’re focusing on elevating popcorn chicken, so let’s dive right into it.
What Do You Need For Hot Honey Garlic Popcorn Chicken
- Chicken thighs: If you use chicken breasts for this recipe, we can’t be friends.
- Dredge: A mix of cornstarch, baking soda and flour will give us the perfect crispy coating.
- Spices: We are keeping it simple with salt, pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and cumin.
- Lemon juice OR vinegar: Just a bit to tenderize our chicken so it absorbs the flavors better.
Now moving on to what you’ll need for the hot honey garlic sauce to toss your fried popcorn chicken in:
- Butter: We can’t have a good fried chicken sauce without the butter.
- Honey: A trickle of your favorite honey.
- Red pepper flakes: Measure with your heart, depending on how spicy you want it.
- Garlic: You’ll need freshly minced garlic for the perfect aroma and flavor.
What Can I Serve With It
Honestly, these popcorn chicken are incredible on their own. The hot honey garlic sauce gets rid of the need for a dip. But if you must, then you may – dip away, foodie!
If you want to make a meal out of it (like I did), white rice goes incredibly well with this recipe. Not only is it filling, but the muted flavors of the rice just make the chicken flavors pop even more.
Hot Honey Garlic Popcorn Chicken
1
servings30
minutes20
minutesKeep your device screen on
Ingredients
- For the popcorn chicken
2 boneless chicken thighs
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp lemon juice/vinegar
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups oil (for frying)
- For the hot honey garlic sauce
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tbsp honey
- For the garnish
sesame seeds
green onions
Directions
- For the popcorn chicken
- Cut your chicken thighs into small cubes or bite-sized pieces. Ideally, slice each chicken thigh into three long strips and then cut each strip into 2 or 3 smaller pieces.
- Place your chicken pieces in a bowl and add salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, lemon juice (or vinegar) and set aside to marinate for 15-20 minutes.
- While your chicken marinates, place a pan over high heat and add your oil.
- Once your oil is hot and lightly bubbling at the bottom, add the cornstarch, flour and baking soda to your chicken and toss together well to coat each piece individually.
- Now lower your chicken pieces into the hot oil making sure to avoid any splashing.
- Fry your chicken for 8-10 minutes or until fully cooked and golden brown.
- Drain and set aside on a paper towel to draw out any excess oil.
- For the hot honey garlic sauce
- In a separate pan, heat up your butter until lightly sizzling.
- Add your garlic and fry until fragrant.
- Next, add the red pepper flakes to your liking and toast for a few seconds until fragrant.
- Now add the honey and stir until the sauce comes together.
- Remove your sauce from the heat and add your popcorn chicken.
- Toss together well until the sauce fully coats each individual piece of popcorn chicken.
- Garnish and serve with your favorite dip or with a side of white rice.
Did you make this recipe?
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