I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the honey butter chicken recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete process of preparation of honey butter chicken. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Honey butter chicken?
Honey butter chicken is a comforting and delicious meal that contains juicy, tender chicken coated in a sweet and rich honey sauce. The chicken is generally baked or pan-fried until turns golden brown, offering a crunchy texture while remaining moist on the inside.
The sauce is prepared with butter, honey, a bit of garlic or spices giving the chicken a delicious glaze. This meal is great for gatherings, family dinners, or meal prep because it works well with sides such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes or rice.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Irresistible Flavor Combination: The savoury and sweet combination of butter and honey makes a rich sauce that goes well with honey chicken.
- Quick and Easy Preparation: This recipe contains easy cooking steps, you can prepare this meal quickly, offering a great meal for weeknight dinners.
- Versatile Dish: Honey butter chicken is flexible. You can try serving it with roasted vegetables, rice, or mashed potatoes, allowing it to customize based on your preference.
- Family-Friendly: This meal is suitable for both adults and kids. The sweet flavour of the honey sauce is great for kids, while the delicious chicken satisfies everyone’s hunger.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: You can prepare this meal ahead. It can be stored in the refrigerator and then reheated, making it a great choice for a quick meal.
Tips
- Choose the Right Chicken: Chicken thighs are more delicious and tender than breasts. If you’re using chicken breasts, you can marinate them to make them moist. Cut the chicken into little pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Coating the Chicken: To dry the chicken, first of all, pat them with a paper towel before coating them in the flour. Don’t forget to season the flour mixture. You can also use spices such as Italian seasoning or paprika.
- Making the Honey Butter Sauce: Choose high-quality unsalted butter for more flavour. You can also try a variety of honey such as wildflower or clover for different flavours.
- Thickening the Sauce: Let the sauce cook over low flame until turns thickened, it may take a few minutes. If your sauce is too thin, you can add a little bit of butter. If you want a thinner sauce, you can mix one tablespoon of water and a tablespoon of cornstarch and mix it into the sauce when it’s cooking.
- Serving Suggestions: You can garnish the dish with green onions or chopped parsley for a refreshing flavour. You can serve it with fresh salad, mashed potatoes or rice.
Variations
- Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich: After frying the chicken, put it on a toasted bun with tomato, lettuce and pickles. You can drizzle it with more honey sauce for better flavour. You can add spicy mayo or cheese for creaminess.
- Honey Butter Chicken and Waffles: You can serve honey butter chicken on top of waffles. Drizzle with more maple syrup or honey butter sauce for a tasty brunch flavour. You can also sprinkle powdered sugar for a little sweetness.
- Spicy Honey Butter Chicken: You can add hot honey sauce or cayenne pepper for a spicy flavour. You can also soak the chicken in a spicy marinade before frying. You can serve it with yogurt dip or coleslaw.
- Honey Butter Chicken Casserole: You can mix cooked chicken, cooked rice, vegetables and hot butter sauce in a baking dish. Top it with cheese and bake until turns bubbly.
- Honey Butter Chicken Salad: You can chop the leftover honey butter chicken and mix it with cherry tomatoes, avocado, greens and a light dressing. You can also add seeds or nuts for a crunchy flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Mashed Potatoes: You can try rich and buttery mashed potatoes which go well with the sweet and delicious flavour of the chicken.
- Coleslaw: You can try coleslaw with the honey butter chicken for a refreshing contrast to the sweet chicken. The crunchy vegetables and creamy dressing make it a great side for balancing flavours.
- Sautéed Spinach: You can try sauteed spinach for a healthy green choice. It contains a soft texture and mild flavor which goes well with the honey butter chicken.
- Rice: You can try brown or white rice as a nice base which perfectly soaks up the honey butter sauce. It is a filling and easy meal which makes it a complete meal.
- Garlic Bread: You can try garlic bread which soaks the leftover sauce better. Its delicious profile provides a delicious twist to the meal and is sure to be a hit among guests.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the chicken cool completely at room temperature.
- Transfer the chicken into an air-tight container to avoid moisture loss and absorbance of other refrigerated odours.
- You can store the honey butter chicken for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the chicken cool completely to avoid freezer burn.
- You can divide the meal into little portions for easy thawing.
- Ensure to use heavy-duty air-tight containers or freezer-safe bags.
- Label the container or the bag with the content and date to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the honey butter chicken recipe offers a delicious dish that combines savoury and sweet flavours, making it a great choice. Whether you are preparing dinner for a special occasion or for a busy weeknight, it is sure to impress everyone’s taste buds.
You can try experimenting with a variety of side dishes such as fluffy rice, and roasted vegetables to get a satisfying dining experience. Grab your ingredients and start enjoying the cooking process. Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments below.
Read More:- Broasted Chicken Recipe (At Home)
Honey Butter Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- Chicken:
- 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- For Frying:
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp canola oil or any light oil
- Honey Butter Sauce:
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large-sized bowl, mix the garlic powder, flour, cayenne pepper, salt, black pepper and onion powder. Then, add the pieces of chicken to the flour mix ensuring these are evenly coated.
- In a big cast-iron skillet, melt the butter and olive oil over medium flame. Put the pieces of chicken in a skillet in a single layer and cook until golden brown, it may take around 2-3 minutes per side.
- In the similar skillet, reduce the flame to low and put the remaining butter. Once the butter is melted, mix in the soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt and pepper. Cook until the sauce gets thickened and reaches the consistency like caramel.
- Put the fried chicken back into the skillet and mix it to coat it thoroughly with the honey butter sauce. Before serving, let it rest for around 5 minutes.
- You can serve the honey butter chicken with cooked green beans or white rice. Top it with chopped green onions for more flavour.