I visited Korea and saw Koreans crazy about honey butter flavored snacks like potato chips—so popular that demand caused shortages. After returning home to New York, I experimented with fried chicken to recreate that crunchy, sweet flavor and finally achieved a tasty garlic-filled result.
I grew to love this dish—it’s hard to stop eating once you start. This non-spicy honey butter fried chicken is for everyone, and double frying makes it extra crispy, light, and flavorful. It took me years of experimenting with different methods to perfect a juicy result I’m truly proud of.
Fried Chicken Honey Butter-The Short Answer
It takes some practice, but this easy method works if you go slow. The same technique can be used for frying many foods, and the dish is crispy, savoury, popular, and perfect for parties—something both kids and adults will enjoy, and better than takeout.
Why You’ll Crave This Every Time
- In my kitchen I’ve seen why everyone loves a Honey Butter Fried Chicken recipe like this—crunchy yet juicy, it makes you Think of Popeyes but feels better with crunchiness that stays unmatched without the expense of chicken turning dry.
- When you eat it right from the oil it melts in your mouth, and the Honey butter drizzle makes your toes curl.
- It’s one of those memorable recipes I always bust out when trying to put on a show, and anyone who has ever had my Honey Butter Fried Chicken will vouch for it.
Ingredients Overview & Measurement
Chicken & Base Setup
- For fried chicken honey butter, I keep it simple with chicken like wings, breast, boneless, or thigh, about 400 grams or about 0.88lb, or 6-8 mixed pieces of dark and white meat
- Coat using 1 cup flour and 3/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, a pinch of kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, plus ground paprika or cayenne
- I sometimes add Sazon Seasoning if I can find this, or use a substitute instead
- Bind with 2 eggs or soak in buttermilk or heavy cream
Frying & Flavor Layer
- Heat 5-6 cups oil like vegetable, canola, corn, or neutral oil for steady frying of chunks
- Add texture with sesame, toasted seeds, or pumpkin seeds
- Build flavor using 2-3 cloves garlic (minced), onions, and fresh spring onions
- From experience, these small additions quietly improve depth without extra effort
Honey Butter Finish
- Make Honey Butter Sauce or Drizzle with 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp sugar, and soy
- I mix it with a slurry of 1/4 cup water and cornstarch for a smooth coating
- Add chilli or crushed heat if needed
- It’s optional, but for balance, you can adjust as needed—if something can’t work, tweak the ratio of flavors so all blends well
Step By Step Instruction
Prepare and Season
- Prepare the chicken by Put it in a bowl and mix salt ground black pepper to season it properly
- Crack the eggs and add starch flour baking powder then Mix well by hand so the Coating holds
- Cut into bite-size cubes and place in a large mixing bowl then Break one egg and add white seasoning like cayenne
- Pour buttermilk with a packet of sazon to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour then Remove and let it rest at room temperature so the process stays consistent
Double Fry Method
- Double fry for better texture by Heat a 12 inch skillet with cooking oil on high heat for 5 to 7 minutes until 350°F
- Dip a tip to check temperature and bubbles then add the pieces to cook until bottoms turn crunchy
- Flip with tongs fix fused parts using splitting and keep frying occasionally turning for about 10 minutes so all sides cook evenly
- Transfer to a strainer over stainless steel wait 1 minute then put back and cook 7 to 8 minutes until golden brown then Strain and Set aside
Make Honey Butter Sauce
- Make the sauce in a pan or wok and Heat on medium or medium-high then Add butter and let it melt for seconds
- Add minced garlic and saute until fragrant and crispy then Reduce heat to low
- Add soy sauce sugar and keep stirring continuously until melted
- Add Honey more butter sesame oil cornstarch slurry and crushed chillies until the Sauce becomes thick and glossy
Coat and Serve
- Add fried Chicken and toss so each piece is coat and coated evenly
- Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds and spring onions and add pumpkin seeds if used
- Combine and drizzle before serving if needed which is optional
- Check internal 165 while flipping during 1-2 and 2-3 minutes at 180°C using a double-frying method to avoid overcooked texture
- Serve immediately or let it cool for later and Enjoy fresh for best Honey Butter flavor
Notes & Nutrition
Frying Technique Notes
- From my experience, Do not fry chicken only 1 time—use double pieces frying for the best crunchy coating without drying out inside meat
- It’s important to keep medium-high heat to prevent overcooked chicken
- Always cook in batches, don’t overload frying oil, and maintain temperature
- I love adding a bit of dried crushed chilli chili for a kick, but if you don’t like spicy, you can prefer mild honey butter sauce or omit it
Flavor & Texture Additions
- Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds for extra nutty flavour texture
- Also add pumpkin walnuts roasted peanuts for more crunch
- I’ve added these myself—they balance the richness of the honey butter sauce while keeping the coating crisp
Nutrition Breakdown
- Calories 470kcal, Carbohydrates 51g, Protein 24g, Fat 19g
- Includes Saturated 9g, Polyunsaturated 3g, Monounsaturated 6g, Trans 0.5g
- Also provides Cholesterol 135mg, Sodium 989mg, Potassium 449mg
- Contains Fiber 1g, Sugar 20g, plus Vitamin A 588IU, Vitamin C 2mg, Calcium 26mg, Iron 1mg
Other Best Homemade Recipes
If you love crispy comfort food like Honey Butter Fried Chicken: Double Fried for Crisp & Juicy, there are plenty of flavorful chicken recipes to explore next. For a bold Caribbean-inspired dinner, Authentic Jamaican Curry Chicken Recipe (Step-by-Step) delivers rich spices and tender chicken in every bite. If you want something lighter and cozy, Lemon Chicken Spinach Orzo Soup (1-Pot, 30-Minute Recipe) is a simple one-pot meal packed with fresh flavor and comforting ingredients.
For quick and easy weeknight meals, Ground Chicken Stir Fry Healthy Recipe (Under 30 Minutes) is a healthy option loaded with protein and vegetables. You can also try Greek Chicken Orzo Bake in 1 Pan (Ready in 40) for a hearty Mediterranean-inspired dinner with minimal cleanup. And when you need a fast meal-prep idea, Southwest Style Chicken Burrito Bowl (5-Min Prep) is perfect for busy days and customizable family dinners.
FAQ’s
Which butter works best for rich flavor?
In my experience, the right butter makes a big difference. I suggest you to choose unsalted because it is more ideal for this recipe. If you are using salted butter, you might need to reduce the soy sauce a bit, since it can be saltier than unsalted. Keeping it natural is important, and as you adjust, you can balance the flavor well.
Can different chicken cuts be used for this recipe?
For the chicken, I’ve tested many options and Yes you can definitely use wings or bone-in pieces. When you make this fried chicken, the size of the pieces matters, so you may need to adjust frying time according to how large they are. Bigger pieces need longer to be cooked, and I always watch the chicken with honey butter to get it just right.
What are easy alternatives to deep frying chicken?
If you don’t want to deep fry, I usually recommend air-fry as the second best option. You can simply spray oil on coated chicken pieces and cook them in a pre-heated air fryer at 400F for 15-20 minutes until crispy. You can also bake in the oven, but I find air-frying gives a better frying feel with less oil.
