Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken is the ultimate summer cookout dish. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy chicken every time. The golden, crispy exterior gives way to tender, juicy chicken in a sweet and savory sauce that’s better than takeout. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Healthy Quinoa Risotto and Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Update.

What You'll Need for Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds

How to Make Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

1. Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until crispy and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Add this to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it thicken.
4. Combine the chicken and sauce: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the chicken is heated through.
5. Serve: Serve the chicken hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Storing & Reheating Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve. The chicken is best cooked fresh.

Freezing Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

Freeze cooked chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until heated through.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until heated through, about 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then stir and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes until heated through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure your cornstarch is gluten-free.
• Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice as a substitute.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be breaded and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Cook the chicken just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, try adding a bit more oil or using a non-stick skillet.

Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

20 mins

⏳

Total

35 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Seasonings

• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Season with salt and pepper. In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
2. Cook the chicken: Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until crispy and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
3. Make the sauce: In the same skillet, add the honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to combine. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup cornstarch with 1/4 cup water. Add this to the skillet and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer and let it thicken.
4. Combine the chicken and sauce: Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the chicken is heated through.
5. Serve: Serve the chicken hot, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

• Chef tip: To make this dish gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce and ensure your cornstarch is gluten-free.
• Best substitution: If you don't have apple cider vinegar, you can use white vinegar or lemon juice as a substitute.
• Make-ahead: The chicken can be breaded and the sauce can be made ahead of time. Cook the chicken just before serving.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken is sticking to the pan, try adding a bit more oil or using a non-stick skillet.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until heated through.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (180°C) until heated through, about 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then stir and heat for an additional 1-2 minutes until heated through.
• Make ahead: The sauce can be made ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve. The chicken is best cooked fresh.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 35g
• Fat: 7g
• Carbs: 35g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 800mg
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sat. Fat: 1g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Best Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken for Summer Cookouts and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!