Healthy Air Fryer Honey Soy Garlic Chicken – Sweet, Savory & Crispy

If you’re looking for a delicious meal that’s easy to make and packed with flavor, this Honey Soy Garlic Chicken recipe is perfect for you. It’s crispy, savory, and just the right amount of sweet. Plus, it’s great for meal prep, whether you’re preparing for a busy week ahead or just craving a tasty lunch or dinner. The combination of honey, soy sauce, and garlic creates a mouthwatering glaze that makes this chicken irresistible!

Method in Detail

Start by marinating the chicken. Take your chicken thighs and place them in a bowl. Coat them generously with sesame oil, Chinese 5 spice, dark soy sauce, garlic puree, and honey. Make sure the chicken is fully covered in this flavorful marinade, allowing it to soak up all the delicious ingredients. The longer the chicken sits in the marinade, the more the flavors will infuse, so feel free to let it sit for about 10 minutes if you have the time.

Next, cooking the chicken. Once your chicken is marinated and ready, pop it into the air fryer. Set the temperature to 180°C (350°F) and cook for about 12 minutes. The air fryer will work its magic to cook the chicken through while giving it that irresistible crispy texture on the outside. After the chicken has cooked through, it’s time for the next step.

For basting the chicken, take a small bowl and mix together 1 tsp of honey and 1 tsp of soy sauce. Once the chicken is done, brush this mixture over the top of the chicken. Place it back in the air fryer and cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the honey-soy glaze to caramelize and create a beautiful golden, crispy coating. This step ensures the chicken gets that perfect sticky-sweet glaze.

While the chicken is cooking, it’s the perfect time to prepare the rice and vegetables. In another bowl or plate, heat your microwavable basmati rice. Set it aside, and then assemble your pickled red onion and edamame beans, giving them a quick mix to distribute the flavors.Finally, once the chicken is crispy and ready, assembling the dish is easy. Take the cooked chicken thighs and slice them into small, bite-sized pieces. Serve the chicken on top of the bed of rice, along with the pickled red onion, edamame beans, and a handful of crispy onions for that extra crunch. You can also drizzle a little more soy sauce on top if you like things extra savory.

Necessary Tools

• Air fryer
• Bowl for marinating the chicken
• Cutting board and knife
• Plate or bowl for serving
• Small bowl for the honey-soy sauce baste

Honey Soy Garlic Chicken: A Flavorful and Crispy Delight!

Recipe by Simon Davies

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: ChineseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

3

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

14

minutes

Total time

24

minutes

Ingredients

• 4-6 Chicken Thighs

• 1 packet of microwavable or cooked basmati rice

• Handful of edamame beans

• Handful of pickled red onion

• Handful of crispy onions

• For coating the chicken:

• 1 tbsp sesame oil

• 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice

• 1 tsp dark soy sauce

• 1 tsp garlic puree

• 1 tsp honey

• For basting the chicken:

• 1 tsp honey

• 1 tsp soy sauce

Directions

• Start by placing the chicken thighs in a bowl. Coat them with sesame oil, Chinese 5 spice, dark soy sauce, garlic puree, and honey. Mix well to ensure the chicken is fully covered in the flavorful marinade.
• Pop your marinated chicken thighs into the air fryer, set the temperature to 180°C (350°F), and cook them for about 12 minutes.
• Once the chicken is cooked through, baste the chicken with a mixture of 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp soy sauce. Cook the chicken for another 2 minutes or until the skin turns crispy and golden.
• While the chicken is cooking, prepare the rice, pickled onion, and edamame beans in bowls or on plates.
• Once the chicken is ready, slice it into small pieces and serve it on top of the rice, along with the pickled red onion, edamame beans, and crispy onions. Drizzle with more soy sauce if you like!

Notes

• Make sure to coat the chicken well in the marinade so the flavors infuse properly. If you’re in a rush, you can marinate the chicken for a shorter time, but the longer it sits, the more flavorful it gets.
• When you’re basting the chicken, keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t burn. The honey in the glaze can caramelize quickly, so just a couple of extra minutes in the air fryer will do the trick.
• Adjust the cooking time based on the size of your chicken thighs. Larger pieces may need a bit more time to cook thoroughly.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is perfect for a light and satisfying meal. I love serving it with a side of steamed vegetables or a simple green salad. If you want to add more flavor, a dollop of spicy mayo or some chili flakes can take this dish to the next level. It’s also great for meal prep – you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat it when you’re ready to eat!

Fun Fact

Did you know that soy sauce has been around for over 2,000 years? It’s an essential part of many Asian dishes, and its salty, umami flavor makes everything taste better – especially when paired with sweet honey and garlic!

Conclusion

This Honey Soy Garlic Chicken is a game-changer! It’s the perfect balance of crispy, savory, and sweet, and it comes together in no time. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or just looking for a quick and tasty dinner, this recipe has got you covered. Enjoy every bite and share the love with your family or friends!