Want to level up your basic chicken recipes? Then, you’ll love this crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Air Fryer recipe! With only a few simple ingredients, you can make a delicious recipe the entire family will love!

A bowl of honey garlic chicken with rice and chopsticks.

One of our favorite chicken dinners to make is this easy Honey Garlic Chicken recipe in the air fryer. While we do love some good Smoked Chicken Thighs or Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken, we like to switch things up and use the air fryer. It’s convenient, quick, less messy, and still delivers mouthwatering results. After making this easy recipe, you’ll be hooked.

Why you’ll Love Garlic Honey Chicken in the Air Fryer?

We use this air fryer for this recipe to get that nice crispy skin on the outside of the chicken without using a deep fryer. Air fryers use hot air, kind of like the convection setting on your oven, to cook the chicken, resulting in perfectly cooked and golden brown goodness. Plus, it helps the garlic honey sauce to develop a glaze-like finish on the outside of the chicken. 

Ingredients for chicken honey garlic chicken.

Garlic Honey Chicken Recipe Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken breasts – Cut into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch.
  • Corn flour
  • Black pepper
  • Ground ginger
  • Dried thyme
  • Paprika
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic cloves
  • Freshly grated ginger
  • Honey
  • Soy sauce
  • Fresh parsley – For garnish.

How to Make Healthy Air Fryer Chicken with Honey Garlic Sauce

  • First, grab a mixing bowl. Toss in the corn flour, pepper, ground ginger, dried thyme, and paprika. Mix it up. This is going to be our coating for the chicken. 
A glass bowl with spices and seasonings on a white surface.
  • Now, throw in the chicken pieces. Give them a good toss so that each piece is nicely coated with the seasoning mix.
Chicken coated in flour and spices in a bowl.
  • Pop the coated chicken pieces into the basket, making sure they have some space to crisp up. Air fry them at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes. And now, a quick toss, and back in they go for another 8 minutes until they’re perfectly cooked through.
Coated chicken pieces in an air fryer.
  • While our chicken is getting all crispy, let’s whip up that amazing honey garlic sauce. Heat up some olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Toss in the garlic and fresh ginger, and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
  • Now, add honey and soy sauce to the pan. Let the sauce cook for a few minutes to create the garlic honey sauce.
A pot with sauce in it on a white surface.
  • Once your chicken is golden brown and cooked through, transfer it to a bowl. Pour the tasty sauce all over them, and give it a good toss. 

Serve this healthy chicken dish with a bed of brown or white rice, and sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top for that extra burst of freshness. 

A plate of honey garlic chicken in a sauce with herbs and honey.

Girl Carnivore Expert Recipe Tips

  • Cutting Chicken: Make sure the chicken pieces are all about the same size, around 1 inch. This helps them cook evenly in the air fryer.
  • Coating the Chicken: When you cover the chicken with corn flour and spices, really coat each piece well. This gives you a nice crispy layer when you air-fry them.
  • Air Fryer Capacity: Don’t cram too much chicken into the air fryer basket. If needed, cook in batches to allow proper air circulation. Too much in there can lead to uneven cooking.
  • Cooking Time and Temperature: Cooking times can vary, so always check if the chicken is done. It should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  • Sauce Consistency: Simmer the delicious sauce until it thickens a bit. This helps it stick to the chicken better.
  • Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle fresh parsley on top for a burst of freshness and color. You can also try green onions or cilantro.
  • Marinating: If you have time, marinate the chicken in the sweet sauce for about 30 minutes before air frying. It gives the chicken more flavor and tenderness.
  • Customization: Adjust how sweet or salty the sauce is by changing the honey and soy sauce amounts to your liking.
  • Preheating the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer for a few minutes before adding the chicken. It helps get that crispy outside.
  • Experiment: Feel free to try different spices or seasonings to make the flavor just how you like it! Some great options are sesame seeds and red pepper flakes!
A bowl of air fried chicken pieces and rice with ginger and garlic.

What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken

Since your air fryer will be occupied with this delicious dish, you can still use your oven to make this Roasted Green Beans Recipe to go alongside your meal!

Feel free to place your chicken atop a bed of rice or cauliflower rice if you want to bulk up the meal! While the recipe says rice, you can also serve the chicken with veggies, noodles, or in a salad.

Leftovers & Reheating

Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to reheat, make sure it comes to room temperature. 

If you have any leftover sauce, store it separately in an airtight container.

To reheat:

Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to around 350 degrees F. 
  2. Place the leftover honey garlic air fryer chicken in the air fryer basket.
  3. Reheat for 3-5 minutes until crispy and warm.

Microwave Method:

  1. Place the honey garlic air fryer chicken on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover the plate with a microwave-safe cover or damp paper towel to retain moisture.
  3. Microwave in 30-second intervals, checking the temperature between intervals until heated through.

More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

This succulent Honey Garlic Chicken is the perfect weeknight dinner the whole family will love! The fresh ingredients create an unforgettable mouth-watering experience you’ll come back to again and again.

Have you tried this recipe? Do us a favor and rate the recipe card with the  ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ and drop a comment to help out the next reader.

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 16 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total: 26 minutes
Servings: 4
A bowl of chicken and rice with a spoon and chopsticks.
This honey garlic chicken features bone-in breasts seared then air fried with a sticky sweet glaze for crispy, caramelized skin covering incredibly juicy, tender meat ready in 30 minutes.

Ingredients  

For the air fried chicken

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts Cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 1/3 cup corn flour
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp paprika

For the honey garlic sauce

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tsp freshly grated ginger
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauc

Instructions 

Prep the chicken

  • Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  • Combine the corn flour, pepper, ground ginger, dried thyme and paprika in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the chicken and toss to coat.

Air fry the chicken

  • Add the chicken to the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd the basket, and air fry for 8 minutes. Work in batches if needed.
  • Remove the basket, toss the chicken and air fry for another 8 minutes or until cooked through.

Make the sauce

  • Meanwhile, place a saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
  • Once the olive oil is hot add the garlic and fresh ginger and sauté for 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the honey and soy sauce and allow to simmer for a few minutes.

Toss the chicken and serve

  • Once the chicken has cooked, transfer it to a bowl and pour the sauce over the chicken.
  • Toss to combine, making sure to coat all of the chicken.
  • Serve with rice and garnish with freshly chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Cutting Chicken: Ensure that the chicken breasts are cut into uniform 1-inch cubes. This will help them cook evenly in the air fryer.
  • Coating the Chicken: When coating the chicken with the corn flour and spices, make sure each piece is well coated. This will create a crispy outer layer when air-fried.
  • Air Fryer Capacity: Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken in batches if necessary, allowing enough space for proper air circulation. Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking.
  • Cooking Time and Temperature: Cooking times may vary depending on the size and type of air fryer you’re using. Always check for doneness before serving. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees F.
  • Sauce Consistency: The honey garlic sauce should be simmered until it slightly thickens. This will help the sauce adhere to the chicken better.
  • Fresh Herbs: Using freshly chopped parsley for garnish adds a burst of freshness and color to the dish. You can also consider using chopped green onions or cilantro.
  • Serving Options: While the recipe suggests serving the chicken with rice, you can also serve it with steamed vegetables, noodles, or even in a salad.
  • Marinating: If you have more time, consider marinating the chicken cubes in the sauce for about 30 minutes before air frying. This can enhance the flavor and tenderness of the chicken.
  • Customization: Feel free to adjust the level of sweetness and saltiness in the sauce by altering the amount of honey and soy sauce to your taste preference.
  • Preheating the Air Fryer: Preheating the air fryer for a few minutes before adding the chicken can help achieve a crispier texture on the outside.
  • Storage: Store any leftover honey garlic chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to maintain its crispy texture.
  • Experiment: Don’t hesitate to experiment with additional spices or seasonings to tailor the flavor profile to your liking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 944mg | Potassium: 527mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: air fryer, American
Author: Kita Roberts

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Recipe FAQs

Can I make this recipe with boneless chicken thighs?

Yes! If you prefer dark meat, go for the thighs! Keep in mind thighs may take longer to cook and need to come to an internal temperature of 170-175 degrees F for safety.

Can I make this recipe low-carb?

Yes! You can eat the chicken as is or pair it with some vegetables or cauliflower rice! 

Do I have to use corn flour?

Nope! You can use cornstarch or arrowroot powder instead!

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Well, Hey, Y’all.

Kita is a multi-talented individual, boasting numerous accomplishments such as being an award-winning recipe developer, world-traveled professional photographer, and journalist. As the lead creative force behind Girl Carnivore®, she is widely recognized as an authority on all things meat.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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