Description
Honey Pepper Chicken is a deliciously sweet and spicy Asian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken pieces coated in a crispy cornstarch layer and tossed in a flavorful honey garlic sauce. Perfect for a quick and easy stovetop dinner, this recipe balances the heat of black pepper with the sweetness of honey, enhanced with soy sauce, vinegar, and a touch of brown sugar. Serve it over steamed rice or noodles for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (slurry)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces with salt and black pepper thoroughly. Toss them with cornstarch until each piece is evenly coated, creating a light, crispy layer.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the chicken in a single layer, ensuring they aren’t overcrowded. Cook for 3–4 minutes on each side or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same skillet, add the honey, soy sauce, rice or apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, freshly ground black pepper, and minced garlic. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors.
- Thicken the Sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) into the simmering sauce. Continue to cook for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet. Toss well to coat each piece evenly with the thickened honey pepper sauce. Cook for an additional 1–2 minutes to heat through and marry the flavors.
- Serve: Serve hot, optionally garnished with sliced green onions or sesame seeds. Enjoy over steamed rice, noodles, or alongside stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Pairs excellently with steamed rice, noodles, or stir-fried vegetables.
- Adjust the amount of black pepper to suit your preferred spice level.
- For extra crunch, coat the chicken in panko breadcrumbs and bake or air fry before tossing in the sauce.
- Use either rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar depending on your taste preference.
