Here’s an easy, restaurant-style recipe for Honey Butter Crispy Chicken—juicy on the inside, crunchy on the outside, and glazed in a sweet, buttery honey sauce. Perfect for sandwiches, tenders, or over waffles!
Honey Butter Crispy Chicken
Ingredients (serves 4)
For the Chicken
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts or tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
For the Breading
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (for extra crunch)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Honey Butter Sauce
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup honey
- 1–2 tsp hot sauce (optional for spicy-sweet)
- Pinch of salt
For Frying
- Oil (vegetable, canola, or peanut)
Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
- Cut chicken into cutlets or keep whole.
- Mix buttermilk, egg, hot sauce, and seasonings.
- Add chicken and marinate at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.
2. Prepare the Breading
- In a shallow dish, whisk flour, cornstarch, and spices.
- Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip.
- Press firmly into breading to coat all sides.
- For extra crispy:
- Dip BACK into the buttermilk, then back into flour again.
3. Fry the Chicken
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken 4–6 minutes per side (depending on thickness).
- Remove and let drain on a rack to keep it crisp.
4. Make the Honey Butter
- In a small saucepan, melt butter.
- Stir in honey, pinch of salt, and optional hot sauce.
- Cook 1 minute until warm and glossy.
5. Glaze
- Brush or drizzle honey butter over the hot chicken.
- For extra flavor, glaze once, let soak in, then glaze again.
Serving Ideas
🍯 Sandwich: brioche bun + lettuce + pickles + extra honey butter
🍯 Chicken & waffles
🍯 Rice bowl with broccoli and extra sauce
🍯 Tenders with ranch or spicy mayo
Tips
- Cornstarch = super crispy crust.
- Double-dip = thick, crunchy coating like restaurant chicken.
- For oven or air fryer versions, I can convert the recipe for you!
Want Honey Butter Chicken Sandwiches, Spicy Nashville Honey Chicken, or an air fryer version next?
