Honey chicken sauce is a popular condiment that adds a touch of sweetness and flavor to a variety of dishes especially chicken. But have you ever wondered what goes into making this delicious sauce so addictive? In this article, we’ll break down the key ingredients that give honey chicken sauce its signature taste and texture.
A Brief History of Honey Chicken Sauce
While the exact origins of honey chicken sauce are unclear it likely emerged from Chinese culinary traditions where honey or sweet glazes are commonly paired with meats. The sauce gained popularity when Chinese restaurants outside of China began serving it as a dipping sauce or glaze for fried chicken. The combination of the fried chicken coating with the sweet honey sauce was an instant hit.
Over time, the popularity of this sauce spread beyond Chinese restaurants and it became a staple condiment for home cooks looking to add a sweet punch of flavor to chicken dishes. Even though there are many variations today, the core ingredients remain the same.
The Main Ingredients in Honey Chicken Sauce
Here are the key ingredients that come together to create the taste and texture of honey chicken sauce:
Honey – This is obviously the star ingredient. Honey adds natural sweetness, thickness, and glossiness to the sauce. Typically, dark honeys like wildflower or buckwheat work best as they have more robust flavors.
Soy sauce – The salty umami punch from soy sauce balances out the sweetness. Use regular or light soy sauce to avoid over-salting.
Rice vinegar – A splash of vinegar adds a subtle tanginess and prevents the sauce from being cloyingly sweet. Rice vinegar works best.
Garlic and ginger – This aromatic duo adds a spike of flavor. Fresh garlic and ginger have the most potent flavor.
Cornstarch – Just a bit of cornstarch helps thicken the sauce so it lightly coats the chicken instead of being watery.
Sesame oil – A touch of sesame oil at the end provides a lovely nutty aroma.
Optional Ingredients and Variations
While the basics stay the same, there’s room for customization based on preference. Some optional extras include:
- Chili garlic sauce or sriracha for a spicy kick
- Green onions for freshness and crunch
- Toasted sesame seeds to garnish
- A splash of pineapple juice for extra sweet/tart balance
You can also substitute ingredients like using maple syrup instead of honey or coconut aminos for the soy sauce to make it gluten-free. The possibilities are endless!
How to Make Honey Chicken Sauce
Making your own honey chicken sauce at home is easy. Here are the basic steps:
1. Mix the sauce ingredients – Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, ginger and cornstarch in a small saucepan.
2. Simmer the sauce – Heat the sauce over medium-low, stirring frequently, until it bubbles gently. Let it simmer for 2-3 minutes to thicken.
3. Finish with sesame oil – Remove pan from heat and stir in the sesame oil. Cool before using.
4. Use as desired – Brush the sauce over cooked chicken pieces, fried chicken pops, chicken wings or use it as a dip!
Serving Suggestions for Honey Chicken Sauce
From main courses to snacks, this sauce livens up all kinds of chicken recipes:
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Honey sesame chicken – Toss crispy fried chicken pieces in sauce
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Honey garlic chicken wings – Bake or fry and coat wings in sauce
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Honey chicken kebabs – Glaze grilled chicken skewers
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Honey chicken lettuce wraps – Drizzle over sautéed chicken for wraps
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Honey chicken nuggets – Serve alongside chicken nuggets or pops
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Honey chicken and waffles – Sweeten up classic chicken and waffles
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Honey chicken salad – Dress up chicken salads with the sauce
As you can see, honey chicken sauce is extremely versatile. Keep a batch in your fridge to quickly amp up flavor in all kinds of everyday dishes.
Is Honey Chicken Sauce Healthy?
While delicious, honey chicken sauce is high in sugar, mostly from the honey. A couple tablespoons can have around 10-15 grams of sugar. The sauce is also moderately high in sodium from the soy sauce.
That said, honey does contain some beneficial compounds like antioxidants. When consumed in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet, enjoying honey chicken sauce occasionally is perfectly fine. Just be mindful of portion sizes.
You can also tweak the recipe to make it a little more balanced. Some ideas are:
- Use less honey and add pineapple juice for natural sweetness
- Opt for low-sodium soy sauce
- Add extra garlic, ginger and chili for more nutrients and kick
- Serve it alongside nutritious sides like stir-fried veggies
No matter how you customize it, homemade honey chicken sauce is sure to give your meals a boost of addictive sweet and savory flavor. With a simple blend of pantry staples, you can whip up this easy sauce any night of the week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between honey chicken sauce and other savory-sweet sauces?
Honey chicken sauce is thicker, stickier, and glossier compared to other sweet savory sauces like plum sauce and sweet and sour sauce. It also relies primarily on honey for sweetness rather than sugar.
Can I make honey chicken sauce gluten-free?
Yes! Use tamari instead of soy sauce and cornstarch instead of flour to keep it gluten-free.
How long does homemade honey chicken sauce last?
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. You can also freeze it for several months.
What’s the best way to use up leftover sauce?
- Toss with veggies before roasting or stir-frying
- Mix into rice or quinoa
- Brush over salmon before broiling
- Drizzle over Asian-style meatballs
- Use as a marinade for grilled pork
Can I use honey chicken sauce for shrimp or fish?
Absolutely! The sauce pairs nicely with lightly fried shrimp, scallops or white fish like tilapia and cod.
Conclusion
Honey chicken sauce has a simple list of ingredients, but it packs a flavorful punch. With its balance of sweet, salty, tangy and aromatic flavors, it’s easy to see why this sauce is so addictive. Keep this quick homemade recipe on hand to amplify flavors and add sticky goodness to all kinds of dishes. Whether drizzled over wings and nuggets or used to coat crispy tenders or skewers, honey chicken sauce always satisfies that craving for something sweet and savory.
Tips For The Perfect Chicken
- Be sure to use a frying thermometer so that you can closely monitor the temperature of the oil. If the oil is too hot, the coating can burn before the chicken is cooked through. If the oil is too cold, the chicken will absorb excess grease.
- This dish is best served immediately as the chicken coating will eventually soften as it soaks up the sauce. If you’d like to have leftovers for another day, plan to store a portion of the crispy chicken separate from the sauce. That way you can reheat the chicken and sauce on their own, and the dish will maintain its flavor and texture.
- I typically use a basic clover honey for this dish, but other varieties of honey will also work. I recommend using a milder flavor honey so that the flavor of the sauce doesn’t overpower the meat.
Use a neutral flavored oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable oil, canola oil or peanut oil.
While I love this recipe as written, sometimes I use other ingredients for a different flavor.
- Protein: Try using pieces of chicken thighs instead of breasts for a richer flavor. Another option is to use medium sized shrimp. If you use shrimp, they will have a shorter cooking time.
- Vegetables: Feel free to add some cooked vegetables to the chicken and sauce. Some good options include broccoli, zucchini or carrots.
- Flavorings: Love spicy food? Add some heat to the sauce with sriracha or crushed red pepper flakes to taste. You can also add minced garlic cloves, or try sprinkling some sesame seeds over the finished dish.
Honey chicken contains pieces of fried breaded chicken in a sauce of honey, soy sauce, sesame oil and vinegar.
While I often serve this dish over steamed white rice, other great grain options include crispy fried rice noodles, quinoa, brown rice, or a boiled rice or egg noodle. If you’re looking to save a few carbs, try serving your honey chicken over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
Honey chicken and orange chicken are similar in that they both contain breaded pieces of chicken in a sweet sauce. Orange chicken has a strong citrus flavor, but honey chicken does not contain any citrus.
This dish is full of bold flavors and is just as good as anything you’d get at your favorite Asian restaurant!
How Do You Make Honey Chicken?
The first step is to cook up the chicken. Dip pieces of chicken breast into a seasoned egg mixture, then coat them in a blend of cornstarch and flour. Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown and cooked through. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce. Place honey, soy sauce and seasonings in a pan or large skillet, then bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in a little corn starch to thicken the sauce. Toss the cooked chicken pieces in the sauce, then garnish with green onions and enjoy.
