Air fryer honey butter fried chicken is a game-changing recipe that will tantalize your taste buds. Imagine succulent chicken pieces, perfectly crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, all glazed with a golden, sweet, and savory honey butter sauce. This isn’t just any fried chicken recipe; it’s a healthier, mess-free version made in the air fryer, delivering all the crunchy satisfaction with a fraction of the oil thanks to the air fryer.
In this post, we will share how to make delicious honey butter chicken in an air fryer, and it may just be one of your new favorite air fryer recipes.
Air Fryer Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Rest Time
5 minutes
Total Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
Directions
1. Preheat your air fryer by setting it to 400°F (200°C) and allowing it to heat up for a few minutes.
2. In a shallow dish, mix together the all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs until well combined.
3. In a separate bowl, vigorously whisk the eggs until they are well beaten. Then, add the buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are well combined.
4. Dip each piece of chicken into the buttermilk mixture, coating it fully with the mixture.
5. Transfer the coated chicken piece to the flour mixture and ensure it is thoroughly coated with the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour.
6. Repeat steps 5 and 6 to get a second coating.
7. Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are placed without overcrowding. If needed, cook them in batches to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.
8. Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and air fry the chicken breasts for approximately 15 to 20 minutes, remembering to flip them halfway through the cooking process. Continue cooking until the chicken turns a beautiful golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to ensure it is safe to eat.
9. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the honey butter sauce. Mix the melted butter and honey in a small bowl to create the honey butter glaze.
10. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and generously brush each piece with the honey butter glaze, or toss it all together in a big bowl.
11. After removing the crispy fried chicken from the air fryer, rest for a few minutes. This resting period allows the flavors to blend harmoniously and enhances the chicken's overall taste.
12. Serve the tossed air fryer honey butter chicken while it is hot and crispy, and enjoy the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Serve with extra sauce on the side.
After enjoying this delicious recipe, don't forget to clean your air fryer to maintain its efficiency and hygiene.
Tips & Notes
Coat the chicken evenly: When coating the chicken with the flour mixture, make sure to coat each piece thoroughly and shake off any excess flour. Following this step, you'll achieve a tantalizingly crispy and well-seasoned exterior on your chicken.
Flip halfway through cooking: To ensure even browning and achieve delightful crispiness on both sides of the chicken, remember to flip the pieces halfway through the cooking time. Carefully use tongs or a spatula to gently turn the chicken, allowing it to cook evenly and develop a uniform golden color.
Nutritional Facts
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Calories
541
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18.9g
24%
Saturated Fat 9.2g
46%
Cholesterol 189mg
63%
Sodium 1065mg
46%
Total Carbohydrate 56.2g
20%
Dietary Fiber 2.5g
9%
Total Sugars 12.5g
Protein 36.1g
Vitamin D 16mcg
79%
Calcium 225mg
17%
Iron 4mg
23%
Potassium 889mg
19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Spray with oil: Lightly spray or brush the chicken with oil. This helps promote browning and crispiness. Use a cooking spray or a brush to apply a thin layer of oil on both sides of the chicken.
Check for doneness: For accurate doneness, utilize a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. The chicken should reach a minimum temperature of 165°F (74°C) to guarantee it is fully cooked and safe for consumption.
Upgrade your sauce to hot honey butter sauce: If you want to add some spice to the chicken, try making a hot honey butter sauce instead by adding cayenne pepper powder or hot sauce.
What You Will Need To Make Air Fryer Fried Honey Glazed Chicken
Chicken Pieces
Organic, pasture-raised chicken breast is a lean and healthy option, while chicken thighs and chicken wings offer a more flavorful experience. Chicken thighs and wings boast a naturally higher fat content, contributing to their juiciness and tenderness.
When selecting chicken, you can choose boneless, skinless, or retain the bone and skin according to your preference.
If you can't choose the cut or want to have variety, consider mixing chicken thighs, wings, and drumsticks for a delightful assortment of flavors and textures. This combination allows you to enjoy the thighs' juicy tenderness alongside the drumsticks' satisfying meatiness. It's a fantastic way to add variety to your dish and please different palates.
A Dry Mixture For Coating
The dry mix of flour and panko creates a crispy and textured coating for your fried chicken. The combination of flour and panko in the dry mix creates a satisfyingly crispy and textured coating that elevates the overall enjoyment of the fried chicken. When cooked, the coating turns golden brown, while the panko adds an extra crunch, leaving you craving more.
A Wet Mixture
Creating a wet mixture using egg and buttermilk, combined with seasonings like paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper, can add flavor and moisture to your fried chicken. The wet mixture helps tenderize the chicken, infuse it with flavors, and create a moist bread base. It introduces an additional dimension of flavor and enhances the overall juiciness of the fried chicken. Enjoy the delicious results of your perfectly seasoned and moist chicken!
Honey Butter Sauce
The honey butter sauce adds a luscious and sweet element to the golden crispy air fryer fried chicken, creating a delicious contrast with the crispy coating. It's a simple yet delightful addition that elevates the overall flavor experience.
To make the honey sauce, you will need honey and unsalted butter. Honey, being a natural sweetener, imparts a unique and delightful sweetness to the sauce. It also offers subtle floral notes and depth of flavor. It's important to use good-quality honey for the best taste. The honey serves as a flavor enhancer, perfectly complementing the savory notes of the chicken.
Unsalted butter provides a rich and creamy base for the sauce. It adds a luxurious mouthfeel and helps balance the sweetness of the honey. Incorporating unsalted butter allows you to regulate the dish's overall level of saltiness. The melted butter helps bind the ingredients together and coats the chicken, enhancing its flavor and providing a glossy finish.
If you seek a healthier alternative, consider exploring coconut, avocado, or olive oil as potential substitutes. For added creaminess, you can also consider Greek yogurt.
What Are The Advantages Of Making Air Fryer Honey Butter Fried Chicken?
Healthier Cooking Method
Air frying offers a healthier alternative to deep frying as it requires significantly less oil for cooking. Traditional fried chicken is fried in peanut or vegetable oil in a deep fryer, and the air fryer uses hot air circulation. Air fryers can achieve a crispy exterior similar to deep frying but with significantly reduced oil content. This means you can indulge in fried chicken with fewer calories and less unhealthy fats. And there is no need to drain fried chicken or big messes to clean up.
Reduced Fat Content
Traditional deep-fried chicken can be high in saturated fats and calories due to the large amount of oil used for frying. Air frying significantly reduces the needed oil, resulting in a lower fat content while achieving a crispy texture.
Retains Moisture
Air fryers use rapid hot air circulation to cook chicken, sealing in moisture and ensuring a juicy interior. This is especially beneficial for chicken breast, which can sometimes become dry when deep-fried. Air frying helps maintain the chicken's tenderness and succulence.
