Chinese Honey Chicken – The Ultimate Crispy, Sweet, Takeout-Style Favorite You Can Make at Home

If you’ve ever ordered Chinese takeout and found yourself completely hooked on that irresistible balance of crispy chicken coated in a glossy, sweet, creamy sauce, then Chinese Honey Chicken is about to become your new obsession. This dish delivers everything you crave: crunchy golden chicken, juicy bites inside, and a rich honey glaze that clings to every piece like liquid gold.

The best part? You don’t need a wok station or professional kitchen to recreate authentic-tasting Chinese Honey Chicken at home. In fact, this recipe takes just 20 minutes from start to finish, making it one of the fastest and most satisfying dinners you can prepare on a busy weeknight.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn everything there is to know about making restaurant-quality Chinese Honey Chicken: ingredients, step-by-step instructions, pro tips for extra crispiness, variations, air fryer options, storage advice, serving ideas, and more. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have mastered this crowd-pleasing favorite.

Let’s dive in.

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What Is Chinese Honey Chicken?

Chinese Honey Chicken is a Chinese-style fried chicken dish featuring bite-sized pieces of battered and deep-fried chicken tossed in a sweet honey-based sauce. The sauce is usually smooth, glossy, and slightly creamy, balancing sweetness with a gentle savory finish.

While similar to orange chicken or sesame chicken, Chinese Honey Chicken stands out because:

• It’s sweeter and silkier

• The sauce is creamier thanks to mayonnaise and condensed milk

• It has a lighter tang and buttery finish

• It highlights honey as the main flavor

The result is pure comfort food — crispy, sticky, sweet, and completely addictive.

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Full Recipe Recap

Chinese Honey Chicken

Servings: 6
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Cuisine: Chinese-style

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast

• 4 egg whites

• ¾ cup cornstarch

• ⅓ cup water

• Oil for frying

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ¼ cup honey

• 2 tbsp condensed milk

Instructions

1. Whisk egg whites until foamy

2. Mix with cornstarch and water

3. Coat chicken

4. Fry until golden

5. Mix sauce

6. Toss and serve

Why You’ll Love This Chinese Honey Chicken Recipe

There are countless reasons why this Chinese Honey Chicken recipe will quickly become part of your regular meal rotation.

First, it’s incredibly fast. With only 5 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking, you can have dinner ready faster than ordering delivery.

Second, it uses simple pantry ingredients. There’s nothing complicated or hard to find here. You likely already have most of what you need.

Third, the texture is unbeatable. The cornstarch batter creates a delicate, airy crunch that stays crisp even after coating with sauce.

Finally, the flavor is spot-on. Sweet honey, creamy mayonnaise, and rich condensed milk create a velvety glaze that tastes just like your favorite takeout — only fresher.

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Chinese Honey Chicken Ingredients

Here’s everything you’ll need to make perfect Chinese Honey Chicken.

Chicken & Batter

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1-inch thin chunks

• 4 large egg whites

• ¾ cup cornstarch (or Mochiko sweet rice flour for extra crispiness)

• ⅓ cup water

• Vegetable oil, for frying

Honey Sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise

• ¼ cup honey

• 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

Simple ingredients. Incredible flavor.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Chinese Honey Chicken

Step 1 – Prepare the Batter

In a large bowl, whisk egg whites until foamy. This step helps create an airy coating that fries up light and crispy.

Add cornstarch and water, then whisk until completely smooth. The batter should resemble a thick pancake batter.

Gently fold in the chicken pieces until each piece is fully coated.

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Step 2 – Fry the Chicken

Heat about 3 inches of vegetable oil in a deep pot to 350°F (175°C).

Fry the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Overcrowding drops the oil temperature and causes soggy chicken — not ideal for Chinese Honey Chicken.

Cook each batch for 2–3 minutes until light golden and crispy.

Remove and drain on paper towels or a wire rack.

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Step 3 – Make the Honey Sauce

In a separate bowl, mix together mayonnaise, honey, and sweetened condensed milk until smooth and creamy.

This luscious sauce is what gives Chinese Honey Chicken its signature flavor.

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Step 4 – Toss and Serve

Right before serving, toss the hot fried chicken in the sauce until evenly coated.

Serve immediately for maximum crunch.

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The Secret to Ultra Crispy Chinese Honey Chicken

If you want your Chinese Honey Chicken extra crunchy — like restaurant quality — these tricks make all the difference:

Double Fry Method

Fry once → rest 2 minutes → fry again for 1 minute.

This removes excess moisture and creates an ultra-crisp shell.

Use Cornstarch Instead of Flour

Cornstarch makes a lighter, crispier crust compared to regular flour.

Keep Oil Temperature Steady

Always maintain 350°F. Too low equals greasy chicken.

Toss at the Last Minute

Never sauce early. Sauce softens the crust.

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Flavor Profile of Chinese Honey Chicken

The magic of Chinese Honey Chicken lies in its perfect flavor balance:

• Sweet from honey

• Creamy from mayonnaise

• Rich from condensed milk

• Savory from fried chicken

• Slight tang for contrast

Each bite hits every taste bud at once, making it extremely craveable.

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Variations of Chinese Honey Chicken

Once you master the basic recipe, you can experiment with exciting twists.

Spicy Honey Chicken

Add chili flakes or sriracha for heat.

Garlic Honey Chicken

Stir minced garlic into the sauce.

Lemon Honey Chicken

Add lemon zest for brightness.

Sesame Honey Chicken

Top with toasted sesame seeds.

Honey Pineapple Chicken

Add pineapple chunks for sweet tropical flavor.

Each variation keeps the essence of Chinese Honey Chicken while adding personality.

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Air Fryer Chinese Honey Chicken Option

Want a lighter version? Try the air fryer.

Spray battered chicken lightly with oil and cook at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.

Texture is slightly less crispy than deep-fried but still delicious.

This makes Chinese Honey Chicken healthier and easier for everyday meals.

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What to Serve with Chinese Honey Chicken

Pair your Chinese Honey Chicken with:

• Steamed jasmine rice

• Fried rice

• Chow mein noodles

• Stir-fried vegetables

• Egg rolls

• Dumplings

These sides create a full takeout-style feast at home.

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Make-Ahead & Storage Tips

Storing

Keep leftovers in an airtight container up to 3 days.

Reheating

Use an oven or air fryer to restore crispiness. Avoid microwaves.

Freezing

Freeze fried chicken separately. Sauce fresh when serving.

Print

Nutrition (Approx. Per Serving)

• Calories: 360–380 kcal

• Protein: 20 g

• Carbohydrates: 24 g

For a fried dish, Chinese Honey Chicken is surprisingly reasonable when portioned properly.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even simple recipes can go wrong. Watch out for:

• Cold oil → greasy chicken

• Overcrowding → soggy coating

• Overmixing batter → tough texture

• Saucing too early → soft crust

Fix these and your Chinese Honey Chicken will always be perfect.

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Why Homemade Beats Takeout

Making Chinese Honey Chicken at home gives you:

• Fresher ingredients

• Better texture

• Less grease

• Lower cost

• Customizable flavors

• Faster prep than delivery

Plus, nothing beats that just-fried crunch.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chicken thighs?

Yes. They’re juicier and very flavorful.

Can I bake instead of fry?

Yes, but texture won’t be as crispy.

Can I make it gluten-free?

Use cornstarch or rice flour only.

Can I prepare the sauce ahead?

Absolutely. Store refrigerated up to 5 days.

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Final Thoughts

Chinese Honey Chicken is one of those rare recipes that checks every box: quick, easy, affordable, family-friendly, and unbelievably delicious. It delivers restaurant-quality crispiness and that signature sweet, creamy glaze without complicated techniques or specialty ingredients.

Once you try making Chinese Honey Chicken at home, you’ll realize how simple it is to recreate your favorite takeout dish — only fresher, hotter, and crunchier. Whether you’re cooking for a weeknight dinner, meal prepping, or impressing guests, this recipe never fails.