Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 7 votes

Feb 24, 2023

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These Korean style Honey Butter Fried Chicken are so deliciously crispy and super flavorful when coated in a sweet & salt honey butter sauce! They’re perfect for a party or even a party of one!

One of the things that make these chicken tenders so crispy is a double-frying method! The tenders are dredged and fried once for a longer period of time, then fried a second time to achieve a super crispy exterior. It’s so easy to make restaurant-quality fried chicken at home!

Watch the Honey Butter Fried Chicken Recipe Video Below!

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Ingredients for Honey Butter Fried Chicken

I love this Honey Butter Fried Chicken recipe because only a few ingredients will make crispy, juicy chicken. Firstly, here are the ingredients you will need!

Chicken

  • 1lbchicken tenders
  • 1tspkosher salt
  • 1/2tspwhite pepper
  • 1/2tspblack pepper
  • 1/2tspgarlic powder
  • 1/2tsponion powder
  • 1/2tspginger powder
  • 1/4tspcayenne powder

Seasoned Flour

  • 2cupsflourall-purpose
  • 1tbspkosher salt
  • 1tbspwhite pepper
  • 1tspblack pepper
  • 1tspgarlic powder
  • 1tsponion powder

Wet Batter

  • 1/2cupflourall-purpose
  • 1egglarge
  • 1cupsparkling water

Honey Butter Sauce

  • 4tbspbutter, unsalted
  • 2tbsphoney
  • 2tbspsugar
  • 2tbspsoy sauce

Neutral oil for frying

INGREDIENTS TIPS

SODA WATER
This is a KEY ingredient in this recipe! The carbonation makes the batter lighter and more aerated – basically, the carbon dioxide bubbles in the batter expand when they hit the hot oil and it leaves the chicken tender with tiny pores that allow for more air (AKA MORE CRUNCH).

BUTTER
Good quality un-salted butter is a staple in my kitchen – my favorite brand is Kerrygold! I buy mine in bulk from Costco, as butter keeps in the freezer up to 5 months.

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Honey Butter Fried Chicken: Recipe Instructions

Marinating the Chicken

These was some of the crispiest, most flavorful Korean Honey Butter Fried Chicken I have ever made! The first step to amazing chicken tenders is seasoning a spice marinade. Here is what you’ll need:

  • Kosher Salt
  • White pepper
  • Black Pepper
  • Garlic Powder
  • Ginger Powder
  • Cayenne Pepper
Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

Create the seasoned dredge for the Honey Butter Fried Chicken

In another bowl, combine your ingredients for the Seasoning Flour and mix well. Add additional sparkling water to the seasoning flour 1-2 tbsp at a time and rub the flour with your hands to create additional craggily bits.

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In another bowl, mix together your Wet Batter ingredients and whisk to combine. In a third bowl, add 1 cup of plain flour.

Dredge the chicken prior to frying

Dust the chicken in the plain flour, then dip your chicken in the Wet Batter and let any excess batter drip off. Next, coat the chicken in the Seasoning Flour and use your hands to pack the coating into the chicken. Place on a tray and let the chicken rest for 15 minutes while you heat up the oil.

Once the chicken has been seasoned, let the chicken tenders sit for at least 20 minutes to allow the salt to absorb into the meat. This is called “dry brining” which will result in a more juicy chicken tender.

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Once the chicken tenders are breaded, let them sit on a tray for at least 15 minutes on a tray. I’ve found that letting the chicken sit once it is dredged in the season flour allows the breading to stick when frying.

Fry the chicken twice for extra crispiness

Fry the chicken tenders in batches at 350F in a large Dutch oven or cast iron skillet. It is extremely important that the oil does not drop below 325F when frying – do not overcrowd the pan! Once the first batch is done, let the oil return to temperature then fry a second time for EXTRA crispiness!

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Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (8)

Make the Honey Butter sauce for the chicken

The sauce is extremely simple to make and is so flavorful! I love how it brings a sweet and salty kick to the crunch chicken – it’s a super popular flavor in Korea and for good reason!

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In a pan over medium heat, melt butter then add honey, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir and mix until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce is bubbling. Cook 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Coat or brush the sauce on your chicken tenders and enjoy!

RECIPE TIPS

CRAGGILY BITS
Adding a little bit of your leftover soda water to your seasoned flour and rubbing together with your hands is key for extra texture! It will create small clumps that will stick to the chicken providing extra crunch. If you run out of soda water after making your wet batter, you can drizzle regular water to your seasoned flour to create the craggly bits!

DOUBLE FRY
Don’t skip the double fry! If excess batter pieces are floating in the oil, strain them out with a strainer to prevent them from burning during the 2nd fry.

SAUCE – TIMING IS KEY!
The sauce is going to thicken once you make it (and will continue to thicken until it’s not usable), so make sure to do this step LAST and IMMEDIATELY coat/brush the sauce on the chicken! This is not one of those sauces you make ahead!

“DRY BRINE”

This is the KEY tip for quick but JUICY chicken! Season the chicken with salt & pepper for 15 minutes before cooking to allow the salt absorb into the meat. This “dry brine” will result in crispy skin and juicy meat. The salt will draw out some moisturize, so make sure to pat the chicken as dry as possible with a paper towel prior to sauteing in the pan. (Otherwise your skin will not get as crispy!)

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If you liked this Honey Butter Fried Chicken recipe, check out some of the most popular fried chicken recipes on the blog!

  • Soy Garlic Wings
  • Easy Fried Chicken
  • Mochiko Fried Chicken
  • Chicken Karaage
  • Korean Fried Chicken

Honey Butter Chicken Tenders

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 3

Prep: 1 hour hr

Cook: 20 minutes mins

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Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (11)

These Korean style Honey Butter Fried Chicken are so deliciously crispy and super flavorful when coated in a sweet & salt honey butter sauce! They're perfect for a party or even a party of one!

Ingredients

Chicken

Seasoned Flour

Wet Batter

  • 1/2 cup flour, all-purpose
  • 1 egg, large
  • 1 cup sparkling water

Honey Butter Sauce

Neutral oil for frying

    US CustomaryMetric

    Instructions

    • Marinate chicken tenders in a bowl with kosher salt, white pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix until thoroughly coated and set aside.

    • In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour with kosher salt, white pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.

    • In a separate bowl, make a wet batter by combining flour with egg and ice cold sparkling water. Whisk until combined. In a separate bowl, add 1 cup of flour. In a line, place your plain flour, wet batter, and seasoned flour next to each other. Add 1 tbsp of soda water to the seasoned flour and rub together with your hands to create small clumps of flour.

    • Dust your chicken tenders in the plain flour (shake off excess), then into the wet batter until fully coated, letting excess batter drip off. Finally, coat the chicken in the seasoned flour and pack in the dredge until completely coated. Let the tenders rest on a tray while you heat your oil.

    • In a heavy bottomed pot or dutch oven, heat oil to 350F and fry the chicken in batches for 4-5 minutes until lightly golden. Remove, then fry a second time at 350F for 1-2 minute until golden and extra crispy. Season with salt to taste.

    • In a pan over medium heat, melt butter then add honey, soy sauce, and sugar. Stir and mix until the sugar has dissolved and the sauce is bubbling. Cook 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Coat or brush the sauce on your chicken tenders and enjoy!

    Additional Info

    Course: Main Course

    Cuisine: Korean

    Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

    Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (12)

    About CJ

    I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

    Read more about me

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    Honey Butter Fried Chicken - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    Can I use milk instead of butter milk for fried chicken? ›

    Can You Use Milk Instead of Buttermilk for Fried Chicken? No. Using milk instead of buttermilk will not have the same effect. However, it's easy enough to make buttermilk at home.

    Why does buttermilk make fried chicken better? ›

    Buttermilk is slightly acidic, so as the chicken marinates, the buttermilk breaks down the proteins in the chicken, tenderising it. Its thicker texture helps completely coat the chicken in the spiced flour mixture so it crisps up well when fried.

    Is it better to fry chicken in butter? ›

    Can you cook chicken with butter instead of oil? You have to cook chicken at a lower temperature if you bake or pan-fry chicken using butter instead of oil. This is because butter has a lower scorching temperature. Your chicken will cook more slowly, but it's also likely to be juicier and full of more flavor.

    Should I double fry chicken tenders? ›

    Double frying helps with that evaporation process. By letting the chicken rest and cool between the dips in the oil, additional water evaporates from the skin. When you put it back in to finish frying, the rest of the water evaporates, which allows the skin to brown and crisp quickly before the meat overcooks.

    Is it better to use egg or milk for fried chicken? ›

    Some recipes call for dipping the chicken in egg before coating with flour while others call for milk (or butter milk). Egg provides a lot more protein and will produce a thicker, more stable crust. Milk is obviously much thinner, contains much more water, and won't cling to the meat as much.

    How long to soak chicken in milk before frying? ›

    Soak the chicken in the milk mixture for 5 to 10 minutes. Roll the chicken in flour, being sure to completely cover each piece. Set aside to dry. In a large cast-iron skillet melt lard over medium heat.

    What is the secret to good fried chicken? ›

    Essential Tips for Crispy, Juicy Fried Chicken
    1. Buy chicken pieces.
    2. Dry brine the chicken for juiciness.
    3. 3. Make a strong spice mixture.
    4. Use egg whites, alcohol, and cornstarch for a crispy coating.
    5. Fry in a Dutch oven.
    6. Use two thermometers.
    7. Prevent overflow by using the Dutch oven.
    8. Set up a proper fry station.

    How to keep breading from falling off buttermilk fried chicken? ›

    Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

    Do you rinse buttermilk off chicken before cooking? ›

    When marinating chicken in buttermilk, there's no need to rinse it before cooking. In fact, rinsing would wash away a lot of the flavor your just infused! Simply remove the chicken from the buttermilk and let the excess marinade drip off.

    How long should chicken fry for? ›

    Diced chicken and chicken strips tend to take around 8 minutes to cook all the way through. If you are cooking whole pieces of chicken, white means cooks faster than dark meat, but as a good rule of thumb, you should fry for a total of about 15 minutes.

    Why is butter chicken so tasty? ›

    The reason why Butter chicken is such a delightful dish is because of, obviously, butter. The splendid blend of cream sauce, butter, spiced up tomatoes, and an array of Indian spices melts in your mouth instantly. If you're a chicken lover, this is a must-try dish for you.

    Why does butter chicken taste so good? ›

    Butter chicken is made with a spiced tomato and butter sauce, which does in fact give it the sweet, creamy and buttery taste.

    Should you let breaded chicken rest before frying? ›

    Evenly-breaded fried chicken is best coated with a buttermilk mixture, then coated in a dry breading before frying. Now, that's no mystery, but what you might not know is that it's important to allow the chicken to rest before frying so the coating has a chance to hydrate and get a little sticky.

    How many times can you fry chicken in the same grease? ›

    Even if the oil looks and smells fine, we recommend reusing frying oil no more than three times before discarding it. Don't reuse frying oil that's been stored for more than 1–2 months.

    How long to rest chicken before double frying? ›

    Fry your chicken as usual, then let it rest at room temperature for at least half an hour before frying it again. You can even chill and refrigerate the chicken overnight and fry it a second time just before eating it.

    What can I substitute for buttermilk in fried chicken? ›

    Here are several dairy-based buttermilk substitutes.
    • Milk and vinegar. Adding vinegar to milk gives it an acidity similar to that of buttermilk. ...
    • Milk and lemon juice. ...
    • Milk and cream of tartar. ...
    • Lactose-free milk and acid. ...
    • Sour cream and water or milk. ...
    • Plain yogurt and water or milk. ...
    • Plain kefir. ...
    • Buttermilk powder and water.

    What happens if you use milk instead of buttermilk? ›

    While the quantity of acid could be fine-tuned, the consistency of milk-based substitutions will be unavoidably thin. Compared to cultured buttermilk, plain milk is watery, making the dough so heavy and wet that it oozes into a puddle, turning the biscuits flat and dense.

    Is buttermilk or milk better for fried chicken? ›

    It's thicker, so breading will stick to the chicken more readily than if you just used a milk dunk. The fats and acids in the buttermilk act as a sort of brine for the chicken, and they help make the skin extra crispy too. It's really just the perfect chicken soak. Well, almost perfect.

    How do I substitute milk for butter milk? ›

    The simplest way to substitute buttermilk is to pour 1 Tbs. of vinegar into a 1 cup measurer and then fill the rest of the measuring cup with milk. Then gently stir the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes. If you don't have vinegar, lemon juice and cream of tarter also work as great buttermilk substitutions.

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