Honey Garlic Chicken: Your Christmas Home Party Showstopper!
Restaurant-Quality at Home! A Recipe for Juicy Honey Garlic Chicken, Perfect for Your Christmas Home Party
Introducing a revolution in kitchen appliances: the air fryer! While once considered a luxury, air fryers are now accessible to everyone, transforming home cooking. I’ve personally found immense satisfaction with my air fryer; it’s like a compact convection oven that opens up a world of culinary possibilities. Among these, chicken consistently shines as a star ingredient, yielding incredible results every time.
Today, we’re making ‘Honey Garlic Chicken’ – a whole chicken air-fried to perfection, locking in juices while infusing it with a luxurious blend of butter, garlic, and honey. Imagine the succulent meat, the subtle sweetness of honey, the fragrant garlic, and the rich butter notes – it’s enough to make your mouth water! Let’s embark on this delicious journey together and create a masterpiece.
Main Ingredients
- 1 whole roasting chicken (small fryer, approx. 500g)
- 1 sprig Rosemary
- 1 stalk Lemongrass
Marinade
- 1 Tbsp Paprika powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Salt
- 1 tsp Smoke flavor (enhances smoky aroma)
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Dried basil
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
Honey Garlic Butter Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Butter (softened at room temperature)
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
- 1 Tbsp Paprika powder
- 1/2 Tbsp Salt
- 1 tsp Smoke flavor (enhances smoky aroma)
- 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 tsp Dried basil
- 2 Tbsp Olive oil
Honey Garlic Butter Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Butter (softened at room temperature)
- 2 Tbsp Honey
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 Tbsp Minced garlic
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. Let’s start by preparing the marinade to infuse flavor into the chicken. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp paprika powder, 1/2 Tbsp salt, 1 tsp smoke flavor, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp dried basil, and 2 Tbsp olive oil. Mix them well. Using smoke flavor and paprika powder will add a wonderful smoky aroma, making your chicken look and taste even more appealing.
Step 2
2. Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with paper towels. Remove any excess fat or blood from the skin for a cleaner result. I used a pre-prepared roasting chicken, so its shape was already set. If your chicken isn’t trussed, use kitchen twine to tie the legs together securely. This helps maintain a neat shape during cooking, making it easier to fit into the air fryer.
Step 3
3. Now, it’s time to add aromatic herbs inside the chicken cavity. Lemongrass has a strong fragrance and is quite long, so I broke it into two pieces before inserting it. The rosemary sprig will help neutralize any gamey odors and impart a subtle herbal note to the chicken.
Step 4
4. Generously coat the chicken, both inside and out, with the prepared marinade. Gently massaging the marinade into the skin and meat will help the flavors penetrate deeper, resulting in a more delicious dish.
Step 5
5. Here’s a pro tip for extra juicy air fryer chicken! Place about a cup of water in the drip tray at the bottom of your air fryer. As the chicken cooks, the steam generated will keep the inside moist, and any drippings will fall into the water, making cleanup much easier. Set your air fryer to 175°C (350°F) and cook for the first 25 minutes.
Step 6
6. While the chicken is cooking, let’s whip up the honey garlic butter sauce. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 2 Tbsp softened butter, 2 Tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 Tbsp minced garlic. Microwave on high for about 1 minute, or until the butter is melted and all ingredients are well combined. This creates a luscious sauce.
Step 7
7. After the initial 25 minutes of cooking, carefully remove the chicken from the air fryer and flip it over. Continue to cook at the same temperature (175°C / 350°F) for another 25 minutes. Flipping ensures that both sides of the chicken turn a beautiful golden brown.
Step 8
8. Remember, it’s crucial to cook chicken thoroughly to prevent foodborne illnesses! For whole birds like this, using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure it’s safely cooked. Insert it into the thickest part of the thigh (avoiding the bone); the internal temperature should reach at least 75°C (165°F).
Step 9
9. Now, generously brush the warm honey garlic butter sauce all over the chicken using a pastry brush. Return it to the air fryer and cook at the same temperature (175°C / 350°F) for an additional 10 minutes. This step adds a beautiful glossy finish and enhances the delicious flavors.
Step 10
10. For the grand finale! Once the chicken is done, let it rest inside the air fryer for 7 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring every bite is incredibly moist and tender, while the skin remains delightfully crispy. The presentation alone is perfect for a beer pairing! Just before serving, you can brush on a little extra honey garlic butter for an even richer, more decadent flavor.
Step 11
When you carve into it, you’ll see that the meat is perfectly cooked and incredibly juicy. The subtle richness of the butter combined with the pungent aroma of garlic creates a truly harmonious flavor profile. Does it feel like something is missing?
Step 12
Perhaps a cold glass of beer? That would make it an absolutely perfect pairing! Enjoy your delicious Honey Garlic Chicken today and make your mealtime special! 🙂
