Honey Walnut Chicken Recipe

After sharing a bunch of chicken recipes, today I am here with another one. Today, I will show you the honey walnut chicken recipe. 

Honey and walnuts are two of traditional Chinese chicken recipes’ most commonly used ingredients. Combined, they complement the flavors perfectly, so I thought of trying it once. This dish is healthy and delicious enough to eat as an appetizer, side dish, or snack. It’s also a good option for your next get-together party, picnic, or celebration.

And as far as it’s about the difficulty, the recipe is very simple. We will toss the fried chicken and sauteed walnut in honey sauce, and it is ready to serve. Plus, if you want, you can also oven-bake or use an air fryer to fry the chicken. This will make the dish more health-friendly.

Let’s scroll down and learn the simple steps to make nutty flavory chicken at home. 

Honey Walnut Chicken Recipe

Recipe by Lindsay G. Cabral

0.0 from 0 votes

Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Simple

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Calories

115

kcal

Total time

25

minutes

Honey walnut chicken is a perfect dish to try something different and delicious without breaking the bank. This easy honey walnut chicken recipe includes only a few ingredients and a few minutes to prepare.

You can make this dish ahead of time and store it for busy weeknights when you don’t have time to prepare a complicated meal.

Ingredients

• 2 cups of cubed chicken,

• ½ cup of walnuts

• ½ cup of condensed milk,

• ¼ cup of heavy cream,

• ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour,

• 1 cup of breadcrumbs,

• 1 egg,

• 2 tablespoons of butter,

• 2 tablespoons of honey, 

• 2 tablespoons of white sugar,

• 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise,

• ½ tablespoon of yellow mustard paste,

• ½ teaspoon of lemon juice,

• ½ cup of water,

• 1 teaspoon of pepper,

• Salt as per taste,

• 2 cups oil for frying,

• Equipment You Will Need

• Saucepan,

• Rubber spatula,

• Mixing bowls, 

• Hand whisk, 

• Trays,

• Skillet, 

• Serving plate, 
  

how to make honey walnut chicken

• Saute The Walnuts: Place a saucepan on the stove over a high flame and wait until smokey hot. Then add two tablespoons of butter, and wait until it melts. Add half a cup of chopped walnuts, and stir fry until they leave fragrance. Then add one tablespoon of honey, and stir with a rubber spatula to mix. Mix in two tablespoons of white sugar and continue stirring until the sugar dissolves. Once sugar is dissolved, it will leave the water. Simmer and cook until the water is absorbed.
• Make The Sauce: In a mixing bowl, pour half a cup of condensed milk, two tablespoons of mayonnaise, half a tablespoon of yellow mustard paste, one tablespoon of honey, and ½ teaspoon of lemon juice. Now use a hand whisk and mix everything until you get a smooth sauce. Keep it aside for later use.
• Season The Chicken: Take 2 cups of pat-dried cubed chicken in another mixing bowl. Add one teaspoon of black pepper and salt as per taste for seasoning. Mix everything with a gentle hand, and keep them aside for 10 minutes. 
• Prepare The Batter: Meanwhile, the chicken absorbs the seasoning; let’s prepare our batter. Again take a mixing bowl, pour half a cup of water, and add ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour. Mix until flour is mixed with water. Now add ¼ cup of heavy cream, and keep whisking to blend. Finally, add the egg and give it a final mix.
• Ready The Chicken: Add the marinated cubed chicken to the flour batter and gently mix. Take out the chicken from the batter one by one and dip in the bread crumbs coating. Then remove and place them in a spread plate or tray, keeping enough space.
• Fry The Chicken Cubes: Fill a skillet with enough oil to deep fry the chicken cubes. Let the flame be on high heat until the oil is smokey hot. Then, place the chicken cubes keeping enough space, and reduce the flame to medium-low. Flip and fry until the chicken cubes turn golden brown. Remove and keep them on paper towels to get rid of excess oil.
• Mix Sauce, Walnuts, and Fried Chicken: Take a clean saucepan, pour the sauce we made in step two, and cook until it comes to a boil. Then add the sauteed walnuts and fried chicken. Freshly sauteed nuts add crispness to walnuts. Mix everything and fry for a minute. As soon as the sauce starts sticking to the walnuts and chicken, turn off the stove. Honey walnut chicken is ready.
• Serve: Transfer this healthy honey walnut chicken to a serving plate, and garnish with some spring onion and a splash of honey. I love to pair it up with a healthy veg salad and a glass of refreshing smoothie. You can also serve it with Chinese fried rice or steamed veggies.

Recipe Video

Tips and Tricks

• If you don’t want to add white sugar to walnuts, add one tablespoon of maple syrup or an extra tablespoon of honey.
• You can add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper to the sauce or season the chicken if you want the dish to taste sweet and spicey.   
• After coating the chicken cubes, don’t forget to shake them to remove excess coating.
• While frying, keep enough space between the chicken cubes, so they don’t stick with each other.
• If you want a little sauce to remain, you can remove the pan just after you add the chicken and walnuts. And pour the sauce on the top while serving.

How To Store Honey Walnut Chicken

Storing honey walnut chicken is super simple. And you can store it in a few ways. 

If you have some leftovers, let them come to room temperature, and then transfer them into an airtight container. Leave the container in a kitchen drawer or cabinet if it’s about only a few hours. But for more time, store it in the refrigerator. Avoid keeping it in a warm place or countertop.

In the frozen process, you can store the chicken after coating or frying in both situations. Transfer them to a ziplock bag or an airtight container and store them in the fridge. 

Store the caramelized walnut and sauce in separate containers in the same way. But try to avoid storing the sauce to its real flavor, and fragrance.

But if you have mixed everything, I will recommend not thinking about storing it in the fridge but refrigerator. And finish it before 3 days pass.

Health Benefits Of Honey Walnut Chicken

Walnut honey chicken can fuel your body’s energy levels while delivering satisfying flavors. It’s an easy and delicious way to get nutrition on the go!

Honey and walnuts are such an effective duo in their ability to promote antioxidant activity. Honey contains high levels of polyphenols, while walnuts are chock full of flavonoids. When these two ingredients combine, they form potent antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by harmful free radicals. This makes honey walnut chicken one of the best sources for promoting healthy joints and reducing inflammation.

Additionally, honey contains antimicrobial properties, which help to keep your digestive system clean and healthy.  While walnuts are a great source of healthy fats and are high in omega-3 fatty acids. And the sugar content present in these nuts help to satiate hunger and regulate your appetite throughout the day. 

Conclusion

Chicken with honey walnuts is full of goodness that will keep your taste buds happy!

In today’s honey walnut chicken recipe, chicken is perfectly fried until crisp but not too dry or greasy. Honey and walnut flavors provide the perfect balance of sweetness and savory flavors, making them appealing to both young and old palates.

I have shared the simplest version of this dish. By following my instructions above, even beginners can make perfectly crisp yet sticky walnut chicken on the first try.