CrispenAir Fryer Honey Chicken and Broccoli
Sticky honey sweet chili chicken and charred broccoli, all from one basket.
Toss bite-size chicken breast and broccoli florets with honey, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, spices and oil, then air fry at 400°F for 18-20 minutes, shaking halfway, until the thickest chicken pieces read 165°F. Cut the chicken small and even and keep the broccoli florets a little bigger, so both finish at the same time.
This is chicken and broccoli that doesn't taste like a diet. Honey, soy sauce and sweet chili go straight into the basket with the chicken, broccoli and a few pantry spices. As it cooks, the sauce turns into a sticky glaze and the broccoli tips char. There's no pan on the stove and no separate sauce to make. Serve it as is or over rice to catch every drop.
Honey Chicken and Broccoli: times for every size
| What | Temp | Time | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 oz (300 g) chicken breast + 1 small head broccoli | 400°F | 18-20 min | shake halfway |
| Double batch, 1¼ lb (600 g) chicken | 400°F | 18-20 min per batch | cook in 2 batches, don't pile up |
| Boneless thighs instead of breast | 400°F | 18-20 min | same time, check 165°F |
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Air Fryer Honey Chicken and Broccoli
Prep 10 min · Cook 21 min · Total 31 min
Ingredients
Serves 2
Steps
- 1
Cut the chicken into small, even pieces, about 1 inch. Cut the broccoli into florets a little bigger than the chicken. Don't rinse raw chicken.
- 2
In a large bowl, toss the chicken and broccoli with the honey, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, curry powder, chili flakes, pepper, paprika, chicken seasoning, salt and oil until everything is coated.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
3 min
- 4
Spread the chicken and broccoli in the basket in one even layer. Cook in batches if needed so the basket isn't crowded.
- 5
Air fry for 18-20 minutes, until the chicken is golden and sticky and the broccoli tips are charred.
18 min · Shake the basket at 9 min
- 6
Check the thickest chicken pieces with a thermometer. They need to reach 165°F. If they're not there yet, cook 2 more minutes and check again.
- 7
Serve as is or over rice, spooning any glaze left in the basket over the top.
How to tell it's done
Chicken is glazed, golden and opaque all the way through, and the broccoli is tender with charred tips. The thickest piece should read 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.
Nutrition per serving
Estimated per serving from USDA FoodData Central values for the ingredients.
Tips for the best results
- Cut the chicken small and even. Pieces of about 1 inch cook through in the same time the broccoli takes to char.
- Keep the broccoli florets a little bigger than the chicken. Tiny florets can burn before the chicken is done. If yours are small, toss them in the sauce separately and add them at the halfway shake.
- Don't crowd the basket. In one layer, the sauce cooks down into a glaze. Piled up, everything steams and the sauce stays watery.
- Line the basket for easy cleanup. The honey drips and caramelizes. A perforated parchment liner under the food saves scrubbing. Never preheat with an empty liner inside.
- Adjust the heat. 1 tsp of chili flakes gives a real kick. Use ½ tsp for a milder, family-friendly version.
Variations
Honey garlic chicken and broccoli
Swap the sweet chili sauce for 1 tsp garlic powder and an extra 1 tsp honey, and skip the chili flakes for a mild version.
Honey sriracha chicken and broccoli
Replace the sweet chili sauce with 1-2 tsp sriracha and leave out the chili flakes. Finish with a squeeze of lime.
Honey sesame chicken and broccoli
Cook as normal, then toss with 1 tsp toasted sesame oil and 1 tsp sesame seeds right before serving.
Chicken and broccoli meal prep bowls
Divide the cooked chicken and broccoli over rice in 2 containers. They keep for 3 days in the fridge.
Storing and reheating
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes, shaking once, until the chicken is hot all the way through. Warm the rice separately.
Questions
How long do you cook chicken and broccoli in the air fryer?
18-20 minutes at 400°F, shaking halfway. Bite-size chicken pieces and broccoli florets cook together in one basket. The chicken is done when the thickest pieces read 165°F.
Will the broccoli burn in the air fryer?
Not if the florets are a little bigger than the chicken pieces. The tips char, which adds flavor, while the stems turn tender. If your florets are small, add them at the halfway shake.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Yes. Toss frozen florets with a little oil and add them straight from frozen at the halfway shake, cooking 2-3 extra minutes if they need it. Frozen broccoli releases water, so cooking it the whole time thins the glaze and makes the florets soft.
What can I use instead of sweet chili sauce?
Use an extra 1 tbsp honey plus ½ tsp sriracha or a pinch more chili flakes. You lose a little tang, so add a squeeze of lime at the end.
How many calories are in air fryer honey chicken and broccoli?
About 355 calories per serving, with 38 g protein, 25 g carbs and 4 g fiber. That's half the recipe, without rice. A cup of cooked white rice adds about 205 calories.
Never guess an air fryer time again
- Save a recipe from any video or website in two taps, converted for your air fryer
- Lots of chef-curated air fryer recipes, from crispy wings to cookies
- Turn a craving into a full recipe with AI
- Remember every cook, so you nail it every time after
Join the waitlist and get the founder price at launch.
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