Applebee's Honey Pepper Chicken Recipe
Applebee's Honey Pepper Chicken features grilled chicken breasts glazed with a sweet and savory honey pepper sauce. It’s served with mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, offering a balanced, flavorful dish. The sauce combines honey, black pepper, and seasoning, enhancing the chicken's natural taste.
Equipment
- Deep fryer or skillet
- Mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Saucepan
- Tongs
- Baking sheet (optional for oven warming)
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Honey Pepper Sauce:
- ¾ cup honey
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup pineapple juice
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
Prepare the Chicken:
- Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
- Dredge each tender in flour, dip in beaten eggs, and coat thoroughly with breadcrumbs.
Cook the Chicken:
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken tenders in batches until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temperature: 165°F/75°C).
- Place on a wire rack to drain excess oil.
Make the Sauce:
- In a saucepan, combine honey, soy sauce, pineapple juice, brown sugar, vinegar, and spices.
- Heat on medium, stirring occasionally until the mixture begins to boil.
- Lower the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring until thickened.
Combine and Serve:
- Toss the fried chicken tenders in the warm honey pepper sauce until coated.
- Serve immediately with a side dish like mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.
Notes
1. Perfect Sauce Consistency:
Achieving the right sauce thickness is key to replicating Applebee’s dish. The honey and brown sugar naturally thicken the sauce, but if you find it too runny, you can use a cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch + 1 tsp water) to thicken it further. This will give your sauce the perfect syrupy consistency that clings to the chicken
2. Adjust the Spice Level:
The recipe offers a nice balance of sweetness from the honey and a kick from black and cayenne pepper. If you prefer a milder flavor, reduce the cayenne, or if you like it spicier, feel free to add more. You can also incorporate a splash of hot sauce to amp up the heat without overwhelming the flavor
3. Healthier Option:
To make this dish a bit healthier without sacrificing flavor, you can bake the chicken tenders instead of frying them.
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), arrange the breaded chicken on a baking sheet, and bake for about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. This method gives you a crispy exterior without the extra oil