Fried Chicken with Sweet and Sour Honey Sauce

1Prepare the Chicken Coating In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour (1 cup), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), onion powder (1 teaspoon), paprika (1 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon), and black pepper (½ teaspoon). Mix well.

2Coat the Chicken Coat each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.

3Heat the Oil Heat the vegetable oil (2 cups) in a large skillet or deep fryer over medium-high heat.

4Fry the Chicken Carefully place the coated chicken pieces (2 pounds) into the hot oil, working in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pan.

5Cook the Chicken Fry the chicken for about 8-10 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

6Prepare the Sauce In a small saucepan, combine the honey (¼ cup), soy sauce (¼ cup), rice vinegar (2 tablespoons), ketchup (2 tablespoons), cornstarch (1 tablespoon), water (¼ cup), and red pepper flakes (¼ teaspoon) (if using).

7Cook the Sauce Cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and becomes glossy.

8Cool the Sauce Remove the sauce from the heat and let it cool slightly.

9Serve and Enjoy Serve the fried chicken with the sweet and sour honey (¼ cup) sauce, garnished with chopped green onions (¼ cup).