Description
Golden crispy rice cakes topped with juicy smash-style chicken and finished with a glossy hot honey glaze. This quick, flavor-packed meal balances sweet heat, savory depth, and irresistible crunch—perfect for an easy lunch or relaxed dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 2 cups cooked sushi rice, cold
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 large egg
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/3 cup hot honey
- 1/2–1 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Salt, to taste
- 3–4 tbsp neutral oil
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp butter (optional)
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix cold cooked rice, egg, cornstarch, and a pinch of salt until well combined. Shape into small patties about 1/2-inch thick.
- Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry rice cakes for 4–5 minutes per side until deeply golden and crisp. Remove and keep warm.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine hot honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili flakes, and butter if using. Warm gently for 2–3 minutes until smooth and glossy. Set aside.
- Season ground chicken with garlic, smoked paprika, black pepper, and a pinch of salt.
- Heat the same skillet over high heat with a drizzle of oil. Add portions of chicken and smash flat with a spatula.
- Sear chicken for 3–4 minutes until browned and crispy, then flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until cooked through.
- Lower heat and spoon hot honey sauce over the chicken. Let it bubble and caramelize for 1–2 minutes.
- Plate crispy rice cakes, top with glazed chicken, and finish with green onions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Adjust chili flakes to control heat level.
- Keep rice cakes and chicken separate when storing leftovers to maintain texture.
- Reheat rice cakes in a skillet or air fryer for best crispiness.
- Hot honey sauce can be made ahead and gently reheated before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Pan-Fried
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 125mg