Description
Succulent honey garlic chicken delivers a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors from traditional Asian cuisine. Home cooks can easily prepare this crowd-pleasing dish with simple ingredients and minimal preparation time.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken thighs or breasts, boneless and skinless
- 2 tsps garlic powder
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) honey
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ¼ cup (60 ml) water
- 2 tbsps vegetable oil
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, ensuring comprehensive coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Searing Technique: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high temperature, carefully placing seasoned chicken to develop a rich, golden-brown crust while maintaining internal moisture and ensuring complete cooking.
- Garlic Intensification: Remove excess grease, leaving a thin layer, then introduce minced garlic to the skillet, allowing its aromatic essence to permeate the chicken through rapid sautéing.
- Sauce Composition: Whisk together honey, water, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a separate bowl, creating a complex, multi-dimensional flavor profile that will transform the chicken’s appearance and taste.
- Glazing Process: Pour the prepared sauce over seared chicken, elevating heat to medium-high and allowing the liquid to reduce into a glossy, concentrated glaze that completely envelops the meat.
- Final Presentation: Transfer the honey garlic chicken to a serving plate, optionally garnishing with chopped parsley for a fresh visual and aromatic accent, and serve alongside steamed rice or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Seal in Flavor: Pat chicken dry before seasoning to ensure crispy, golden-brown exterior and prevent steaming.
- Prevent Burning: Adjust heat if garlic starts to brown too quickly, as burnt garlic creates bitter taste and ruins the dish’s delicate flavor profile.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Watch sauce reduction carefully – aim for glossy, slightly thick coating that clings to chicken without becoming too sticky or dry.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Substitute regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for those with gluten sensitivities, maintaining the recipe’s rich umami essence.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 374
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 298 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg