Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe for Cozy Dinners

Culinary magic happens when honey garlic chicken sizzles to life in your kitchen, creating an irresistible aroma that dances through every room.

Tender chicken pieces gleam with a golden-brown coating that promises delectable flavors waiting to be savored.

Sweet meets savory in this simple yet extraordinary dish that speaks directly to comfort food lovers.

Complex layers of taste emerge from just a handful of ingredients, proving great cooking doesn’t require complicated techniques.

Busy home cooks will appreciate how quickly this meal comes together, turning weeknight dinners into memorable experiences.

Each bite promises a perfect balance between sticky sweetness and rich, deep garlic undertones.

Let this recipe become your new favorite go-to meal that transforms ordinary ingredients into something truly spectacular.

Honey Garlic Chicken: A Must-Try

• Master this recipe with minimal cooking skills, requiring only basic techniques like searing and sautéing, making it ideal for home cooks of all levels.
• Enjoy a delicious blend of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and aromatic garlic that transforms simple chicken into a restaurant-worthy dish anyone can appreciate.
• Create a crowd-pleasing meal that appeals to both kids and adults, easily customizable with side dishes like rice or vegetables for a complete, satisfying dinner.

Ingredients for Making Honey Garlic Chicken at Home

• Chicken Breasts: Lean and tender protein that serves as the main star of the dish, best when fresh and of high quality.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasoning that enhances the chicken's natural flavor and provides a basic seasoning foundation.

• Honey: Natural sweetener that creates a glossy, caramelized coating with rich flavor complexity.
• Soy Sauce: Provides deep umami and salty undertones, balancing the honey's sweetness.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that adds robust, pungent flavor to the sauce, best when freshly minced.
• Chicken Broth: Adds depth and moisture to the sauce, helps create a silky liquid base.
• White Vinegar: Brings subtle tangy notes and helps balance the sauce's sweetness.

• Cornstarch: Helps thicken the sauce, creating a glossy and smooth texture.
• Sesame Seeds: Provides a nutty crunch and visual appeal, optional but recommended.
• Green Onions: Fresh garnish that adds a mild onion flavor and bright color.

• All-Purpose Flour: Helps create a crispier chicken exterior when lightly dusted before cooking.

How to Cook the Perfect Honey Garlic Chicken

Step 1: Prepare Chicken for Cooking

• Remove chicken from packaging
• Use paper towels to absorb excess moisture
• Season chicken generously with salt and pepper
• Optional: Dust chicken with flour for extra crispiness

Step 2: Sizzle the Chicken

• Grab a large skillet
• Heat olive oil or butter over medium-high flame
• Carefully place chicken in hot pan
• Cook each side until golden brown
• Ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F
• Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate

Step 3: Create Magical Sauce

• Minced garlic
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Vinegar
• Chicken broth
• Cornstarch
• Water
• Reduce skillet heat to medium
• Toss minced garlic into pan
• Stir garlic until fragrant
• Pour in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth
• Bring mixture to gentle simmer
• Mix cornstarch with water
• Blend cornstarch mixture into sauce
• Stir until sauce thickens

Step 4: Marry Chicken and Sauce

• Return chicken to skillet
• Spoon sauce generously over chicken
• Allow flavors to mingle for 2 minutes

Step 5: Garnish and Serve

• Sprinkle sesame seeds
• Add sliced green onions
• Plate over steamed rice or noodles
• Enjoy your delicious creation

Tips to Nail the Balance of Sweet and Garlic

• Ensure Dry Chicken: Pat the chicken thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, guaranteeing a golden-brown sear and crispy exterior.
• Control Sauce Consistency: Adjust the sauce thickness by gradually adding cornstarch slurry, allowing it to simmer and thicken to your preferred texture.
• Prevent Garlic Burning: Sauté minced garlic quickly over medium heat to release its flavor without scorching, which can create a bitter taste.
• Optimize Flavor Infusion: Let the chicken rest in the sauce for a few minutes to absorb the sweet and savory honey garlic flavors completely.
• Customize Protein Options: Swap chicken with tofu, turkey, or pork for a versatile dish that suits different dietary preferences and protein choices.

How to Store and Reheat Honey Garlic Chicken Smoothly

• Store leftover honey garlic chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keep refrigerated for up to 3-4 days.
• Warm chicken over medium-low heat in a skillet, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent drying. Stir gently and cook until heated through, about 3-4 minutes.
• Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, checking temperature to avoid overcooking.
• Always add a little liquid when reheating to maintain moisture and preserve the chicken's tender texture.

Dishes to Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken

• Crisp sauvignon blanc cuts through the honey's sweetness and complements the garlic's sharp flavor, creating a refreshing balance with the chicken's richness.
• Cilantro or parsley-infused jasmine rice absorbs the sauce perfectly, adding a fresh herbal note that brightens the dish's savory-sweet profile.
• Tangy coleslaw with apple cider vinegar dressing provides a cool, crisp contrast to the warm, sticky chicken, adding textural excitement to each bite.
• Toasted sesame seeds and sliced almonds sprinkled on top introduce a delightful crunch and subtle nuttiness that elevates the overall taste experience.

Twists to Try on Your Honey Garlic Chicken

• Gluten-Free Honey Garlic Chicken: Replace flour with gluten-free cornstarch or almond flour for coating. Use tamari instead of traditional soy sauce to eliminate gluten completely.
• Low-Carb Keto Version: Swap honey with sugar-free maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener. Skip flour coating and serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a carb-conscious meal.
• Spicy Asian Fusion: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the honey garlic sauce. Include a dash of ginger and increase garlic for an extra kick of heat and flavor.
• Oven-Baked Alternative: Instead of skillet cooking, arrange seasoned chicken on a baking sheet. Brush with sauce and bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, turning once to ensure even cooking and caramelization.

Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Comfort meets elegance in this honey garlic chicken, where sweet and savory notes dance together in perfect harmony. Home cooks discover a simple yet irresistible meal that promises to become a weekly dinner favorite you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (about 1 lb / 450 grams)
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste

Seasonings and Coating:

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (optional, for a light coating)
• 4 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce and Liquids:

• ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fluid ounces) honey
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters / 2 fluid ounces) chicken broth or water
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional, for thickening)

Cooking Fat:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter

Garnish:

• Sesame seeds
• Sliced green onions

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Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken by thoroughly dabbing it with paper towels to eliminate excess moisture, then generously season both surfaces with salt and pepper for robust flavor enhancement.
2. Optional flour coating will create a delightfully crisp exterior; lightly dust the seasoned chicken with a thin layer of flour.
3. Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat, introducing olive oil or butter to create a sizzling cooking surface.
4. Carefully place the chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each side to develop a golden-brown crust through a precise 4-5 minute cooking process, ensuring the internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfect doneness.
5. Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its temperature and crisp texture.
6. Reduce the skillet’s heat to medium and introduce minced garlic, gently sautéing for approximately 30 seconds until its aromatic essence permeates the pan.
7. Pour in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth, creating a harmonious liquid foundation for the sauce.
8. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors comprehensively.
9. For a more luxurious sauce consistency, whisk cornstarch with water and incorporate into the simmering liquid, allowing it to thicken for 1-2 minutes.
10. Reintroduce the chicken to the skillet, carefully coating each piece with the glossy sauce and allowing the flavors to meld for an additional 2 minutes.
11. Elevate the dish’s visual appeal by sprinkling sesame seeds and delicately sliced green onions across the surface.
12. Present the chicken atop steamed rice, accompanying noodles, or alongside roasted vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal.

Notes

• Ensure chicken is completely dry before seasoning to achieve a golden-brown sear and prevent steaming instead of browning.
• Use high-quality honey for a richer, more complex flavor that enhances the overall dish’s taste profile.
• Adjust sauce thickness by adding more cornstarch mixture if you prefer a more coating-like consistency.
• For a gluten-free version, replace regular soy sauce with tamari and use cornstarch instead of flour for coating.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 20g
• Sodium: 600mg
• Fat: 18g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 0g
• Protein: 25g
• Cholesterol: 70mg