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.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- 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.
- Optional flour coating will create a delightfully crisp exterior; lightly dust the seasoned chicken with a thin layer of flour.
- Warm a large skillet over medium-high heat, introducing olive oil or butter to create a sizzling cooking surface.
- 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.
- Transfer the cooked chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its temperature and crisp texture.
- Reduce the skillet’s heat to medium and introduce minced garlic, gently sautéing for approximately 30 seconds until its aromatic essence permeates the pan.
- Pour in honey, soy sauce, vinegar, and chicken broth, creating a harmonious liquid foundation for the sauce.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors comprehensively.
- For a more luxurious sauce consistency, whisk cornstarch with water and incorporate into the simmering liquid, allowing it to thicken for 1-2 minutes.
- 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.
- Elevate the dish’s visual appeal by sprinkling sesame seeds and delicately sliced green onions across the surface.
- 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