Honey Garlic Chicken is the kind of recipe that saves the day, and tastes amazing while doing it! In just 30 minutes, you can whip up juicy, tender chicken coated in the most irresistible sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for lunch or dinner. Don’t be surprised if your family starts asking for it on repeat, this dish is that good!
Honey Garlic Chicken a quick and tasty 30-minute meal. Are you looking for a dinner idea that's easy, fast, and absolutely delicious? Try this Honey Garlic Chicken! Tender, juicy chicken is coated in a sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce that's so good, you might find yourself making it every week.
This dish is perfect for busy weeknights. The sauce, made with honey, soy sauce, and garlic, brings just the right balance of sweet and savory. Pair it with steamed rice or veggies, and you’ve got a complete meal that’s satisfying and simple to whip up. Give it a try, and don’t be surprised if it becomes a family favorite!
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⭐Why You'll Love This Honey Garlic Chicken
- Quick & Easy: Ready in about 30 minutes, this dish is perfect for busy weeknights or a simple weekend meal. It’s super easy, but still feels special.
- Customizable: You can adjust the recipe to your taste. Want it spicier? Add some chili flakes. Prefer a milder sauce? Just cut back on the vinegar or honey. You can also throw in veggies like bell peppers or onions, or serve it over rice or noodles for a full meal.
- Family-Friendly: The flavors are a hit with everyone, even picky eaters. The sweet, rich sauce and tender chicken make it a great choice for family dinners.
- Comforting & Elegant: Crispy chicken with a rich sauce feels comforting, but the fresh garlic and honey add a touch of elegance, perfect for both casual meals and special occasions.
- Leftovers are Great: The sauce actually tastes better the next day, so leftovers are just as tasty. You can use the chicken in sandwiches, wraps, or salads for an easy second meal.
🧾Honey Garlic Chicken Ingredients
Here’s the breakdown of what’s in this honey garlic chicken recipe:
- Chicken Breasts: I love using chicken breasts here, they’re tender and juicy, and soak up the honey garlic sauce perfectly. The light flour coating adds a nice crispy layer. You can swap them for chicken thighs or tenders if you prefer a different texture.
- Flour: A little flour gives the chicken a golden, crispy crust and helps thicken the sauce as it cooks. For a gluten-free option, you can use cornstarch or potato starch instead.
- Salt & Black Pepper: A simple seasoning of salt and pepper brings out the chicken’s natural flavors and balances the sweet and tangy sauce. The pepper adds a little earthy heat that ties everything together.
- Butter: Cooking the chicken in butter makes it golden and rich. Plus, it adds a velvety touch to the sauce with its nutty aroma.
- Garlic: Garlic is a must, it brings a bold, savory flavor. When cooked, it turns sweet and caramelized, pairing beautifully with the honey.
- Apple Cider Vinegar, Soy Sauce & Honey: These three make the sauce shine. The vinegar adds tanginess, soy sauce brings savory depth, and honey makes it sweet, sticky, and irresistible.
- Fresh Herbs (Optional): I like adding parsley as a garnish for a fresh pop of color and flavor. You can use coriander or chives if you prefer!
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken
These step-by-step instructions and photos will help you to visualize how to make this recipe. See the recipe card for a printable version of this recipe.
1. Score the chicken breasts with a crosshatch pattern and season with salt and pepper.
2. Coat the chicken breasts in flour, shaking off excess.
3. Cook in butter until golden brown on all sides and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add more butter to the pan and let it melt. Reduce heat to medium, add minced garlic, and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
5. Add apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and honey to the pan, stirring until a thick, glossy sauce forms.
6. Coat the chicken breasts evenly in honey garlic sauce, cover the pan, and cook for 5-8 minutes.
7. Stir in chopped parsley and cook for 1-2 minutes.
8. Serve the hot Honey Garlic Chicken, drizzle with remaining sauce, and garnish with chopped parsley.
📖Variations
- Balsamic Honey Garlic Chicken: Swap apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar for a deeper, slightly sweet flavor.
- Maple Honey Garlic Chicken: Use maple syrup instead of honey for a cozy, unique sweetness.
- Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken: Add red pepper flakes or a splash of sriracha for a spicy kick.
- Teriyaki Honey Garlic Chicken: Mix in teriyaki sauce for a fun twist, just cut back a bit on the soy sauce.
🍽 What to Serve with Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey garlic chicken is so hearty and flavorful with its juicy chicken and sweet, sticky sauce, that it feels like a complete meal on its own.
Honey garlic chicken breast is just as satisfying with its sweet sticky sauce and juicy chicken. To soak up all that goodness, I love pairing it with sticky rice, fried rice, crusty ciabatta, buttery garlic bread, or crispy potato wedges.
For a fresh touch, a tomato salad or potato salad makes a great side. This dish really goes with anything!
And for dessert, why not finish with something sweet like flan cake? Perfect ending!
💭Tips for Success
Cut Uniform Slits: Make even, shallow slits in the chicken so it cooks evenly and soaks up all the sauce.
Pat Dry: Dry the chicken with paper towels before seasoning and coating, it helps the flour stick and makes it crispier.
Preheat the Pan: Heat the pan first before adding butter and chicken for a perfect sear and juicy chicken.
Golden Perfection: Sear the chicken until golden on both sides for extra flavor before lowering the heat.
Thicken the Sauce: Want a thicker sauce? Let it simmer a bit longer or mix a little cornstarch with water and stir it in.
🍗More Chicken Recipes to Try!
If you're loving this honey garlic chicken, you'll also adore these tasty chicken recipes:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
- Baked Chicken Legs
- Baked Chicken Breast
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Baked Chicken Thighs
- Baked Chicken in Chicken Stock
🍛More Dinner Recipes!
Here are more of my favorite dinner recipes! Try these:
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📖 Recipe
Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 60 g Flour
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper Powder
- 45 g Butter
- 3 Garlic Cloves
- 1&½ tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 70 g Honey
- Coriander, parsley or chives (optional)
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into diagonal slits and then make diagonal slits in the opposite direction.
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- On a plate, add the flour.
- Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add butter to the pan and let it melt.
- Coat the chicken breasts with the flour, shaking off any excess.
- Add the coated chicken breasts to the pan and cook until they are golden brown on all sides and cooked through. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
- Add more butter to the pan and let it melt.
- Mince the garlic cloves.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Pour in the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Stir the ingredients together to form a thick, glossy sauce.
- Cover the pan, cook for 5-8 minutes, and toss the chicken breasts in the honey garlic sauce until each chicken is well coated.
- Chop the parsley, add to the pan, cook for 1-2 min, and toss the chicken breasts until well coated.
- Once the chicken is fully coated, remove the chicken from the heat and place it on a plate.
- Serve the Honey Garlic Chicken hot, drizzle any remaining sauce over the top for extra flavor, and garnish with chopped parsley.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered an estimate only. Actual nutritional content will vary based upon brands used, measuring methods, cooking method, portion sizes, and more.
Sandra says
Thanks for the recipe