Honey Garlic Chicken

The beauty of our honey garlic chicken recipe is that it requires minimal preparation yet results in an entree that looks as if it came out of a restaurant kitchen. The tender chicken is lightly breaded—just enough to give it some texture—and then glazed with a deliciously sticky, sweet, garlicky sauce. Soy sauce and honey combine to form a deep umami flavor, with just a bit of acid from the rice vinegar. Perfect over a bed of rice, this is one of those Chinese chicken recipes that will soon become a weeknight staple.

What is honey garlic chicken?

Our garlic chicken with honey transforms a regular chicken breast into a saucy, piquant dish by simmering the chicken in a sauce made with honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar and minced garlic. The sauce thickens into a glaze as it simmers with the chicken, creating an umami-rich dish with balanced sweetness, acidity and pungency.

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken

• Chicken breasts: Chicken breasts are lean but stay tender and moist when simmered with a sauce. If you prefer dark meat chicken, you can substitute chicken thighs.
• All-purpose flour: Coating the chicken in flour locks moisture inside, ensuring the meat stays juicy as it cooks.
• Butter: Butter adds flavor to the garlic honey chicken sauce. For a dairy-free dish, use your favorite cooking oil instead.
• Honey: Honey is just as good for savory applications as sweet ones! Thick and full-flavored, it provides the stickiness needed for the sauce to cling to the chicken. For restaurant-quality flavor, use one of the best honey brands.
• Soy sauce: The best soy sauce is salty with savory character, but it also contributes a rich undertone. For gluten-free cooking, look to liquid aminos or tamari vs. soy sauce.
• Rice vinegar: Vinegar balances the sauce’s sweetness and contributes a slight acidity. Another type of vinegar or lemon juice works in a pinch.
• Garlic: Fresh garlic adds bite and sweet heat to the chicken.

Directions

Step 1: Prepare the chicken

In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, salt and pepper. Pound the chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/2-inch thickness.

Editor’s Tip: To flatten the chicken breasts, lay a piece of storage wrap or parchment on a cutting board. Place each breast on the board in an even layer and top the chicken with another sheet of storage wrap. Using a mallet, gently pound each chicken breast, starting from the middle and working your way to the outside. Continue until each breast is about 1/2-inch thick.

Step 2: Dredge the chicken

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Dip the chicken breasts in the flour mixture and coat both sides. Lightly shake the chicken to remove excess flour.

Editor’s Tip: Use your fingers to gently pat the flour on the chicken to help it adhere.

Step 3: Sear the chicken

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In a large skillet, heat the butter over medium heat. Brown the chicken on both sides.

Editor’s Tip: Before flipping the chicken, check that it is nicely browned by pulling up a corner of the chicken with a pair of tongs.

Step 4: Make the sauce

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While the chicken is browning, combine the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar and garlic in a small bowl.

Step 5: Add the sauce and simmer

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Drizzle the sauce over the browned chicken. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, until the chicken is no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: Keep the heat low enough so that the sauce doesn’t boil. If you prefer to use a meat thermometer, check the internal temperature of chicken and remove it from the pan when it reaches 165°.

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Honey Garlic Chicken Variations

• Make it a stir-fry: We keep the chicken breasts whole, but you could easily cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Then, you could stir-fry the chicken pieces with the sauce and added veggies, similar to our honey chicken stir-fry recipe.
• Swap the meat: If you want to mix things up, use pork chops instead of chicken breasts. Or, use baby back ribs to make honey garlic ribs.
• Use the sauce to dress a salad or slaw: Use any leftover sauce in a salad or slaw, which you could serve alongside the garlic honey chicken. The sauce flavors will blend well with crisp, leafy greens.

How to Store Honey Garlic Chicken

Leftovers of this honey garlic chicken recipe can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

How do you reheat honey garlic chicken?

When ready to serve the dish again, reheat the garlic chicken with honey in the microwave in 30-second bursts until heated all the way through. Alternatively, you can reheat the chicken in a covered skillet on the stovetop over medium-low heat.

Honey Garlic Chicken Tips

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How do you prevent the chicken from being dry or overcooked?

Flattening the chicken to an even thickness is the best way to ensure that chicken breasts cook evenly without getting tough or dry. We also like to cook chicken with a sauce, which infuses the meat with moisture. Finally, keep the skillet at medium heat (not high heat) and remove the chicken from the stove as soon as it’s no longer pink.

Can you use chicken thighs to make a honey garlic chicken recipe?

While you can use skinless, boneless thighs to make this garlic honey chicken, the texture of the finished product will be slightly different (but still delicious). Dark meat has more fat than white meat, so it turns out juicier. But it also takes slightly longer to cook, as it should be cooked to an internal temperature of 175°. Still, it should take only a minute or two longer, so keep an eye on the progress of the dish as it simmers.

What sides work well with honey garlic chicken?

Consider serving a honey garlic chicken recipe with a grain like rice, quinoa or couscous. Fluffy grains will soak up all the sauce and turn this dish into a warm, comforting meal. The addition of roasted vegetables will take this from a simple dish to a colorful, complete meal. Steamed or oven-roasted broccoli and cauliflower are always a good choice, as are sauteed carrots or asparagus.