Description
Honey Garlic Chicken is a quick and easy dish featuring tender chicken coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights and meal prep. Serve it with rice, noodles, or veggies for a delicious, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ¼ cup cornstarch (for coating)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
For the Honey Garlic Sauce:
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
- ½ cup chicken broth or water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (slurry)
For Garnish (Optional):
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 green onions, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and cut into bite-sized pieces.
- In a bowl, toss the chicken with cornstarch, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Cook the Chicken
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Make the Honey Garlic Sauce
- In the same pan, reduce heat to medium and add minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, red pepper flakes (if using), and chicken broth. Stir to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and cook for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the cornstarch slurry and let the sauce thicken for another 1–2 minutes.
- Combine and Serve
- Return the cooked chicken to the pan and toss to coat in the sauce.
- Let it simmer for an additional minute until fully glazed.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
- Serve immediately over rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables.
Notes
- Spicy Version: Add 1 teaspoon of sriracha or extra red pepper flakes.
- Crispy Chicken: Air-fry at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes instead of pan-frying.
- Vegetarian: Substitute chicken with tofu or cauliflower.
- Gluten-Free: Use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: pan-fried
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, easy chicken recipe, 30-minute meal, meal prep chicken, Asian chicken recipe