Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Are you looking for a chicken dish that is quick to make and tastes great? This Honey Garlic Chicken is just right! This meal has a great mix of flavors in every bite because it combines the sweet richness of honey with the strong, savory flavors of garlic and soy sauce. It doesn’t take long to create and just needs a few simple things that you probably already have in your kitchen. This honey garlic chicken will definitely strike the spot, whether you want a warm dinner on a weeknight or something to amaze guests. Read on for step-by-step directions, helpful hints, and ideas for how to serve it!

What is chicken with honey and garlic?

Honey Garlic Chicken is a tasty dish that is easy to create. The chicken is cooked in a sauce made with soy sauce, garlic, honey, and other spices. As it cooks, the sauce turns into a sticky, shiny glaze that is both sweet and salty. You can use chicken breasts, thighs, or even wings to make this recipe. It goes nicely with rice, veggies, or noodles. It’s a great choice for a midweek dinner that doesn’t skimp on taste.

To cook this tasty Honey Garlic Chicken, you will need:

4 chicken breasts (or thighs) without bones or skin
¼ cup of honey
¼ cup of soy sauce (low sodium is best)
Five to six cloves of garlic, minced, or two tablespoons of garlic powder
2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon of olive oil (for searing the chicken)
1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger (or ½ teaspoon of ground ginger, optional)
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
Salt and black pepper to taste.
2 teaspoons of cornstarch (optional, to make the sauce thicker)
¼ cup of water (for the cornstarch slurry)
Sesame seeds (for decoration)
Fresh green onions (for decoration)

Changes and substitutions for ingredients

You may simply change this Honey Garlic Chicken recipe to fit your tastes or dietary needs. Here are some possibilities for changes and substitutions:

Chicken: For more taste, you can use chicken thighs or drumsticks with bones and skin. However, they will need to cook for longer. If you want finger food for a party, chicken wings are also a fantastic choice.
Tamari or coconut aminos are gluten-free options for soy sauce.
If you’re looking for a vegan option or just want something sweeter, you can use maple syrup or agave nectar instead of honey.
Garlic: If you don’t have any fresh garlic, garlic powder can do in a pinch. Roasted garlic is another option for a deeper, richer taste.
If you don’t have rice vinegar, you can use apple cider vinegar or lemon juice instead. These will add acidity and balance out the sweetness of the honey.
Add Vegetables: For a one-pan meal, add some broccoli, snap peas, or bell peppers during the last few minutes of cooking.
Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken: To make it spicier, add more red pepper flakes or a dab of sriracha or chili paste.

How to Cook Step by Step

Get the chicken ready by adding salt and pepper on both sides of the breasts or thighs. Put aside.
Sear the chicken: Put a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown. At this time, the chicken doesn’t need to be entirely cooked. Take the chicken out of the skillet once it has been seared and set it aside.
Make the sauce: Add the minced garlic and ginger (if using) to the same skillet and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant. Don’t let the garlic burn. Put the red pepper flakes (if using), soy sauce, vinegar, and honey in the pan. Stir to mix and bring the sauce to a boil.
Put the chicken back in the pan: Put the seared chicken back in the skillet and make sure each piece is covered with the sauce. Cover and simmer on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the chicken is done (the inside should be 165°F or 74°C).
(Optional) produce the sauce thicker: If you want a thicker sauce, add 2 teaspoons of cornstarch with ¼ cup of water to produce a slurry. Add this to the skillet and keep stirring for another 2 to 3 minutes, or until the sauce is as thick as you like it.
Once the chicken is done cooking and the sauce has thickened, take the skillet off the heat and serve. Add sesame seeds and finely sliced green onions on top. Serve hot!

A Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Honey Garlic Chicken

Searing the chicken first gives it a nice golden-brown coating and keeps the liquids inside, which adds taste and texture to the finished dish.
Make the sauce by cooking garlic in the same pan as the oil. This gives the oil a taste. Honey, soy sauce, and vinegar make a sauce that is sweet, salty, and sour all at the same time.
Finish cooking the chicken in the sauce: The honey garlic sauce keeps the chicken moist and lets the meat soak up all the great flavors of the sauce.
If you want a thicker glaze, you can add a cornstarch slurry to the sauce and simmer it for a few minutes until it thickens to the right level.

Things You Shouldn’t Do

Burning the garlic: Garlic cooks quickly and can burn easily, especially when you put it in a hot pan. When you add the garlic, turn down the heat and stir it regularly so it doesn’t burn.
Overcooking the chicken: Chicken that is overcooked can be harsh and dry. To make sure the inside temperature doesn’t go above 165°F (74°C), use a meat thermometer.
If you want a richer sauce, don’t skip the cornstarch slurry. It helps make the glaze that is sticky and shiny that makes this dish so good.

How to Serve and Present

Honey Garlic Chicken is great on its own, but it tastes much better with the correct sides. Here are some suggestions for serving and displaying:

How to Serve Chicken with Honey and Garlic

Over rice: Put the honey garlic chicken on top of steaming white or brown rice so that the sauce may soak in.
With noodles: For a quick and tasty noodle dish, mix the chicken and sauce with cooked noodles like lo mein or spaghetti.
With vegetables that have been roasted: For a nutritious, balanced dinner, serve with steamed or roasted veggies like broccoli, carrots, or green beans.
For a lighter option, slice the chicken and serve it on top of a fresh green salad with a zesty vinaigrette.

Ways to Serve Honey Garlic Chicken

Add sesame seeds on top: For more texture and visual appeal, sprinkle sesame seeds on top.
Add fresh herbs on top: A sprinkling of chopped cilantro or green onions gives the dish a new look and taste.
Family-style: Put the chicken on a big serving dish and pour the extra sauce over the top. For a gorgeous look, top with sesame seeds and green onions.

Tips for Making Honey Garlic Chicken

Prepare it ahead of time: You may make the sauce ahead of time and keep it in the fridge for up to three days. When you’re ready to cook, just fry the chicken and then add the sauce you created ahead of time.
Meal prep: Honey Garlic Chicken is great for making meals ahead of time. Make a big amount, split it up into meal-sized servings with rice and veggies, and keep it in the fridge for up to four days. You may heat it up again in the microwave or on the stove.
Change the sweetness: If you think the sauce is excessively sweet, you can add additional soy sauce or cut back on the honey to make the flavors more even.

Questions That Are Often Asked (FAQs)

Q: Is it okay to use chicken with bones in it for this recipe?: A: Yes! Chicken thighs or drumsticks with bones work great, but you’ll have to cook them for longer. Make sure the temperature inside gets to 165°F (74°C).
Q: Is it okay to use frozen chicken?: A: Yes, but you need to let the chicken thaw all the way before cooking. Cooking frozen chicken straight from the freezer can make it cook unevenly.
Q: Is it possible to do this in the slow cooker?: A: Yes, for sure! Mix the sauce ingredients with the chicken in the slow cooker and cook on low for 4 to 5 hours or on high for 2 to 3 hours. If you need to, add cornstarch to the sauce at the end to make it thicker.
Q: How long will food that is left over last?: A: You may keep leftover Honey Garlic Chicken in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container. You can heat it up in the microwave or on the stove.

Summary and Quick Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken is a sweet and savory dish with soft chicken cooked in a sauce prepared with soy sauce, honey, garlic, and a little ginger. This simple recipe is great for weeknights when you’re busy. It has the ideal mix of sweet and salty ingredients. The chicken is cooked in a skillet until it is golden brown, and then it is covered in a thick, sticky honey garlic glaze. For a full, filling supper, serve it with rice and vegetables.

Things you need

Breasts or thighs of chicken
Honey
Minced garlic
Sauce made from soy
Oil from olives
Ginger (optional)
Cornstarch (optional for making things thicker)
Salt and pepper
Optional: green onions

How to do it

Add salt and pepper to the chicken.
Put olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or until it is browned and cooked through.
Mix the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and ginger together in a small bowl.
Take the chicken out of the pan and add the honey and garlic blend.
After 2 to 3 minutes of simmering, put the chicken back in the pan and cover it with sauce.
Add green onions on top and serve hot.

Notes:
Mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with water and stir it into the sauce to make it thicker. You can alternatively roast the chicken if you don’t want to do anything with it, or use chicken thighs for a juicier result.

Five minutes to get ready
Time to cook: 20 minutes
Main Course
Asian-Inspired Cuisine: Pan-Seared

Food
One chicken thigh is a serving size.
Four hundred calories
20 grams of sugar
Sodium: 800 mg

Final Thoughts

This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe has the right mix of sweet, savory, and garlicky flavors that will make everyone want more. It’s quick, easy, and can be used in a lot of different ways, so it’s great for weekday dinners, meal prep, or even having visitors over. You may make a full and fulfilling dinner by serving it with rice, noodles, or vegetables. This recipe is guaranteed to become a favorite in your kitchen, no matter how long you’ve been cooking. Give it a try today and experience how good it is!