The 12-minute recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken

The 12-minute recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken is quick and easy. It uses juicy chicken breast cutlets and a tasty 5-ingredient honey garlic sauce. This sauce is made with things you probably already have in your kitchen. When you simmer it with seared chicken, it becomes a delicious glaze. It’s a great way to turn a few simple ingredients into a tasty supper on a busy weekday.

Honey Garlic Sauce would definitely be one of my top five most-used sauces. It’s easy to make and tastes great, and it gets golden and sticky as it cooks. This meal gets better when you sear the chicken and then finish it in the skillet until it caramelizes.

This Honey Garlic Chicken is a great choice for a weeknight meal because it just takes 30 minutes to make (including prep) and cooks in one pan. I love simple dishes like this one, as well as my favorites like Honey Lime Shrimp and Creamy Garlic Chicken. This meal will definitely become a regular part of your dinner rotation!

I decided to test the sauce with chicken also because my honey garlic salmon recipe has been so popular. We always have chicken at home because it’s easy to make and the kids love it. This dish reminds me of the honey garlic chicken I used to prepare when I first started cooking. It still tastes great every time!

Chicken Breasts with Honey and Garlic

Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts: Juicy, soft chicken covered in a thick, sticky honey garlic glaze. This quick and easy dinner is plenty of flavor and can be served in less than 30 minutes. Great for making meals ahead of time or as a quick family favorite!

Time to get ready: 15 minutes
Time to cook: 15 minutes

Number of servings: 4

1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts and 2 tablespoons of butter
1/4 cup of all-purpose flour
6 cloves of garlic, cut into thin slices
1/4 cup of soy sauce
1 tablespoon of rice vinegar with spices
1/3 cup of honey and kosher salt to taste
Add freshly cracked black pepper to taste.
For garnish, finely slice green onions.

Getting Ready & Cooking Instructions

Getting ready:

Start by warming up a big pan with a mix of butter and olive oil. This mix not only cooks the chicken all the way through, but it also gives it a deep taste and helps make the outside golden and crispy.

How to Get the Chicken Ready:

Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make thinner pieces that cook quickly and evenly. Add a lot of salt and pepper, then coat with flour. This thin layer makes a great crust and will help the sauce get thicker later.

Cooking the Chicken:

Put the chicken in the hot pan and cook it on each side until it is golden brown and almost done. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside, keeping all the tasty juices in the pan.

How to Make the Sauce:

Put a little more butter in the pan, then add minced garlic and cook it until it smells good. This is where the taste magic starts! Add soy sauce and vinegar to deglaze, then add honey. Let the sauce cook on low heat until it is thick enough to stick to the back of a spoon.

Last Steps:

Put the chicken back in the pan, cover it well with sauce, and heat it through. You’ll have perfectly glazed chicken that will wow at any meal.

Step-by-step:

Get the Cooking Base Ready: In a large frying pan over medium to medium-high heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
Get the chicken ready: Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to get four thinner pieces. Sprinkle kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper on each piece, then coat the chicken equally with all-purpose flour.
Get the chicken ready: Add the floured chicken to the heated pan, cooking for 4-5 minutes per side or until golden brown and almost fully done. Remove the chicken from the pan, retaining any juices.
Make the Sauce: In the same pan, melt the remaining tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic, stirring constantly for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
Deglaze and Finish the Sauce: Pour in the soy sauce and seasoned rice vinegar, scraping out any browned bits from the pan. Stir in the honey, along with a few cracks of black pepper and a touch of salt. Let the sauce simmer on medium-low heat for 4-5 minutes, until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Combine and Warm: Return the chicken and any reserved juices to the pan, letting it boil in the sauce for approximately a minute until fully warmed through.
Serve: Plate the chicken, garnished with thinly sliced green onions for extra freshness and color.

Tips for Best Flavor

Chicken: For the greatest texture, use chicken breasts that are fresh, boneless, and skinless. If they’re a little thicker, cut them horizontally to make sure they cook evenly and faster.
Garlic: Freshly sliced garlic has a stronger taste than garlic that has been minced. Don’t hold back; the garlic is what makes the dish taste sweet and flavorful.
Honey: The quality of the honey can make the sauce sweeter and more complex. A good honey gives a floral richness that goes wonderfully with the soy sauce.
Soy Sauce: Choose a good soy sauce if you want a strong umami flavor. A low-sodium choice is a terrific way to cut back on sodium without losing taste.
Butter and olive oil: Together make the dish taste better and help the chicken brown perfectly for the best finish.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This Honey Garlic Chicken Breast recipe is great since it’s easy to make and tastes great. It only takes 20 minutes and one pan. Here are some reasons why you should try it:

Quick and Easy: It only takes 20 minutes to make, so it’s great for hectic days when you don’t want to give up taste.
Few Ingredients, Lots of Flavor: This recipe has a lot of flavor for having only a few simple ingredients, such chicken, garlic, honey, and soy sauce.
One-Pan Wonder: This is a great recipe for weekday dinners because everything cooks in one pan and is easy to clean up.
You can eat it with rice, noodles, or vegetables for a full dinner that will fill you up.
The sweet-savory sauce is a popular with everyone, so it’s a great choice for families.

Storage and Serving Suggestions

Enjoy your Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts even more later! Here’s how to keep them:

In the fridge: keep it in an airtight container for up to three days. Add a little water to the pan or microwave to keep the food moist while you reheat it.
Freezer: You can freeze portions in freezer bags or containers that are sealed for up to three months. Put it in the fridge overnight to thaw, then heat it up.

Variations and Alternatives

This recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts can be used in many ways. Here are some ideas for how to alter it:

Alternatives to Protein: For a tasty change, use turkey breasts or pork chops instead of chicken.
Plant-Based Options: If you’re vegan, try firm tofu slices or tempeh instead. Just change the cooking time as needed.
Sauce Changes: Use tamari instead of soy sauce if you want a gluten-free option. Add chili flakes or a splash of sriracha if you want it hot.
Honey Swaps: If you want a different sweetness that goes well with garlic and soy, try using maple syrup instead of honey.