Description

A quick and easy Honey Garlic Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken glazed in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights, this flavorful dish combines natural honey sweetness with aromatic garlic and a hint of tang from vinegar, creating a versatile family-friendly meal that pairs well with rice, vegetables, or noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1.5 lbs boneless chicken thighs or breasts (choose thighs for juicier meat or breasts for leaner option)

Sauce

1/4 cup honey
4 garlic cloves, freshly minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar

Cooking

2 tablespoons olive oil or sesame oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

Garnishes (Optional)

Chopped green onions
Roasted sesame seeds

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken and pat the pieces dry thoroughly. This helps the chicken brown nicely when cooked and achieve a crispy outer texture.
Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, combine honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, and vinegar. Stir until the honey dissolves completely, producing a smooth and flavorful sauce ready to coat the chicken.
Sear the Chicken: Heat olive or sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and sear each side until golden brown—about 3-4 minutes per side for breasts, slightly less for thighs.
Add the Sauce and Simmer: Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken in the skillet. Reduce heat to low and simmer, turning occasionally, until the sauce thickens and glazes the chicken well, about 6-8 minutes. Simmer gently to avoid burning the honey.
Finish and Garnish: Once the sauce becomes silky and coats the chicken thoroughly, remove the skillet from heat. Garnish with freshly chopped green onions or sesame seeds for added flavor and visual appeal.

Notes

Use chicken pieces of similar size for even cooking.
Dry chicken thoroughly before searing to get a crispy outer texture.
Simmer the sauce gently to avoid burning the honey.
Use freshly minced garlic for maximum aroma and flavor.
Adjust sweetness or acidity by adding more honey or vinegar to taste.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Pan-Searing and Simmering
Cuisine: Asian-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (about 4 oz chicken)
Calories: 320
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 700mg
Fat: 14g
Saturated Fat: 2.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 11.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 18g
Fiber: 0.5g
Protein: 30g
Cholesterol: 85mg

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, quick chicken recipe, easy weeknight dinner, savory sweet chicken, gluten-free chicken recipe, family-friendly chicken dish