Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts
This 12-minute recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken is quick and easy. It has juicy chicken breast cutlets in 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 items into a tasty meal that you can make on busy weeknights.
Honey Garlic Sauce would definitely be one of my top five most-used sauces. It’s easy to make yet hard to resist, and it gets golden and sticky as it cooks. This dish is even better when you sear the chicken and then finish it in the skillet until it caramelizes.
This Honey Garlic Chicken is a great evening 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 recipe will definitely become a regular part of your dinners!
I decided to try the sauce on chicken also because my honey garlic salmon recipe has been so popular. We eat chicken a lot since it’s easy to make and the kids love it. This dish reminds me of the honey garlic chicken I used to make when I first started cooking, and it still tastes great every time!
This Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts Will Make You Happy
This Honey Garlic Chicken Breast recipe is great since it’s easy to make and tastes amazing. It only takes 20 minutes and one pan. Here’s why you should try it:
- Quick and Easy: It’s ready in about 20 minutes, so it’s great for busy days when you don’t want to give up taste.
- Few ingredients, big flavor: Just a few simple ingredients—chicken, garlic, honey, and soy sauce—make a dish that tastes much better than you would think.
- One-Pan Wonder: Everything cooks in one pan, so it’s easy to clean up. This is great for midweek dinners.
- Many Ways to Pair: You may eat it with rice, noodles, or vegetables for a full meal that will fill you up.
- The sweet-savory sauce is a success with everyone, so it’s great for families.
Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts: What You Need
When creating Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts, here’s how to get the maximum flavor out of each ingredient:
- For the greatest texture, use chicken breasts that are fresh, boneless, and skinless. If they are on the thicker side, cut them horizontally to make sure they cook evenly and faster.
- Garlic: Slicing fresh garlic gives it a stronger taste than mincing it ahead of time. Don’t be shy; 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 lends a floral depth that goes wonderfully with the soy sauce.
- To get a strong umami flavor, use a good soy sauce. A low-sodium alternative is a terrific way to cut down on sodium without losing flavor.
- Using both butter and olive oil makes the dish richer and helps the chicken brown perfectly for the perfect finish.
How to Make These Chicken Breasts with Honey and Garlic
Getting Ready:
First, heat 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 rich flavor 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 faster and more 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.
How to Cook the Chicken:
Put the chicken in the hot pan and cook each side until it is golden brown and almost done. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside, keeping all of the tasty juices.
How to Make the Sauce:
Put a little more butter in the pan, then add minced garlic and simmer until it smells good. This is where the taste magic starts! Add soy sauce and vinegar to deglaze, then honey. Let the sauce cook until it gets thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Final Touches:
Put the chicken back in the pan, cover it well with the sauce, and heat it thoroughly. You’ll have beautifully glazed chicken that will impress at any meal.
Chicken Breasts with Honey and Garlic
Juicy, juicy chicken breasts covered in a thick, sticky honey garlic glaze! This tasty evening dinner is quick and easy to make, and it only takes 30 minutes. Great for making meals ahead of time or a quick family supper!
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
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 1/4 cup of flour for all purposes
- 6 cloves of garlic, cut into thin slices
- Soy sauce, 1/4 cup
- 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar with spices
- 1/3 cup honey
- kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Thinly sliced green onions to use as a garnish
- Set up the cooking base: 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.
- Make the Chicken: Put the floured chicken in the hot pan and cook it for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until it is golden brown and almost done. Take the chicken out of the pan, but save the juices.
- Make the sauce: In the same pan, melt the last tablespoon of butter over medium-low heat. Add the sliced garlic and whisk it continually for 30 to 60 seconds, or until it smells good but doesn’t brown.
- Pour in the soy sauce and seasoned rice vinegar to deglaze the pan. Scrape away any brown bits that are stuck to the bottom. Add the honey, a couple cracks of black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Let the sauce cook on medium-low heat for 4–5 minutes, or until it thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Combine and Warm: Put the chicken and any fluids you saved back in the pan and let it simmer in the sauce for about a minute, or until it is fully warmed through.
- Serve: Put the chicken on a plate and top it with thinly sliced green onions to provide color and freshness.
Choices for storage
Enjoy your Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts even more later! Here’s how to keep them:
- Refrigerator: Store in a container that doesn’t let air in for up to three days. Gently reheat in a pan or microwave, adding a little water to keep it moist.
- Freezer: You can freeze portions in sealed containers or freezer bags for up to three months. Before reheating, let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
Changes and replacements
You can use this recipe for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts in so many ways. Here are a few ideas to mix things up:
- Protein Alternatives: For a tasty change, use turkey breasts instead of chicken or pork chops instead of chicken.
- Plant-Based Options: For a vegan equivalent, try firm tofu slices or tempeh. Just change the cooking time as needed.
- Changes to the Sauce: If you want to avoid gluten, use tamari instead of soy sauce. Add chili flakes or a splash of sriracha if you like things spicy.
- Honey Swaps: Instead of honey, use maple syrup for a new kind of sweetness that goes well with soy and garlic.