Honey Garlic Chicken
Tender chicken browned to perfection, kissed with garlicky sweetness and soy-savory magic—this honey garlic chicken is a weeknight classic featuring juicy chicken, a sticky, glossy glaze, and deeply satisfying flavor with just a handful of basic pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 1.5-2 lbs (700-900 g) boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into pieces or left whole, as preferred
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder optional
- 1/3 cup (40 g) all-purpose flour or cornstarch for dredging
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
For the Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/3 cup (110 g) honey
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) chicken stock
- 3 tbsp (45 ml) soy sauce regular or low sodium
- 1.5 tbsp (22 ml) rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter
Optional Garnishes
- sliced green onions
- toasted sesame seeds
- red pepper flakes optional, for heat
Equipment
- Large skillet
- Measuring cup
- Mixing bowl
- Tongs or spatula
Instructions
- Season and dredge the chicken: Pat chicken pieces dry. Season both sides with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using. Lightly dredge in flour or cornstarch, shaking off excess.
- Whisk the sauce: In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together honey, chicken stock, soy sauce, vinegar, and minced garlic. Set aside.
- Sear the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add chicken and cook 4–5 minutes per side, until golden brown and mostly cooked through.
- Pour in the sauce & reduce: Lower heat to medium-low. Pour in the prepared sauce and add butter. Let sauce bubble gently, flipping chicken once or twice, until thickened and glossy, about 3–5 minutes. Chicken should reach 165°F internally.
- Garnish & serve: Spoon extra sauce over the chicken, top with green onions, sesame seeds, and/or red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy hot!
Notes
Swap flour for cornstarch to keep this gluten-free. Chicken thighs stay extra juicy. Leftovers reheat beautifully—just add a splash of water or stock when reheating. Try adding ginger or a splash of hoisin for fun variations.
Nutrition
Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 895mg | Potassium: 480mg | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 210IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 1.2mg