Honey Garlic Chicken is an epic 12 minute chicken breast recipe with a magic 5 ingredient Honey Garlic Sauce! This is a terrific back pocket quick dinner idea for busy nights that’s made with pantry staples. It’s quite amazing how so few ingredients can transform into such a tasty sauce for chicken!
BONUS: This can be made with any protein – beef, pork, lamb, shrimp/prawns, even tofu!
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
This sauce for chicken breast is a variation of my Honey Garlic Salmon which has been popular with readers for many years.
If I were ever to do a summary of my top 5 Most Used Sauces, Honey Garlic Sauce would probably be right at the top of the list. I love it because it requires so few ingredients that are pantry staples, and when simmered with a seared protein in a skillet so it becomes all bubbly and syrupy…. oh WOW.
It’s just DA BOMB!!! ( <– Who talks like that at my age???! I do. Only in extenuating circumstances. Excitement over crazy delicious secret-weapon sauce falls under this category. 😎)
Terrific quick chicken breast recipe
Though I personally have a preference for chicken thighs over chicken breast (better flavour, juicier!), I find myself putting chicken breast in my shopping trolley week after week.
Thus over the years, I’ve built up a wide variety of quick and easy chicken breast recipes – and this Honey Garlic Chicken is one of my favourite quick dinners that I find myself making over and over again.
What you need
See? I told you that you’d have everything! 😉
How to make Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Split chicken breast in half – so 2 breasts makes 4 pieces;
Dust chicken with flour (gives the chicken a slight crust so the sauce clings to it better!)
Sear chicken, add butter, garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, honey.
Simmer until the sauce thickens. Turn chicken to coat in the amazing honey garlic sauce.
And THAT’S IT!
Want to BBQ it? Use this Grilled Honey Soy Chicken recipe instead.
Notice how the sauce is clinging to the surface? That’s because we dusted the chicken with flour so when it’s pan fried, it creates a crust.
What to serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
There’s enough sauce to drizzle over veggies and soak into rice or whatever you serve it with. The flavour is strong enough such that you don’t need loads – a bit goes a long way!
It’s pictured above with Cauliflower Rice (tossed with a squeeze of lemon, parsley, salt and pepper) with Cucumber Salad on the side.
Even though it’s got soy sauce in the Honey Garlic Sauce, this doesn’t taste specifically Asian-y. But it’s versatile enough that it will go just as well with Fried Rice as it will with a Macaroni Salad or even Mac and Cheese. Yes really! Try it once and you’ll understand (it only takes 12 minutes, you’ve got the time!!) – Nagi x
Honey Garlic Chicken breast recipe
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 500g / 1 lb chicken breast , boneless and skinless (2 pieces)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup flour (Note 1)
- 3 1/2 tbsp (50g) unsalted butter (or 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or white or other clear vinegar)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (Note 2)
- 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Cut the breasts in half horizontally to create 4 steaks in total. Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper.
- Place flour in a shallow dish. Coat chicken in flour and shake off excess.
- Melt most of the butter in a large skillet over high heat – hold back about 1 tsp for later.
- Place chicken in skillet and cook for 2 – 3 minutes until golden. Turn and cook the other side for 1 minute.
- Turn heat down slightly to medium high.
- Make a bit of room in the pan and add garlic and top with remaining dab of butter. Stir garlic briefly once butter melts.
- Add vinegar, soy sauce and honey. Stir / shake pan to combine. Bring sauce to simmer, then simmer for 1 minute or until slightly thickened.
- Turn chicken to coat in sauce. If the sauce gets too thick, add a touch of water and stir.
- Remove from stove immediately. Place chicken on plates and drizzle over remaining sauce.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Honey Garlic Chicken breast recipe originally published February 2018, it has since been improved with new photos and video but no change to recipe (I wouldn’t dare, readers love it as it is!).
More quick and easy chicken breast recipes
Life of Dozer
The fish down at the beach taunt Dozer endlessly, splashing around and leaping out of the water. Sometimes he’ll be in the water swimming non stop chasing fish for an hour! It’s brilliant – no effort required on my part!
The Honey Garlic Chicken breasts were a hit! Amazingly moist and the flavor combo and ingredient proportions were spot-on. Thanks!
That’s great to hear Lisa! N x
I’ve made this chicken multiple times for my family, always a hit.
Perfect Megan!! N x
Hi Nagi, I’m cooking for our family of 6, can I apply the same ingredients and technique using diced chicken breasts as opposed to whole? I tend to find it goes further. Thanks a lot.
Hi Nathan, you sure can – however, it will cook quicker if diced 🙂 N x
Can I make this with chicken legs?
You’d need to bake it 🙂 Mix the sauce together, then toss chicken in it, bake 45 minutes at 180C/350F, basting with pan juices (if pan is drying out, add water – the chicken should leech enough liquid though) N x
Can I use the liquid amino acids instead of soy sauce?
Hi Diana, yes you can – I haven’t tested much with them though so not sure if the amount will be 1 for 1 – N x
Hi Nagi,
I have cooked this twice! Ohhh my family just loved it!! I doubled the mixture to get more glaze as it is delicious!!
Thanks again 👍
Perfect Lynn!!! N x
I made this and I just loved it. You have me hooked on diving further into your collection of recipe. I made the glazed stovetop carrots. Loved those also. Ready to make the Creamy carrot soup. I have your website on my task bar. Thank You!
I LOVE hearing this Linda, thanks so much! N x
We made this with Maple Syrup from our farm instead of Honey… We’re also in the middle of the stay at home order and this recipe was exactly what I needed to fill up my soul today!
Wow! So good and easy to make. Thanks so much! You are amazing😁
It looks delicious, can’t wait to try it. X
I hope you love it Sam!! N x
I can’t wait to try the honey garlic chicken thank you very much!
I hope you love it Lakebia! N x
Easy and Delicious
I’m so glad you love it Pamela!! N x
I’ve made this recently and it got rave reviews from all the family 🙂. Nagi – is it ok to freeze leftovers? I’ve got a larger amount of chicken breasts this time. Many thanks, Jill
Best ever!!! I first did the velveting the chicken then I did this recipe which tasted amazing and was so tender! My whole family love it! The steps were clear and perfect! Ima going to make the beef ramen noodles and fried rice tomorrow!
SO GOOD!!! Thank you for a quick, easy & delicious recipe!!! Best part is that most of the ingredients are pantry staples – i didn’t have to shop for anything but fresh chicken!!
Have tried many Asian inspired recipes but this one tops them all. It was so easy, simple and delicious. Mine turned out perfect, I garnished mine with toasted sesame seeds and chopped scallions.
I keep coming back to this recipe. Thank you! A family favourite.
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Sandra! N x
Can u marinate & bake thèse instead? Tried ure sticky baked chicken thighs and I liked it a lot. I was wondering if u could use the same method with the honey garlic chicken. Or can I grill them in the oven then baste with sauce? I find baking making the chicken turn out moist & tender.
Hi Lilian – you sure can! Enjoy! N x
Just made this for company for dinner tonight. My whole family is dying to try it. It smells Soooo good!
Wahoo, I hope it’s a hit Shoshana! N x
I’d like to make this with boneless, skinless thighs. How long would you cook them? Thanks!
I also want to use thighs but bone-in with skin-on. Bone-in thighs should be cooked in 50-60 minutes. I use a thermometer to be sure they’re cooked.