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!
So easy. & delicious,
Thanks Barbara!
Quick and easy! Packed with great flavor. I’m also thankful you included the nutritional info!
I’m so happy you loved it Victoria! N x
Super quick and delicious. I love that the ingredients are simple staples. I used corn starch for the gluten free option. Thank you for making such a short clear video! 🙂
You’re welcome! Thanks for the feedback!
Wow, this looks so good and inviting. Thanks for this!
You’re so welcome!
Soooo good! When I don’t have a meal plan together I know I can count on Nagi to give me a quick and easy recipe to jazz up a weeknight dinner! Served with a wild rice blend and broccoli and the whole family gobbled it up 😉
The dish came out good and had my house smelling so good , my husband asked what was I making for dinner. I did tweak it some by adding a bit of seasoning to the chicken, I added black pepper, garlic powder, some adobo ( I’m latina, lol ) . I also added extra garlic and butter to the pan while cooking and by accident a splash more of the vinegar. Lol.. I served it with rice and beans mixed and drizzled some of that sauce over the chicken and rice then served it to my husband , he kept saying how good it was and how fast I made this dinner.. Winner winner chicken dinner!! Thanks for the recipe, will definitely make this again.. 5 stars!!!
First time seeing the honey garlic chicken by looking it’s looking awesome. definitely, I will try this.
I hope you try it and love it!
Love the look of the new website, the pics are fabulous, just dont want to lose the personal touch and make it look like to many others out there, we love your site as it is so personal to you and of course your recipes are easy and scrumptious.
merry Xmas all!! 🙂
Thanks so much Christine!
This Honey Garlic Chicken was fabulous!! Very easy. I’m definitely adding it to my rotation.
Awesome Nancy!
Congratulations on the new website, looks Amazing. nice big photos and easy to follow instructions. 4 nights out of 7, every week i use your recipes. my absolute go to, when i think “whats for dinner” xx
Thanks so much Nicola, so glad you love it!
I love these easy and delicious recipes. Can’t wait to make the antipasto cheese log.
I’m so glad you love them MaryAnn! I know you’ll love the cheese log too! ☺️
I love the new website. Pictures are larger, beautiful, and although I haven’t tried any of your recipes, yet, they look inviting and easy to follow.
haven’t tried this one yet but i’am sure it will be just as good as the ones i have tried.
I hope you love it William!!
love the new site. pictures look bigger but finding a dish to make much easier. Way to go Nagi. Next up is finding a grocery store in Sarasota Florida with the ingredients
Im so glad it’s easier! Thanks Mike!
Big hit with my kids b/c of bold flavors. Cooked almost exactly as presented but finished in oven.
Great Jonathan – kids are the hardest people to please as well! 🙌
Hi! Would love to do this with bone in chicken ???
Husband and I loved it! Served with mashed potato and shredded green cabbage. Ever since we been to Japan we just love shredded cabbage as a side dish!
I’m so glad you both loved it Chantelle!
Hi Nagi. I was wondering if you had any good recipes for a standing rib roast? Finally got tired of making turkey for thanksgiving.
I love your recipes and print out many of them.
Best to you
Lynne Fredericks
Hi Lynne! unfortunately I haven’t published it yet, I’ve actually ordered one to shoot on Tuesday and had planned to publish it next Friday 🙂 N x
Nagi….once again, you have ‘aced’ it. Deelicious meal…hubby enjoyed it tremendously (I didn’t make enough though) as did I.
Thank you again for another meal that we will be able to serve guests…….quick and scrumptious – 5/5 indeed.
Northern Ontario the great country of Canada
So pleased you enjoyed this Gail! Thanks for letting me know! N x
Hi Ms. Nagi
Thanks for sharing your recipe. My kids love it.next time I try pineapple instead of vinegar..hope it will more delicious..
Hi Karen! I find the vinegar balances out the sweetness 🙂 But love to know if pineapple works for you! N x
Hi, have loved every recipe I ‘ve tried. Can the honey garlic chicken be frozen. Could you add to your notes if a recipe is ok to freeze and whether I completely cook or just prepare it. Thanks Cheryl