Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts Recipe That Sizzles With Flavor

Cooking a delectable honey garlic chicken breasts dish might spark excitement in your kitchen tonight.

Succulent flavors merge perfectly in this simple yet impressive meal.

Aromatic garlic and sweet honey create a magical combination that transforms ordinary chicken into something extraordinary.

Home chefs appreciate how quickly this recipe comes together with minimal ingredients.

Each bite promises a delightful balance of savory and sweet notes that dance across your palate.

Professional and amateur cooks alike will find this recipe approachable and satisfying.

Make this chicken tonight and watch everyone at the table ask for seconds.

Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts Highlights

• Craft a Quick Weeknight Dinner: Prepare a restaurant-quality meal in under 30 minutes with minimal ingredients and straightforward cooking techniques that make busy evenings stress-free.
• Transform Simple Ingredients into Flavor Magic: Combine pantry staples like honey, soy sauce, and garlic to create a mouthwatering sauce that elevates basic chicken breasts into a delectable, restaurant-worthy dish.
• Master Restaurant-Style Cooking at Home: Learn professional techniques like dredging chicken, creating pan sauces, and achieving a perfect golden-brown crust that impresses family and guests without requiring advanced culinary skills.
• Customize for Dietary Preferences: Easily adapt the recipe by using gluten-free flour, low-sodium soy sauce, or swapping chicken for tofu to accommodate different nutritional needs and taste preferences.

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that serves as the primary component of the dish and provides a tender, juicy base for the honey garlic sauce.

• Olive Oil, Butter: Fats that help create a golden brown crust on the chicken and provide rich, smooth flavor to the dish.

• Kosher Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the natural flavor of the chicken and provide a balanced taste profile.

• All-Purpose Flour: Helps create a crispy exterior on the chicken and assists in developing a golden brown crust during cooking.

• Soy Sauce, Honey, Seasoned Rice Vinegar: Combine to create a sweet, tangy, and savory sauce that coats the chicken with complex flavor layers.

• Garlic, Green Onions: Garlic adds depth and fragrance to the sauce, while green onions provide a fresh, crisp garnish with a mild onion flavor.

• Salt, Black Pepper: Fine-tuned seasonings that balance and enhance the overall taste of the sauce and chicken.

Step-by-Step Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

Step 1: Prepare the Cooking Surface

Heat up a large skillet with olive oil and butter over medium-high heat. The pan should be hot and ready to create a delicious golden crust on the chicken.

Step 2: Transform the Chicken

• Chicken breasts
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• All-purpose flour

Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create thinner pieces. Generously season each piece with salt and pepper.

Coat each chicken piece completely in flour, shaking off any excess for a perfect crispy exterior.

Step 3: Create Golden Perfection

Carefully place floured chicken into the hot pan.

Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms and chicken is nearly cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate, keeping those delicious cooking juices.

Step 4: Build the Magical Sauce

Reduce heat to medium-low and add butter to the same pan. Toss in minced garlic and stir quickly.

Watch the garlic become fragrant but be careful not to let it burn.

Step 5: Develop Rich Sauce Flavors

• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Black pepper
• Salt

Pour soy sauce and rice vinegar into the pan, scraping up all the tasty browned bits.

Add honey, a sprinkle of black pepper, and a tiny pinch of salt. Let the sauce simmer and thicken for 4-5 minutes until it looks glossy and coats the back of a spoon.

Step 6: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Return chicken to the pan, including any collected juices. Gently coat each piece in the mouthwatering sauce, warming everything through for about a minute.

Step 7: Serve with Flair

Plate the chicken and drizzle with remaining sauce. Sprinkle fresh green onions on top for a burst of color and a crisp flavor kick.

Tips for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

• Slice chicken breasts evenly to ensure consistent cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
• Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165°F for food safety without overcooking.
• Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help flour adhere better and create a crispier golden-brown exterior.
• Adjust honey quantity based on desired sweetness level, keeping sauce balanced with soy sauce and vinegar.
• For gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with cornstarch or almond flour to maintain crispy coating.

Variations of Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

• Gluten-Free Honey Garlic Chicken: Replace all-purpose flour with cornstarch or almond flour for a gluten-free coating. Ensure soy sauce is gluten-free or substitute with tamari sauce.
• Low-Sodium Chicken Option: Use reduced-sodium soy sauce and skip added salt. Replace rice vinegar with apple cider vinegar for a milder flavor profile.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Substitute butter with coconut oil or olive oil. Use plant-based butter alternative for cooking and sauce preparation.
• Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the honey mixture. Incorporate a dash of cayenne pepper for extra heat and complexity.

Pairing Ideas for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

• Select a crisp Riesling or Pinot Grigio to complement the sweet and savory honey garlic chicken, cutting through the richness while enhancing the dish's delicate flavors.
• Prepare steamed jasmine rice or roasted sweet potato wedges to soak up the delectable sauce, creating a perfect balance of textures and absorbing the honey garlic's complex flavors.
• Roast asparagus spears or sauté green beans with garlic and almond slivers to provide a fresh, crunchy contrast to the tender chicken and add nutritional depth to the meal.

Storage Advice for Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

• Store leftover honey garlic chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days, keeping the chicken and sauce together to maintain moisture and flavor.
• Wrap individual chicken pieces in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2-3 months, ensuring the sauce is also included to prevent freezer burn.
• Place chicken in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on 50% power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through to 165°F.

FAQs

• Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, chicken thighs work perfectly. They’re typically more tender and flavorful, and will absorb the honey garlic sauce beautifully. Just adjust cooking time slightly since thighs might take a bit longer to cook through.

• Do I need to pound the chicken before cooking?

No need to pound the chicken. Slicing the breast lengthwise creates thinner pieces that cook evenly and quickly. This method ensures a golden crust and prevents drying out the meat.

• What type of vinegar works best in this recipe?

Rice vinegar is recommended for its mild, slightly sweet flavor that complements the honey and soy sauce. If unavailable, you can substitute with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, though the taste profile will slightly change.

Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts Recipe

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4.7 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent honey garlic chicken breasts promise a delightful flavor journey through sweet and savory notes. Home cooks will savor this simple yet elegant dish that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.

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Ingredients

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• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 6 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
• 2 tbsps butter (divided)
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
• Kosher salt (to taste)
• Freshly cracked black pepper (to taste)
• Green onions (thinly sliced, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Prepare a large frying pan by heating olive oil and butter over medium-high heat until the mixture is shimmering and fragrant.
2. Slice chicken breasts horizontally to create four thinner pieces. Season each piece generously with kosher salt and black pepper, then thoroughly coat with all-purpose flour.
3. Carefully place floured chicken into the hot pan, cooking for 4-5 minutes per side until a golden-brown crust forms and chicken is nearly cooked through. Transfer chicken to a separate plate, preserving any released juices.
4. Reduce pan heat to medium-low. Add remaining butter and allow it to foam, then introduce thinly sliced garlic. Stir quickly for 30-60 seconds until aromatic, being careful not to brown the garlic.
5. Deglaze the pan by pouring in soy sauce and rice vinegar, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Incorporate honey, a dash of black pepper, and a pinch of salt. Simmer sauce for 4-5 minutes until it reaches a thick, glossy consistency.
6. Return chicken to the pan along with accumulated juices, letting it warm through and absorb the sauce for an additional minute.
7. Plate the chicken and drizzle with remaining sauce, garnishing with fresh green onions for a vibrant finish and added flavor complexity.

Notes

• Slice chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and prevent dry or undercooked sections.
• Pat chicken dry before seasoning to help flour adhere better and create a crispier golden-brown exterior.
• Use a meat thermometer to check internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F for food safety without overcooking.
• Choose low-sodium soy sauce to control salt content and prevent the dish from becoming too salty.
• For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with almond flour or cornstarch during coating.
• Quickly caramelize garlic to prevent burning, which can create a bitter taste in the sauce.
• Adjust honey quantity based on preferred sweetness level and balance with vinegar’s tanginess.
• Let chicken rest briefly after cooking to retain moisture and distribute internal juices evenly.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 397 kcal
• Sugar: 14 g
• Sodium: 845 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 34 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg