My Honey Lemon Chicken is perfect for weeknights! Chicken breast lightly coated in seasoned flour, pan fried until golden and served with a gorgeous honey lemon sauce. At just 320 calories a serve – with plenty of sauce – and on the table in 15 minutes, this is a fantastic back pocket recipe for busy days!
This rarely happens, and it usually only lasts 24 hours, but I can officially say: I’m cooked out. Between cooking for Easter both in real life and for RecipeTin Eats and client work, the amount of food that has come out of my pokey little kitchen over the past couple of weeks is extraordinary.
My freezer is jam packed, the homeless guy is getting 2 meals almost every day, and every friend I see gets sent home with food.
So today, it’s fitting that I share something super fast to make but, as always (!!), super tasty – this Chicken with Honey Lemon Sauce.
I start off by dusting the chicken with lightly seasoned flour which serves two purposes: 1) so the chicken forms a lovely golden brown crust; and 2) it helps thicken the sauce (via brown bits stuck on the pan mixed into the sauce and popping the chicken back into the sauce at the end).
The key to this recipe is the golden brown bits left in the pan from cooking the chicken. It’s gold and it should never be wasted. Whether you’re cooking fish or protein, swish a little liquid of some sort (broth/stock, wine, lemon juice, even water), bring it to a simmer to loosen the brown bits and use a spatular to scrape it off the bottom of the pan and into the liquid.
It’s free flavour and it’s the key to making this simple Honey Lemon Sauce so tasty even though there are so few ingredients in it.
This Honey Lemon Chicken is actually a really healthy meal too, at just 320 calories per serving. Serve it with a simple side salad and a couple of slices of bread to mop up the sauce, and you’ll have a complete meal for less than 500 calories.
Something to mop up the honey lemon sauce is key! It’s rude to lick the plate (in front of others, home alone is perfectly acceptable). So make sure you have some bread to wipe your plate clean!! – Nagi x
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Honey Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb / 500g chicken breast (2 pieces)
- Salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup / 35 g flour (any)
Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 cup / 185 ml chicken broth / stock
- 1/4 cup / 85g honey
- 1/4 cup / 60 ml lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp water
To serve (optional)
- Lemon slices
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Slice each chicken breast horizontally to form 4 steaks in total. OPTIONAL (for more even cooking): Pound to even thickness about 1cm/ 2/5" thick.
- Sprinkle each side generously with salt and pepper.
- Place flour in shallow dish. Coat the chicken in the flour, shaking off excess.
- Mix 1 tsp of the flour (reserved from step 3) with the water. Set aside.
Cooking
- Place butter and oil in a skillet over medium high heat until butter is melted and hot. Add chicken and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Turn and cook the other side until golden brown, then transfer onto a plate to rest.
- Add garlic into the skillet and stir for 20 seconds or until golden. Add chicken broth / stock and bring to simmer. Use a spatula to scrape the brown bits from the bottom of the pan into the liquid.
- Add honey, lemon juice, soy sauce and flour/water mixture (from step 4) into the skillet. Mix and bring to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until thickened into a syrup. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- To serve, pour Sauce over the chicken and garnish with parsley and lemon slices if using. Alternatively, return the chicken to the pan for 30 seconds (to reheat), turning to coat in the sauce.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Honey Lemon Chicken recipe video! Note: The recipe is missing the soy sauce which is in the ingredients, returned to the recipe by popular demand by readers who loved the original recipe!
Diane Fabry says
You need a TV show!!
Nagi says
I think we should get Dozer on TV! N x
Illena says
Love your recipes. Nice to have new easy things to cook!
Nagi says
Thanks so much Illena!
Marianne says
Another winner from you! Thanks for always getting it right – love your honesty too. Your videos are easy to follow and the dog, oh the dog, what a gorgeous addition to your website. Keep the recipes coming, this one will be a staple for years to come in our household! Yum!
Nagi says
That’s lovely to hear Marianne, thanks so much 😘
Lisa says
the honey lemon chicken was scrumptious! Can you suggest how I can make this for a holiday buffet? can any of if be done earlier ? can it be reheated? i will be making 4x the recipe to feed a crowd
thanks -a big fan in NJ/USA
Nagi says
Hi Lisa, I would just cook and use a keep warm function in a slow cooker 🙂
Becky says
Just finished eating this….was absolutely delicious ! Can’t wait to make it again for dinner party night
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Becky!
Zara says
Hi Nagi! I love the way this looks and I’m trying to make this tonight, excuse my super beginniner question but what type of butter do I use?
Nagi says
Hi Zara, just unsalted butter – N x
Evelyn says
Just made this, so yummy
Thank you Nagi for your delicious recipes everything I have tried of yours has been winners.
Nagi says
Wahooo! That’s so great to hear Evelyn – N ❤️
Anniina says
Hey Nagi, wanted to let you know my family loved this recipe. Made it today for dinner and my husband first eyed it suspiciously but wound up clearing his plate very fast. And our 5-year-old informed me it was the best thing she has ever tried.
I really appreciate your blog and your recipes, everything I have tried so far has been simple to make and a family favorite.
Michelle says
Hi Nagi, I can’t believe how easy and unbelievably good this recipe was. OMG it was amazing. It took next to no time and was as good as any restaurant would serve. Delicious no wonder you are my go to for recipes! Love it keep up the fantastic work.
Nagi says
Wahoo! Thanks so much Michelle!
Sharon says
Another fantastic recipe now added to our “favourites list”. Hubby thought it was delicious. Thanks Nagi once again for a great recipe. x
Nagi says
You’re so welcome Sharon!
Sheila says
I made this tonight but had to make a substitution as I discovered my lemons disappeared. It is equally yummy switching limes for lemons, yummy!
Nagi says
Perfect Sheila!!
Sheila says
My son thinks I should make the revised lime sauce for everything he eats. A real lime lover
Lauren says
This was delicious and will definitely become a regular meal in our house. I served it on a bed of mashed potato with some steamed veg.
Nagi says
Sounds perfect Lauren!
Rachel says
How do you do it? So delicious so easy and so quick. Served with broccoli, coles roast veg tray and bread rolls. Mmmmm
Nagi says
Perfect Rachel!
Kathie says
Thank you for this recipe! My whole family really enjoyed it! I added it to my “Definitely Make Again” board!!
Nagi says
Wahoo, great news Kathie!
Marichu harvey says
What do you serve with this dish??
Anne mitchell says
Going to make that, it looks delicious…thank you.
Nagi says
I hope you love it!!
Dottie Seubert says
This sounds yummy and I will be trying it very soon. I can’t print from my phone only my computer in my email.
Nagi says
I hope you love it Dottie ❤️
susan johnson says
found this on Facebook. I just made this and i mixed up 2 different recipes i was looking at because i used egg and lemon juice to dredge the chicken in before the flour but it was great!! really good flavor and put it over rice and with Broccoli.TRYING to find better things to do with chicken than just stick in a frying pan and cook THANK YOU!!
Nagi says
I’m so glad it worked for you Susan!
Judi Elkin says
Made this tonight and my family loved it!!! Will definitely make it again.
Nagi says
Winner winner chicken dinner!
Julie Watkins says
I made this tonight for dinner. Tasty, Flavorful. Simple. Versatile. I loved it & so did my neighbor kids who I let try it! I got 5 stars!! Haha! Excellent recipe! We will have it again. Thanks!
Nagi says
Great to hear Julie!
Maria says
Another quick and easy recipe Nagi! I doubled the recipe but for some reason when I doubled the sauce I had trouble getting it to thicken with the flour/water mixture. I just added more flour/water mixture and let it cook a bit longer so it thickened, then I returned the chicken to the pan to reheat it and it was perfect.
Nagi says
Hi Maria, If you doubled the sauce it would take longer to thicken. I’m so glad you enjoyed it anyway!