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!
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!
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 (60g) flour (Note 1)
- 3.5 tbsp (50g) unsalted butter (or 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil)
- 2 garlic cloves , minced
- 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or white or other clear vinegar)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce , light or all purpose (Note 2)
- 1/3 cup (90g) 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. 😎
I’m hoping to try this tonight and need to make it gluten free (GF). I was wondering if using Bob Mills or Namaste GF flours would work better than cornstarch/corn flour? Looks so good and love the comments!!
Hi JM, I haven’t tried those particular type of flours but I’m sure it will work fine 🙂
I made this with the Bob’s Red Mill cup for cup GF flour. It was fantastic!! Really wonderful recipe. Definitely going to start following your recipes!!
Made this exactly the same, except with thinly sliced tofu. So delicious!
Yum! Sounds great Amy! N x
Thanks for a quick meal that my picky teenager loved!
Had it, again, for dinner the other night with greens and rice. So utterly divine. Good with either chicken thighs or breast.
I’m so happy you enjoyed it Pia!
Yummy and delicious dish.Thanks for sharing.I tried and it came fabulous.
Awesome Cocoa – that’s great to hear!! N x
Stunningly good and quick and easy. I served it with smashed potatoes and beans from your Fish Piccata recipe. Thank you, Nagi!
Perfect Kathleen!!
Nagi, this was awesome just tried it tonight. The sauce was unbelievable.
And so easy Kevin! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Honestly, I was drooling while going through the recipe. It looks like a perfect winter evening dinner recipe. I am going to make it tonight.
Enjoy Stephanie, don’t forget to let me know what you think!! N x
Nagi, I have no words. Hubby declared that this was the juiciest, yummiest chicken breast he’s ever had! Thank you for another fantastic recipe!!
🙌 nailed it Tatiana!! N x
This sauce is delicious!! I am so happy I made this. I am not much of a meat eater but my family loves chicken. This solves meal boredom! So so good! I used chicken thighs because that is what I had. Yum!!
Do you have to use soy sauce in this recipe? What does the vinegar do? I love vinegar but not to sure about it on chicken. This is for your recipe honey garlic chicken
Hi Patricia, the soy and vinegar balance the sweetness here – you can’t leave them out or you’d have a totally different recipe 🙂
Hi Nagi, we tried this last week and it’s very good and so easy to make. We’re making it again tonight … thanks roy
I’m so glad you love it Roy!!
Is this considered to be healthy? Or is it on the not so healthy side?
Hi Rae, I list all the nutritional info down the bosom of my recipes 🙂
Bottom? 😉🤣🤣
Oh my… BEST autocorrect!!
Drooling over these Nagi! Pinned for later as they look delicious!
They ARE delicious!!! You’ll love them! N x
10/10
Made this tonight, and it was so delicious!! Everyone loved it! We had it with sweet pepper rice pilaf, and steamed carrots!!
Looking forward to the orange chicken recipe you are coming up with!!
YUM! Sounds fabulous Jessica!
Hi thanks for amazing recipes I’ve just cooked garlic honey chicken followed your recipe but when served up the sauce had hardly any taste.pls help
I made this for Oscar night except I used tenders. Delicious! Last night I made your Salisbury Steak. I had to split portions because of mushroom haters. I added sherry and it was delicious! I also made your cream of chicken soup and never said a word about the zucchini. It is a great soup recipe. I’ve really changed things up since finding your blog. Thank you oh so very much.
Perfect Mel!!!
Fantastically easy and versatile dish – on the table with accompaniments within 30mins from walking in the door! Loved this dish.
🙌 And we all love a fuss free meal!
Actually, this post was supposed to be on Chinese beef bowls! How did I manage to get it on the wrong recipe? 😀 This one is on the list to make soon though!
I can’t believe I haven’t made this earlier. I’ve been making the butter thighs and herb and garlic roast for a year and got comfortable. This will also, now, be in my current rotation. Thank you!
Easy peasy Nadia!!
This was amazing and easy to make too! I’m new to your website and I’ve successfully made two recipes following your instructions. Thank you recipetineats!