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
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adh says
So happy with this recipe! Quick, had everything in the pantry, and everyone loved it. Sauce had great depth despite only a few ingredients. Definitely going in our weekly rotation and replacing other chicken recipes. Once again, many thanks!
Nagi says
Perfect Add!!! N x
Paula says
This was delicious!!! Omg we loved it in our home thank you! Although I used 1 tsp of lemon because I didn’t have vinegar. Just amazing!!!
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Paula!! N x
Stephanie Flood says
Oh have to try this, i’d say it would be a lovely coating for chicken wings…
Nagi says
Yes 100%!! N x
Jeanette says
My daughter and I just made the Honey Garlic Chicken and it was easy! The flavor was great! I doubled the sauce to drizzle over sauteed veggies. Thank you for posting this recipe.
I took pics too. I couldn’t figure out how to post them on here.
Nagi says
I’m so glad it was a hit Jeanette!! N x
Diana Smith says
Your food looks amazing!!!
Nagi says
Thanks so Much Diana! N x
Laura Harrid says
Delicious and so easy! Made this for dinner tonight and loved it. Definitely a keeper.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Laura, that’s great to hear! N x
Miccah says
This was amazing. My picky 2 and 3 year olds rate every bite! Thank you for this delicious and easy dinner!
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Miccah!! N x
Rose says
It was so easy and delicious! Can’t wait to make it again.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you loved it Rose. N x
Wendy says
I can’t eat soy – will it drastically change the recipe to leave it out?
Alison Hammer says
You could perhaps try it with coconut aminos-I buy it at Sprouts. We don’t use soy sauce either.
Nagi says
Hi Wendy, yes the soy is the salty component that balances the flavours here, can you have tamari? N x
ned says
Does this absolutely need flour? I dont have any 🙁
Nagi says
Nope! Just skip it, even just using the sauce is great! 🙂 N x
Fiona says
Loved it. I’m so glad that I found your site. This was the first recipe I tried and it was delicious and so simple. Will recommend to all my friends.
Nagi says
Thanks so much Fiona! N x
Lisa says
The Honey Garlic Chicken breasts were a hit! Amazingly moist and the flavor combo and ingredient proportions were spot-on. Thanks!
Nagi says
That’s great to hear Lisa! N x
Megan says
I’ve made this chicken multiple times for my family, always a hit.
Nagi says
Perfect Megan!! N x
Nathan says
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.
Nagi says
Hi Nathan, you sure can – however, it will cook quicker if diced 🙂 N x
Angela says
Can I make this with chicken legs?
Nagi says
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
Diana says
Can I use the liquid amino acids instead of soy sauce?
Nagi says
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
Lynn says
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 👍
Nagi says
Perfect Lynn!!! N x
Linda Goodman says
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!
Nagi says
I LOVE hearing this Linda, thanks so much! N x
Allegra Waldron says
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!
Joanne says
Wow! So good and easy to make. Thanks so much! You are amazing😁