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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Aaron Robison says
Just made this tonight and it was awesome! My son finished his plate and my wife said this was one of her favorite dishes. Such an easy and delicious recipe.
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great Aaron!
Brewill13 says
I love this. I added a little cornstarch to thicken this up.
Nagi says
I’m so happy you loved it!
Stefanie Orender says
This dish is absolutely amazing, even my kids want seconds. We make this multiple times a month. Thank you so much!!!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Stefanie!!
Melissa Pulver says
I’m a total food snob and look at alot of recipes online, cook them and then wonder what someone was thinking.
THIS. WAS. DELICIOUS. Printed out copies for my kids and sent them in the mail so they could add to their cookbooks.
Thank you for making our meal delicious!
clara says
hi, is the soy sauce salty or sweet?
Baby says
Husbae enjoyed this recipe it was fabulous. Thank u Nagi can’t wait to try more of ur recipes
Nagi says
Thanks so much Baby!
Lesley says
I made this tonight for dinner. It was quick and easy and absolutely delicious!! I will make this again. The chicken was tender and the sauce was perfect!
Nagi says
That’s so great to hear Lesley!
Andrea says
SO DELICIOUS! Super quick and easy and was a huge hit with the family! Love your recipes Nagi xx
Molly Quinlan says
I’ve never made a comment on a recipe before, but I’ve never made something like THIS!! As a college student I don’t have much time or cooking expertise, but this was one of the quickest, easiest, and most importantly TASTIEST recipes I’ve ever made!! I’ve sent it to a few of my friends and am saving this for later.
Nagi says
Wahoo thanks for the feedback Molly!
Christina says
Delicious! Saving this in my bookmarks so I can make it again.
Ellen says
Need to make a larger quantity for a holiday meal. Can it be baked in the oven instead of stovetop?
Milly Foushee says
Awesome!! Love the sauce!! A new and easy favorite!!
Nagi says
Woot!!
Michele Bates says
Delicious!! My 9 year old Daughter said it was the best chicken I’ve ever made-thanks for the great quick recipe and the GF tip!
Nagi says
That’s awesome Michelle!
Tina says
Good stuff….thank you!
SandraM says
So frickin’ good!! And easy!! And this will be made again…oh yes. 😍
Nagi says
Woooooot!
Anna says
I don’t happen to have apple cider vinegar but was wondering if rice vinegar would taste good as well or if it would be overwhelming with the soy sauce.
Nagi says
Hi Anna, rice vinegar will work fine ☺️
Lori says
This was as simple and delicious as you said! It’s hard to get my family of five on the same page dinner-wise, but we all loved it!
Nagi says
Winning! That’s so good to hear Lori – N x
Claudette Ellis says
Great recipe
Nagi says
Thanks Claudette!
Wendy says
Have made this multiple times – family favourite! Thank you so much for sharing.
Nagi says
I’m so glad you love it Wendy!
LIL says
I WOULD LIKE TO SAVE THIS IN PINTEREST HOW DO I SAVE THIS
Nagi says
I’m just having a few issues with my social media buttons – will have it fixed soon!
Peter says
Another great recipe, I did an egg wash and it helped with more breading. Will definitely make this again.