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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Sandy says
Just made this for a quick dinner tonight…doubled the ingredients to get 6 servings (my son and his friend eats a lot!!). This was super easy, quick, and had all the ingredients in my pantry!! Very, very tasty sauce!! Thank you so much for all your delicious recipes. I think next time I’ll also add some fresh grated ginger to this. My family loves ginger and garlic.
Nagi says
So great to hear this was enjoyed so much!!! N x
Jeannie says
Can I use pork shoulder, instead of chicken breast, for this recipe? Thank you.
Nagi says
Not for this Jeannie because shoulder needs to be slow cooked. But you can definitely make this with chops! N x
Jeannie says
Thank you, dear Nagi, for your quick response!😘
rachel says
Can I use gluten free flour for this? Will it still stick to the chicken?
Jemayma says
Oh it stated on the Notes. Please read..
Jemayma says
I think,you can use corn flour for gluten free version. That is what i do when i cook for my MIL which has strict no gluten diet.
Helen orientale says
I made this the other night it was a hit in my house.
Debbie says
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Derrick Thrasher says
Hey! You can make it with chicken thighs, breasts are just easier to prepare if you get them boneless.
Sonya says
I cooked this dish for my friends – it was so simple to make and absolutely delicious!! The sauce was so sweet and complimented the chicken well. Everyone enjoyed it. Would make this dish again and again! Thank you so much.
Sara says
Wow! I was skeptical but I tried it last week and have since made it three times! So easy and delicious – kids and husband never tire of it! I just don’t let them know how easy it is 😉 Thanks for the great recipe!
Bianca says
Hi Nagi,
Is there a substitute I could use instead of the vinegar, saves me from going down to the shops 😂
Cindy says
So easy and super delicious!! Will definitely make again and again! Thank you!
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Cindy! Glad you enjoyed this! N x
Wendy says
It’s delish great recipe, didn’t have soy sauce so substituted 2tbs mollasses and used half honey half maple syrup add cooked spinach towards the end and served with wedge roasted acorn squash and brown rice. ITs amazing!!! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Nagi says
Glad you enjoyed this one Wendy!! N x
Alexis says
This is a favorite in our family, we make it often 🙂
Nagi says
FANTASTIC!!! So glad you enjoyed this Alexis, thanks for letting me know! N x
Laura says
Amazing Nagi! Thank you!
Margaret Vitale says
This was my first recipe of yours as it was the first time I ever looked at your site full of recipes. One word..AMAZING!
Melissa says
The honey garlic chicken was amazing. A wonderful easy recipe. Many thanks xx
Nancy says
Can u used left over take out soy sauce packets?
Nagi says
Absolutely! Great way to use them up 🙂 N x
Liz Brand says
HI Nagi
Another, quick, tasty and easy recipe. I made this last night as we had last minute friends over for dinner. They were impressed. It was delicious ! Liz x
Nagi says
Love hearing that Liz! Thanks for letting me know! N x
Ila says
So so so good, the second chicken breast recipe from this site that is so easy and quick but wow, tasty!! Thanks for making dinner so much simpler.
Nagi says
That’s terrific to hear Ila! Thank you for letting me know you enjoyed this – N x
Oralie says
That looks amazing chicken dish. Love it.
Nagi says
Hope you get a chance to try it Oralie! N x
Christine says
This recipe is DELICIOUS! It is by far the best honey garlic chicken I have ever made. My family loved it. It is simple and easy and so good. I love the format of your blog. The recipe directions and step-by-step pictures are great. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I look forward to trying out many more of your recipes.
Rob says
Any reason that you specified breasts? Wouldn’t it work with boneless skinless thighs?