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!
Loved this Honey Lemon Chicken! It was easy to make and my reward was my husband ask me to make it again…for company. I’m not a stranger to cooking at 69 yrs old but have never tried to cook any kind of Asian, Thai or Oriental type dishes. This was a first for me but will not be the last. I Love Love Love your recipes, the way you explain with your notes and how you put together such great flavors. Your videos are a super help. Thank you so much for giving me new inspiration to try delicious new recipes ❤ !
Tried this recipe for dinner tonight. I opted out stock and butter but still turned out deliciously. Very happy that I have finally found a non deep fried lemon chicken recipe.
Oh Nagi! Was time poor tonight, had the ingredients for this meal – and everyone loved it! Thank you ❤️
I’m old enough to be everyone’s Grandma but so glad I am willing to learn. This is delicious.
Soooo easy, sooootasty, sooooo quick. What more could you want!
So easy, so tasty, so quick. What more could you want!
What a winning dinner. My hubby and fussy son gobbled this dish up. Thank you Nagi
Nagi, what soy sauce do you use for this recipe?
Hi Wendy, regular soy sauce here 🙂 N x
I have finally found a good lemon chicken recipe. Even my husband (he hates chicken), enjoyed it.
You’ve totally converted him Theresa! 🙌
Nagi, I would be lost without your AMAZING WEBSITE! You have changed the way I cook! This Honey Lemon Chicken is a regular in our home. Thank you, dear friend 👍❤️
You’re so welcome Natalie, I’m so glad it’s s hit 🙂 N x
This turned out even better than the lemon chicken at my local Asian restaurants. I make a fairly good lemon sauce myself but this one is magnificent.
Woah what a compliment, that’s great to hear Rod!! N x
Came across your site the other day, looking for a chicken recipe… i made this last night ( didnt have any stock or garlic!) and didnt come out quite as pretty but was delish! thank you 🙂
I’m so glad you still managed without the stock and garlic, thanks so much for letting me know!! N x
Hi Nagi. Been following you for a while. Love your recipes. I assume when the recipe says “flour (any)” that includes gluten-free flours as well?
Give Dozer a pat for me. <3
P.S. I'm an American who became an Aussie citizen. Although I'm back in the States for now, Oz is an incredible country and I look forward to going back.
Hi Wendy – yes this one will work with gluten free flour too. Will give Dozer a big belly rub from you ❤️
Hallo Nagi,read so many yummy recipes of yours so I’m going to have a “Yummy NAGI WEEK “💖💖💖
Yes!!! N x
You need a TV show!!
I think we should get Dozer on TV! N x
Love your recipes. Nice to have new easy things to cook!
Thanks so much Illena!
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!
That’s lovely to hear Marianne, thanks so much 😘
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
Hi Lisa, I would just cook and use a keep warm function in a slow cooker 🙂