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Get It Now- Why You Need My Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
- Ingredients & Substitutions
- How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken
- Recipe Variations
- Storage Instructions
- What To Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Recipes
- More Asian-Inspired Chicken Recipes
- Recommended Tools
- Honey Garlic Chicken (25-Minute Dinner!) Recipe card
- Recipe Reviews
My honey garlic chicken recipe is a sweet and savory twist on classic pan seared chicken recipes. The added sweetness of honey and subtle kick from the red pepper flakes give the dish an extra pop of flavor. Imagine golden, juicy chicken breast seared in garlic butter, then simmered in a warm honey sauce — it’s simply irresistible. Make it with me!
Why You Need My Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
- Juicy, tender chicken in sweet, garlicky sauce – My simple 5-ingredient honey garlic sauce is a gamechanger for this chicken! If you like my sriracha chicken, garlic butter chicken, or teriyaki chicken, this one takes a little inspiration from all 3.
- Natural ingredients – You don’t need any cornstarch or cornstarch substitutes to thicken this sauce. It’s naturally gluten-free, and unbelievably, has no added sugar!
- Quick and easy – You can have this easy, healthy dinner recipe on the table in less than 30 minutes. That’s always a win in my book.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for this garlic honey chicken recipe, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
Honey Garlic Chicken:
- Chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also make this honey garlic chicken recipe using boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer. Bone-in chicken breasts or thighs would also work, but will take longer to cook. I kept the chicken whole, but you could cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes before cooking if you like. If you want to change up the protein, check out my honey garlic pork chops or honey garlic shrimp!
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper
- Unsalted Butter – For a dairy-free option, substitute butter with additional olive oil.
- Garlic – I minced fresh garlic cloves, but you could use 2 teaspoons jarred minced garlic for convenience. Some grated fresh ginger would also make a nice addition at the same time.
- Olive Oil – I usually choose extra-virgin olive oil here, but any neutral cooking oil, such as regular olive oil or avocado oil, will work.
- Coconut Aminos – This is a gluten-free soy sauce substitute. If you’re not sensitive to soy, you can simply use regular soy sauce or tamari.
- Honey – Adds sweetness and honey flavor! You can use regular honey, but I like to use zero sugar honey.
- Apple Cider Vinegar – Adds a tangy twist. You can also use lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or rice vinegar as substitutes if needed.
- Red Pepper Flakes – The amount in the recipe makes this dish moderately spicy. Use up to 1 teaspoon or eliminate altogether depending on your spice preference. You can also substitute sriracha or another chili sauce.
Optional Garnish:
- Sesame Seeds – Adds a nutty, crunchy texture and earthy taste.
- Green Onions – Brings a fresh, light onion flavor and a pop of color.
How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken
This section shows how to make garlic honey chicken, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Season the chicken. Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Cook the chicken. Heat the butter in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken on each side, until golden brown and cooked through.
TIP: Use a meat thermometer.
Make sure the the internal temperature of the chicken is 165 degrees F using a meat thermometer.
- Make the honey sauce. While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the olive oil, coconut aminos, honey, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
- Saute the garlic. Reduce heat. Add garlic to the pan and cook until fragrant.
- Add the sauce. Pour in the sauce and stir well. Bring to a simmer, then let the sauce cook until thickened.
- Garnish. Remove from heat. Garnish honey garlic chicken with sesame seeds and green onion if desired. Spoon remaining sauce over the chicken when serving.
Recipe Variations
- Crock Pot – For a more hands-off method, make Crock Pot honey garlic chicken. Just pat the chicken dry, season it, and place in the slow cooker. Whisk together the honey sauce, pour over the chicken, and cook for 6-8 hours on low. The sauce will be more runny this way, but it’s much easier and still delicious!
- Wings – Cook air fryer chicken wings or baked chicken wings, then whisk together olive oil, coconut aminos, honey, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl. Toss the wings in the sauce.
- Baked – For baked honey garlic chicken, follow my recipe for juicy baked chicken breasts. Then, whisk together olive oil, coconut aminos, honey, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl and simmer in a saucepan for 5 minutes. Pour it over your baked chicken halfway through baking.
- Bone-in – For garlic honey chicken thighs, cook pan fried chicken thighs, but instead of adding broth and butter, add the honey sauce from this recipe. You can also cook bone-in chicken breasts, but the time will take longer.
Storage Instructions
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 10-20 minutes, or heat in a microwave on medium power, until warm.
- Freeze: Place the honey garlic chicken in a freezer bag with as much air removed as possible, and store in the freezer for up to 4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
What To Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Recipes
Chicken is so versatile and pairs with a variety of different sides. From veggies to starches, here are my favorite sides to pair with this honey garlic chicken breast recipe:
- Vegetables – Roasted vegetables are a great accompaniment. Try lightly sweet Japanese turnips, caramelized roasted carrots and parsnips, or simple roasted broccoli. But for a classic meal, make a veggie stir fry.
- Potatoes – Air fry baked potatoes or roast potatoes while you cook honey garlic chicken on the stovetop. For a lighter option, try roasted rutabaga.
- Rice – A simple side of white or brown rice would be delicious (shown in photos). If you need a less starchy option, try cauliflower fried rice or plain cauliflower rice.
- Simple Salads – Chop it up while this dish cooks! Try a smashed cucumber salad or fast Asian-inspired cabbage salad.
- Soup – For a classic Asian-inspired meal, serve with egg drop soup as an appetizer.
- Salad – You can go with a classic Asian smashed cucumber salad or make a refreshing mandarin orange salad for a sweeter option.
More Asian-Inspired Chicken Recipes
Looking for more easy chicken recipes with Asian flavors? Check out these never-boring recipes for chicken that will upgrade your weeknight dinners:
Recommended Tools
- Large Cast Iron Skillet – My favorite one, pictured above! It’s beautiful from stovetop to table, and heats evenly for a quick and even sear on your chicken.
Honey Garlic Chicken (25-Minute Dinner!)
With sweet honey and a kick of red pepper flakes, this honey garlic chicken recipe creates restaurant-style flavor in less than 30 minutes!
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Ingredients
Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.
Honey Garlic Chicken:
Optional Garnishes:
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
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Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
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Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Sear chicken for 5-7 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
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While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the olive oil, coconut aminos, honey, apple cider vinegar and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
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Reduce heat to low. Add the garlic to the center of the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add in the sauce and stir well. Bring to a simmer, then let the sauce cook down for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
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Remove from heat. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onion if desired. Spoon remaining sauce over the chicken when serving.
Did You Make My Recipe?
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Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 chicken breast with honey garlic sauce
Nutrition info uses sugar-free honey (sugar content is much higher using regular honey), and does not include optional garnishes.
📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my 30 Dinners In 30 Minutes!
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
9 Comments
Sheli B
0My husband and I loved this! I made it in the crockpot. I diced the chicken into 1 inch cubes and added chopped onion, bell pepper, and broccoli for the last 30 mins. Served it on top of cauliflower rice. Delicious!! Will definitely keep in the rotation.
Nicci
0What should I do if the sauce won’t thicken?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Nicci, It sounds like you’d need to cook it for longer (time can vary depending on the pan you use), or possibly turn up the heat a bit.
Carol B.
0Sweet with a little heat! My husband and I loved this dish. I made it per the recipe, but was short 2 tablespoons of low sodium soy sauce. I subbed the missing 2 Tbsp. with 1 Tbsp Worcestershire and 1 Tbsp water. It was delicious! Reminded me a little of Bourbon Chicken, but better.
Liz
0This chicken was a hit with my whole family! My mom asked for the recipe so I know she’ll be making it again too!
Gina
0Some of the tastiest chicken I’ve ever had! Loved the flavor and easy prep.
Kelli
0The unique combination of honey and garlic was a match made in heaven. The garlic gave it a bold flavor while the honey added a subtle sweetness that made my taste buds dance with joy. I served this delicious dish with a side of crispy roasted potatoes and a refreshing salad, and it was a hit.
Julianne
0Absolutely delicious! I used Wholesome Yum’s Keto Honey since I am low carb and it honestly tastes just like real honey. Love it!
Shelby
0The red pepper flakes in this chicken gives it the best blend of sweet with a kick!