Description
This quick and easy honey garlic chicken recipe is perfect for beginner cooks. It’s packed with flavor, requires minimal ingredients, and is ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar (optional, to cut sweetness)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional, for heat)
- Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels and cut into bite-sized pieces. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- In a bowl, toss chicken with cornstarch until evenly coated.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 4–5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium-low and add minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk together honey, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili flakes in a bowl. Pour into the skillet and bring to a simmer.
- In a separate bowl, mix cornstarch with a small amount of water to create a slurry, if needed to thicken the sauce.
- Return the chicken to the skillet, toss to coat in the sauce, and simmer for 2–3 minutes until everything is heated through and sauce thickens.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate chicken in soy sauce and garlic for 20 minutes before cooking.
- Substitute chicken with shrimp, tofu, or pork for variety.
- Adjust sweetness by altering honey amount or adding vinegar.
- To reheat leftovers, warm gently on the stovetop with a splash of water.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 105mg