This 5-ingredient, 15-minute honey garlic chicken recipe is your answer to quick, easy, and incredibly flavorful weeknight dinners. With an addictively delicious sauce, this dish will become a family favorite in no time!
Juggling work, family, and everything in between can make weeknight dinners a challenge. Finding recipes that are both Easy Food Recipes and satisfying is key for busy individuals and families. That’s where this honey garlic chicken recipe shines. It’s designed for speed and simplicity without compromising on taste.
This recipe is a lifesaver on those hectic evenings. Requiring only 5 simple ingredients and a mere 15 minutes from prep to plate, this honey garlic chicken is the epitome of easy food recipes. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can create a restaurant-quality meal right in your own kitchen.
And let’s talk about that sauce! The honey garlic glaze is the star of this dish. It’s so good, you might find yourself sneaking spoonfuls straight from the pan! The combination of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, pungent garlic, and a hint of red pepper flakes creates a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
This sauce isn’t just delicious; it’s versatile. It coats the chicken beautifully, creating a sticky, caramelized glaze that’s irresistible. Don’t be shy – drizzle the extra sauce over your rice, vegetables, or whatever sides you choose. Every bite is enhanced by this incredible flavor. This honey garlic chicken truly exemplifies easy food recipes that deliver big on taste.
If you love this sauce as much as we do, you might also enjoy my slow cooker honey garlic chicken for a hands-off approach or the Instant Pot honey garlic chicken for another speedy option. And for a veggie-packed meal, try the honey garlic chicken stir fry, ready in just 25 minutes. Even pork chop lovers can get in on the easy food recipes action with honey garlic pork chops, also ready in 15 minutes!
But let’s get back to this star recipe: 15-minute honey garlic chicken. To ensure your success with this easy food recipe, here are a few helpful notes, tips, and substitution ideas.
Tips for Perfect Honey Garlic Chicken
- Avoid Overcooking: Chicken breasts cook quickly, especially when cut into small cubes. Keep a close eye on the chicken to prevent it from becoming dry. The goal is tender, juicy chicken coated in that delicious sauce. This is a crucial tip for all easy food recipes involving chicken.
- Forgiving Sauce: The beauty of this recipe is that the flavorful honey garlic sauce is incredibly forgiving. If you slightly overcook the chicken, the sauce will help keep it moist and flavorful. It’s a comforting safety net for busy cooks!
- Chicken Thigh Option: While this recipe calls for chicken breasts, you can easily substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Chicken thighs will require a slightly longer cooking time but offer a richer, more flavorful result. Both options work wonderfully in this easy food recipe.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce is Key: Using low-sodium soy sauce allows you to control the saltiness of the dish. If you’re gluten-free, tamari is a great substitute for soy sauce. Adjusting sodium is important in many easy food recipes to cater to different dietary needs.
- Complete the Meal: To make this a balanced and satisfying meal, simply serve your honey garlic chicken with steamed rice and your favorite vegetable. Broccoli, green beans, or snow peas are excellent choices and cook quickly, keeping with the theme of easy food recipes.
For a lower-carb option, serve this honey garlic chicken with cauliflower rice. Quinoa, rice noodles, or angel hair pasta are also fantastic choices for soaking up that amazing sauce. The possibilities are endless when you’re building a meal around such a versatile and flavorful base. Easy food recipes are all about adaptability and making them work for your preferences.
Delicious Topping Ideas
Want to elevate this easy food recipe even further? Consider adding some fresh toppings to enhance the flavor and presentation.
- Fresh Greens: Sliced green onions, chopped fresh parsley, or cilantro add a pop of color and freshness.
- Crunchy Texture: Chopped peanuts or sesame seeds provide a delightful textural contrast.
- Citrus Zing: A squeeze of fresh lime wedges brightens the dish and adds a zesty note.
- Spice Boost: An extra sprinkle of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha will kick up the heat for those who like a little spice.
Mix and match your favorite toppings to customize this honey garlic chicken to your liking. Experimenting with toppings is a fun way to make easy food recipes your own.
Storing Leftovers
One of the best things about easy food recipes is that they often make great leftovers! Leftover honey garlic chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Be sure to store it with the sauce to keep the chicken moist. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or in a skillet until warmed through. The sauce not only adds flavor but also prevents the chicken from drying out during reheating, ensuring your leftovers are just as delicious as the first time.
Enjoy this incredibly easy food recipe for honey garlic chicken! It’s perfect for busy weeknights and is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.
XO,
Kathryn
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil)
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes (about ½ inch)
- Salt and black pepper
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, adjust for heat)
For serving (optional):
- Brown rice, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, lime wedges to squeeze over chicken
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Lightly season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper. (Go easy because the soy sauce has plenty of sodium.)
- Add the chicken to the skillet and brown on one side, about 3-4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze. Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, in a small bowl until well combined.
- Add the sauce to the pan and toss to coat the chicken pieces. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 4-5 more minutes.
- Serve with steamed rice and top with green onions, sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime juice, if desired.
Recipe Notes
Tip: Be careful not to overcook the chicken. The pieces are small so they cook fast, which is kinda the point with this dinner. But you don’t want them to go too far and be overdone. On the other hand, that sauce is seriously so good, it’ll disguise your chicken if it gets a little overdone.
You could substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs in place of the chicken breasts if you prefer, but the cooking time might be a little longer.
I do use and recommend low-sodium soy sauce so you can control the amount of sodium in this recipe. You could also substitute a gluten-free tamari if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
For serving: To make a complete meal, just add some steamed rice and a veggie. Or serve this over quinoa, cauliflower rice or a thin noodle.
Leftovers, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove until warmed through. (Make sure to store and reheat with the sauce!)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 665mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 54g
