Quick & Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Dinner

This Honey Garlic Chicken is a delicious, easy weeknight dinner featuring juicy chicken coated in a sticky, sweet, savory, and garlicky sauce. It comes together quickly with simple pantry ingredients and pairs perfectly with steamed rice, noodles, or vegetables.

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1½ lb (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon butter

For the Honey Garlic Sauce:

⅓ cup honey
¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
5–6 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lemon juice
½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
½ teaspoon sesame oil, optional
¼ cup water or chicken broth
1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water

For Garnishing:

1 tablespoon sliced green onions
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
A little chopped fresh parsley, optional

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken
Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces so they cook quickly and evenly.

2. Season the chicken
Place the chicken in a bowl and sprinkle with flour, salt, and black pepper. Toss well until each piece is lightly coated.

3. Make the sauce
In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, and water or chicken broth. Stir until well combined.

4. Cook the chicken
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces in a single layer. Cook for about 4–5 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly golden and cooked through.

For food safety, chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) internally.

5. Add the butter
Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter. Let it melt around the chicken, adding extra richness and flavor.

6. Add the honey garlic sauce
Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet. Stir gently so the sauce coats all the chicken pieces.

7. Thicken the sauce
Mix the cornstarch with water to make a smooth slurry. Pour it into the skillet while stirring. Let everything simmer for 2–3 minutes, until the sauce becomes glossy and thick enough to coat the chicken.

8. Coat the chicken
Continue stirring gently for another minute. The honey garlic sauce should cling beautifully to every piece of chicken.

9. Garnish and serve
Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve immediately over warm rice, noodles, or alongside steamed vegetables.

Serving Ideas

Serve this honey garlic chicken with:

Steamed white or brown rice
Fried rice
Egg noodles
Mashed potatoes
Steamed broccoli
Green beans
Stir-fried vegetables
A simple cucumber salad

Helpful Tips

Use chicken thighs for especially tender and juicy pieces.
Don’t overcrowd the skillet, as this can prevent the chicken from browning properly.
Add the sauce after the chicken has browned for the best flavor.
Keep the heat moderate once the honey sauce is added so it doesn’t burn.
For a little extra flavor, add a pinch of red pepper flakes.
Leftovers can be refrigerated in a covered container and reheated thoroughly before serving.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This recipe is perfect when you want a fast homemade dinner without complicated ingredients. The combination of honey, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger creates a flavorful sauce that’s sweet, savory, slightly tangy, and wonderfully aromatic. Best of all, the entire meal can be prepared in roughly 30 minutes.