This honey garlic chicken breast recipe is a great way to make a weeknight dinner feel special. The sweet honey sauce combined with the savory garlic and rich butter creates an irresistible combination of flavors that will have everyone coming back for seconds!
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Plus, this honey garlic chicken recipe uses chicken breast, a lean and healthy choice of protein. The blend of honey and garlic is a classic flavor pairing that will never go out of style and is sure to become a constant in your meal rotation.
Why you will love this honey garlic chicken breasts
- Quick and easy! This recipe is only 30 minutes from start to finish!
- This technique ensures a super moist chicken breast. Trust me on this.
- Healthy protein. Chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein, while honey and garlic add flavor without adding too many calories.
- This recipe comes together quickly and easily, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you don't have much time to cook.
Ingredients and Substitutions
The ingredients for this honey garlic chicken is super simple, I am sure you will have most if not all of it in your pantry.
Chicken breasts: Make your meal healthier by using boneless skinless chicken breasts. But you can substitute with chicken thighs if you want.
Spices: Any spices you want to use will work for this recipe. Dried thyme, rosemary, and sage are great options.
Honey: Good quality honey is essential for achieving a sweet glaze with a nice balance of flavor between sweet and savory. Substitute with agave nectar or maple syrup.
Wine: You can use any dry white wine, chicken broth or water.
Low Sodium Soy sauce: Adds a nice salty bite to the sauce and helps it adhere to the chicken. Substitute with tamari for gluten-free.
Garlic: Fresh garlic adds great flavor to the sauce and is highly recommended over pre-minced garlic or garlic powder.
Butter: Adds richness and depth to the sauce and helps it thicken slightly when cooked. You can either use salted or unsalted. Olive oil or any vegan butter will also work if the butter isn't an option.
Green onions: Adds sweetness and earthiness to the dish, as well as a nice texture and color.
Red chili flakes: Balances out the sweetness by adding a little heat. You can omit this or substitute it with cayenne pepper for more heat.
Oil: For sautéing, I used avocado oil. But you can always use butter or other types of oil instead, such as Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Equipment
- bowl
- cutting board
- Knife
- skillet with lid, I used a cast iron
How to make honey garlic chicken breasts
- Cut diagonal slits into the chicken breasts. Season with spice rub.
- Slice your garlic and cut the onions separating the white and the green parts.
- In a cast iron, heat up your oil and pan fry your chicken until you get a nice sear on both sides. Add in the lemon slices. When the chicken has a nice sear on both sides, remove it and set aside.
- Deglaze the cast iron pan with the garlic, the white part of the green onions, white wine (optional), soy sauce, juice of half a lemon, and honey.
- Add back the chicken and cold butter to the pan. The cold butter will help thicken up the sauce and make it glossy.
- Cover with a lid for 5 minutes or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Add the remaining green onions, serve, and enjoy!
Top Tips
Here are some of my tried and true tips for making the best pan fried Honey Garlic Chicken Breast.
- Add more water if the sauce dries out quickly.
- Use only fresh garlic for this recipe! Pre-minced garlic won't have as much flavor.
- Honey tends to burn easily, so keep a close eye on it while cooking.
- The right amount of butter is key! Too much will make the sauce greasy, and too little won't give it enough richness.
- Simmer the sauce until it's thick and slightly glossy. It should only take a couple of minutes.
How to store and reheat
STORE - store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
REHEAT - reheat in a microwave oven, air fryer, or wok to retain the best flavor and texture.
What to serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts
- Steamed white rice or brown rice
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Garlic Braised Kale
- Sesame Braised Cabbage
Other chicken recipes you will absolutely love
- Teriyaki Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs
- Asian Fried Chicken with Hot Honey Sauce
- Juicy Orange Chicken Air Fryer
- Garlic Miso Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts - FAQs
Honey garlic sauce is a simple combination of honey, garlic, butter, and soy sauce. The sweet honey combined with the savory garlic creates an irresistible flavor that works well with chicken, pork, or beef.
The key to making chicken breast taste great is to add flavor-packed ingredients. And this honey garlic chicken breast recipe does not disappoint! The honey garlic sauce packs a flavorful punch that makes the chicken so satisfying to eat. You can also add other herbs and spices, such as parsley or oregano, for extra flavor.
The best way to cook chicken breasts so they don't dry out is to use a combination of low to medium heat and short cooking times. This recipe calls for cooking the chicken breast with the sauce at medium heat for around 8 to 10 minutes, keeping it moist and juicy while allowing it to cook through. I also used a wok with a lid to help trap heat and steam around the chicken and prevent excessive drying out.
Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut diagonal slits into the chicken breasts. Season with spice rub.
- Slice your garlic and cut the onions separating the white and the green parts. Cut half of the lemon into half, juice one half and cut the other half into slices.
- In cast iron, heat your oil and pan fry your chicken until you get a nice sear on both sides. Add in the lemon slices. When the chicken has a nice sear on both sides, remove it and set aside.
- Deglaze the cast iron pan with the garlic, the white part of the green onions, white wine (optional), soy sauce, juice of half a lemon, and honey.
- Add back the chicken and cold butter to the pan. The cold butter will help thicken up the sauce and make it glossy.
- Cover with a lid for 5 minutes or until the chicken has an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Add the remaining green onions, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Use only fresh garlic for this recipe! Pre-minced garlic won't have as much flavor.
- Honey tends to burn easily, so keep a close eye on it while cooking.
- Add more water if the sauce dries out quickly.
- The right amount of butter is key! Too much will make the sauce greasy, and too little won't give it enough richness.
- Simmer the sauce until it's thick and slightly glossy. It should only take a couple of minutes.
Anderson says
Great for mealprep 💪
Steve says
Made this last night and it was fantastic!!
Carmen Spillette says
thanks Steve!
Jessica Johnson says
I used thigh’s instead. Thank you so much! It looks great taste great! I wasn’t sure of how much honey, soy sauce to use but it came out great!
Carmen says
Thats so good to hear!!! Thank you.