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!
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 recipe
- 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 for the best
pan-fried honey garlic chicken breast
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.
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.
Water: Thins out the sauce slightly. You can use chicken broth instead to add extra flavor.
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 you need for making this recipe
- bowl
- cutting board
- Knife
- skillet with lid
Method
- Cut diagonal slits into the chicken breasts.
- Slice your garlic and cut the onions separating the white and the green parts.
- In a jar or bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
- In a wok, heat up your oil and pan fry your chicken until you get a nice sear on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- Add the butter, sauté your garlic, and white part of the green onions and red chili flakes (optional).
- Add in your sauce and add back the chicken. Cover with a lid and simmer until the sauce has reduced.
- Add the remaining green onions, serve and enjoy with a bowl of rice.
PRO 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.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
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 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 lid to help trap heat and steam around the chicken and prevent excessive drying out.
Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts
A delicious, ultra-flavourful pan fried chicken breast recipe. It is so easy to make, you are in for a treat!
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3
Ingredients
3 chicken breasts
¼ cup honey
½ cup water
1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
5 cloves minced garlic
1 tablespoon of butter
2 green onions (white and green parts separated)
red chili flakes (optional)
salt and pepper for seasoning your chicken breasts
1-2 tablespoon Avocado oil for sautéing
Instructions
- Cut diagonal slits into the chicken breasts.
- Slice your garlic and cut the onions separating the white and the green parts.
- In a jar or bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, and water. Set aside.
- In a wok, heat up your oil and pan-fry your chicken until you get a nice sear on both sides. Remove and set aside.
- Add the butter, sauté your garlic, and white part of the green onions and red chili flakes (optional).
- Add in your sauce and add back the chicken. Cover with a lid and simmer until the sauce has reduced.
- Add the remaining green onions, serve and enjoy with a bowl of rice or whatever side dish you have.
Equipment
Buy Now →
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.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: mains
- Method: pan fry
- Cuisine: asian
Keywords: honey garlic chicken breasts, honey garlic chicken, honey garlic chicken recipe, honey garlic chicken breasts recipe, honey garlic chicken breast recipe
Jessica Johnson
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
Thats so good to hear!!! Thank you.