If you are searching for a quick, irresistible dinner that feels both comforting and special, this Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe is going to be your new best friend in the kitchen. Combining the tender juiciness of seared chicken breasts with a luscious honey garlic sauce, this dish delivers a perfect balance of sweet and savory that clings beautifully to every bite. The secret is in dusting the chicken with flour first, which creates a delightful crust that holds the sauce just right, turning a simple meal into a restaurant-worthy experience effortlessly.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients are wonderfully straightforward yet essential to crafting that perfect harmony of flavors and textures in this dish. Each one plays a vital role, whether it’s building the crispy golden crust, infusing the sauce with a garlicky punch, or balancing sweetness with a hint of tang.
- Chicken breasts (500g / 1 lb, boneless and skinless): The star of the dish, these get tender and juicy when cooked just right.
- Salt and pepper: Simple seasoning that brings out the natural flavors of the chicken.
- Flour (1/4 cup): Helps create a beautiful crust for the sauce to stick to, adding a subtle texture.
- Unsalted butter (3 1/2 tbsp): Adds richness and a silky smooth texture to the sauce and cooking process.
- Garlic cloves (2, minced): Infuses the sauce with its signature aromatic and savory flavor.
- Apple cider vinegar (1 1/2 tbsp): Brings a gentle tang that perfectly balances the honey’s sweetness.
- Soy sauce (1 tbsp, light or all purpose): Adds a deep savory umami note that rounds out the sauce.
- Honey (1/3 cup): The sweet heart of this recipe, creating that glossy, sticky glaze everyone loves.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe
Step 1: Prepare and Season the Chicken
Begin by cutting the chicken breasts horizontally to make 4 thin steaks. This helps them cook quickly and evenly. Sprinkle each piece generously with salt and pepper—seasoning is the groundwork for fantastic flavor.
Step 2: Dust the Chicken with Flour
Lightly coat each chicken steak in flour, then shake off the excess. This step might sound simple, but it creates a delicate crust that the honey garlic sauce will cling to beautifully, giving you a luscious coating on every bite.
Step 3: Sear the Chicken
Heat most of the butter in a large skillet over high heat. Place the chicken pieces in the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on one side until a golden crust forms, then flip and cook for another minute. This step locks in the juices and starts the flavor development.
Step 4: Add Garlic and Butter
Lower the heat slightly to medium-high and clear a small space in the pan. Toss in the minced garlic and the reserved dab of butter. Stir the garlic quickly once the butter melts to release its fragrant aroma without burning.
Step 5: Create the Honey Garlic Sauce
Pour in the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Stir or give the pan a good shake to combine everything into a glossy sauce. Bring it to a simmer and let it cook for about a minute until it thickens slightly and coats the chicken beautifully.
Step 6: Coat and Finish
Turn the chicken in the skillet, making sure each piece is generously coated in the honey garlic sauce. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water to loosen it. Remove the pan from heat and plate the chicken, drizzling any extra sauce over the top for that irresistible shine.
How to Serve Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or sliced green onions can bring a fresh pop of color and a mild oniony brightness that complements the rich sauce. For an extra touch, toasted sesame seeds add a lovely nutty crunch.
Side Dishes
This dish is beautifully accompanied by steamed jasmine rice or buttery mashed potatoes, both of which soak up the sauce beautifully. For some crunch and freshness, a simple side salad or sautéed green beans works perfectly to balance the sweet, savory chicken.
Creative Ways to Present
Consider plating your honey garlic chicken breast recipe on a bed of garlic-infused noodles or alongside roasted vegetables for a hearty, complete meal. For a fun twist, serve the chicken sliced atop a bowl of crispy greens and drizzle with extra sauce for a fusion-style salad.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The sauce tends to thicken as it cools, so keep extra sauce handy or stir in a splash of water before reheating.
Freezing
This Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe freezes well. Place cooled chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for best results.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet over medium heat. Add a little water if the sauce seems too thick. Reheating in the microwave works, too—just cover to lock in moisture and heat in short intervals to avoid drying out the chicken.
FAQs
Can I use dark soy sauce instead of light soy sauce?
While you can substitute dark soy sauce, it has a much stronger flavor and deeper color that might overpower this dish. Light or all-purpose soy sauce is recommended to keep the balance of sweet and savory just right.
Is it necessary to dust the chicken with flour?
Yes, dusting the chicken with flour creates a delightful crust that helps the sauce cling to the chicken better, giving each bite full flavor and wonderful texture.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Absolutely! Use cornflour or cornstarch instead of wheat flour for dusting. While the crust might not brown quite as evenly, the flavor will be just as delicious once coated with sauce.
What if I want to use this honey garlic sauce with other proteins?
This sauce is versatile and works amazingly well with pork chops, shrimp, firm tofu, and even certain fish. Just adjust cooking times accordingly, but keep the flour dusting step to preserve that sticky, glossy coating.
How can I make this recipe less sweet?
If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the amount of honey slightly and increase the vinegar a bit to maintain balance. Taste as you go to find your perfect sweet-savory harmony.
Final Thoughts
This Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe is a true gem for busy weeknights or when you want to impress with minimal effort. Its beautiful balance of flavors, quick prep, and simple ingredients make it a recipe you’ll return to again and again. I can’t wait for you to try it and enjoy that luscious sauce clinging to each tender bite—it’s just as wonderful as it sounds!
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Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe
- Prep Time: 4 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Western
Description
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast is a quick and easy dish featuring chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and then simmered in a luscious honey garlic sauce. The chicken is lightly dusted with flour to create a crispy crust that holds onto the delicious sauce, making every bite flavorful and moist. Perfect for a weeknight dinner, this recipe is simple but packed with flavor, balancing sweet, tangy, and savory notes.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 500g / 1 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless (2 pieces)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup flour (see Note 1)
Sauce & Cooking
- 3 1/2 tbsp (50g) unsalted butter (or 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or white or other clear vinegar)
- 1 tbsp soy sauce, light or all purpose (see Note 2)
- 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create 4 steaks in total. Sprinkle each side generously with salt and pepper to season.
- Coat in Flour: Place the flour in a shallow dish. Coat each piece of chicken with the flour, shaking off the excess to avoid clumps.
- Sear Chicken: Melt most of the butter (reserve about 1 teaspoon for later) in a large skillet over high heat. Place the coated chicken in the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the underside is golden brown. Flip and cook the other side for 1 minute.
- Lower Heat and Add Garlic: Reduce the heat slightly to medium-high. Make a space in the pan, add the minced garlic and the reserved dab of butter. Stir the garlic briefly once the butter melts, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Pour in the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Stir or shake the pan to combine all ingredients. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then let it simmer for about 1 minute or until it slightly thickens.
- Coat Chicken in Sauce: Turn the chicken pieces in the skillet to coat them thoroughly with the thickened honey garlic sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a small splash of water and stir to loosen it.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat immediately to prevent burning. Plate the chicken and drizzle with the remaining sauce from the pan for extra flavor.
Notes
- Gluten free – use cornflour/cornstarch instead of flour. It won’t brown as evenly but will still taste great covered in the sauce.
- Soy Sauce – Light or all purpose soy sauce is best. Avoid dark soy sauce as it can overpower the flavor.
- Other Proteins – This sauce works well with other proteins suitable for searing, such as pork chops, steaks, or cutlets. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Tofu – Use firm tofu cut into steaks about 0.75cm thick. Pat dry, oil, season, coat lightly with flour, and pan-fry until crispy before making the sauce separately with reduced butter.
- Prawns/Shrimp – Use large prawns, lightly coat in flour, sear briefly on both sides before adding sauce to finish cooking.
- Fish – This sauce complements fish well, especially economical varieties. For premium fish, consider a lighter sauce to let the fish shine.
- Nutrition assumes scraping all sauce from the pan to maximize flavor and nutrient intake.
