Honey Garlic Chicken

This easy honey garlic chicken recipe has tender pan fried chicken breasts with a sticky sweet honey garlic glaze. It’s fast and simple to make!

Here’s another quick recipe for your weeknight dinner arsenal! It uses everyday ingredients, and it’s sure to be a hit with picky eaters and when those takeout cravings hit. 

The honey garlic chicken sauce is made with only a handful of ingredients: honey, minced fresh garlic, soy sauce (I used low sodium for this recipe), chicken broth, lemon juice (or apple cider vinegar), and cornstarch. Salty and sweet… yum.

You may also like my Honey Garlic Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs.

How to make honey garlic chicken (summary):

Start by adding the sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisking them together. Then, prep the chicken by cutting each chicken breast in half lengthwise (this ensures it cooks quickly and evenly so it stays tender) and sprinkle it with salt & pepper. Heat the oil and butter in a skillet until it’s hot, and then sear the chicken for about 5 minutes/side. Add the sauce to the pan and let it bubble for about 30 seconds (it’ll activate the cornstarch and start to thicken). You then take the pan off the heat (important so the sauce won’t end up burning or reducing too much) and spoon some over top of the chicken. Place the skillet in the oven for 5 minutes, and the chicken will finish cooking through and the sauce will reduce a bit more. (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

Love sweet sauces? Try my Honey Glazed Salmon.

What kind of chicken to use?

I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could use chicken thighs but they make take a little longer especially if you use bone-in skin-on ones (I’d do the initial searing step for a bit longer). 

Recipe notes & tips:

• This recipe doesn’t make a *ton* of sauce, but the sauce is fairly rich and sweet, so a little does go a long way flavor-wise. If you do want a lot of sauce, I’d recommend doubling all the sauce ingredients.
• I can’t believe I’m actually adding this as a disclaimer, but yes, this is a sweet sauce (I’m writing this because of past experiences with other honey-based sauces I’ve received comments on). Honey is very sweet. If you’re not someone who likes sweet sauces, then I’d skip this one. Or serve it with a bit of extra lemon juice squeezed over top.
• I use kitchen tongs to easily flip the chicken, and an instant read thermometer ensures the chicken is cooked perfectly.
• Any oven-proof skillet will work fine for this recipe. I used one of my trusty Le Creuset skillets for this particular one. I also love my Lodge cast iron (a more affordable option).
• This recipe is straightforward, but I would closely adhere to the cooking times indicated or you’ll end up with a too thick sauce that’s stuck on the pan (no fun for anyone!). 

What to serve with honey garlic chicken?

Try rice (jasmine is my favorite), but mashed potatoes or even pasta would also work depending on what you’re in the mood for. Or some steamed veggies (try broccoli or green beans).

Other delicious chicken recipes to try:

• Honey Chicken (Asian Style)
• Easy Teriyaki Chicken Recipe
• Honey Garlic Soy Sauce Chicken

Questions about this honey garlic chicken breast recipe? Leave me a comment below! And tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram so I can see your creations.