Some nights, all you want is a dinner that feels like a hug. This Honey Garlic Chicken Breast brings that kind of comfort. The smell of sizzling butter and garlic fills the kitchen while the honey glaze bubbles into a sticky, golden sauce. In just 12 minutes, dinner’s ready—sweet, savory, and completely satisfying.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This chicken is perfect for busy weeknights when time is short but flavor still matters. The sauce strikes that cozy balance between sweet and savory, and it clings beautifully to each piece of golden chicken. You can also switch things up by using pork, prawns, tofu, or even fish—the sauce never fails to impress.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Main Ingredients
You’ll need chicken breasts, honey, garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, butter, and flour. Each one plays a role in building flavor and texture. The flour helps the sauce cling to the chicken, creating that signature glossy finish.
Optional Substitutions
You can swap honey for maple syrup if that’s what you have. For a gluten-free version, replace flour with cornstarch (though the color won’t brown quite as much). And if you’re not in the mood for chicken, this sauce pairs beautifully with other proteins.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Breast
Prep the Chicken
First, slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create thinner steaks. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Lightly coat each piece in flour, then shake off any extra. This thin coating helps lock in the juices while giving the sauce something to cling to.
Pan-Sear to Golden Perfection
Next, heat most of your butter in a large skillet over high heat, saving a little for later. Sear the chicken for two to three minutes on one side until it turns golden. Then flip and cook for another minute. The sizzle, the color—it’s kitchen magic happening in real time.
Create the Honey Garlic Sauce
Lower the heat a touch. Add minced garlic and the rest of your butter. Stir for a few seconds until the garlic softens and smells incredible. Pour in vinegar, soy sauce, and honey. Stir to combine everything and bring it to a gentle simmer. After about a minute, the sauce should thicken slightly.
Coat & Finish
Now return the chicken to the pan. Turn each piece in the sauce until coated and glossy. If the sauce feels too thick, add a splash of water to loosen it. Turn off the heat, then drizzle the remaining sauce over the top when serving.
Serving Suggestions
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast loves company. Serve it with steamed rice, roasted veggies, or even a simple cucumber salad. It’s also delicious with fried rice, macaroni salad, or a bowl of creamy mac and cheese. The sweet-savory sauce ties everything together.
You can try pairing it with my Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies for another easy dinner idea. Or if you like this flavor combo, check out Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken for a slightly different twist.
Tips & Variations
Protein Swaps
If you’re cooking with pork, prawns, tofu, or fish, the same sauce works wonders.
- Pork: Cook until almost done, then finish in the sauce.
- Prawns: Sear for one minute on the first side, then thirty seconds on the other before adding the sauce.
- Tofu: Use firm tofu, slice into steaks, coat lightly in flour, and fry until crisp.
- Fish: Choose sturdy, budget-friendly fish for best results.
Cooking & Sauce Tips
If the sauce thickens too much, add a small splash of water. The goal is a silky, pourable glaze that clings without becoming sticky. Also, remember that light soy sauce works best here; dark soy makes the sauce too heavy.
For another flavorful stir-fry option, try my Beef Stir Fry with Honey Pepper Sauce—it’s bold, quick, and just as easy.
Nutrition Snapshot
Each serving has about 323 calories, 28g of protein, 23g of carbohydrates, and 13g of fat. It’s balanced, filling, and leaves you feeling good—not weighed down.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to cook honey garlic chicken breasts?
Sear the seasoned and floured chicken in butter, then make a quick sauce with garlic, honey, soy sauce, and vinegar. Coat the chicken in the sauce and simmer briefly until glossy and thick.
How to make garlic and honey chicken?
The method is simple. Sear your protein of choice, add garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, and honey, then let the sauce bubble until slightly thick. Toss everything to coat and serve immediately.
Is honey garlic chicken good?
Absolutely. The mix of honey and garlic gives it that perfect balance of sweet and savory, making it a crowd-pleaser every single time.
What does honey garlic chicken go well with?
It’s great with rice, noodles, vegetables, or salads. The sauce even works as a glaze for roasted potatoes or grilled vegetables.
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe Card
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Honey Garlic Chicken Breast Recipe | Quick & Delicious Dinner
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
Honey Garlic Chicken Breast is a quick, sweet savory skillet dinner made with pantry staples. Tender chicken sears golden, then simmers in a sticky honey, garlic, soy, and vinegar sauce. Ready in 12 minutes and perfect with rice, veggies, or noodles.
Ingredients
500 g / 1 lb chicken breast, boneless and skinless (2 pieces)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup flour
3.5 tbsp (50 g) unsalted butter, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)
1 tbsp light or all purpose soy sauce
1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
Instructions
1. Cut chicken breasts in half horizontally to make 4 thin steaks; season both sides with salt and pepper.
2. Coat chicken lightly in flour; shake off any excess.
3. Heat most of the butter in a large skillet over high heat, reserving 1 tsp for later.
4. Sear chicken for 2 to 3 minutes until golden; flip and cook the other side for 1 minute.
5. Reduce heat slightly; add garlic and remaining butter; stir just until fragrant.
6. Add vinegar, soy sauce, and honey; stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer.
7. Simmer for about 1 minute until the sauce slightly thickens.
8. Turn chicken to coat in the sauce; add a splash of water if the sauce gets too thick.
9. Remove from heat; serve immediately with the remaining sauce spooned over.
Notes
Flour helps the sauce cling by creating a light crust on the chicken.
Gluten free option: substitute flour with cornstarch, though color will brown less.
Use light or all purpose soy sauce; avoid dark soy.
Adjust cooking time based on protein used; let the protein finish cooking in the sauce.
For tofu: use firm; slice into steaks; season and coat in flour; pan fry until crisp; make sauce separately and combine.
For prawns or shrimp: use large; sear 1 minute on first side and 30 seconds on the other; then add sauce.
For fish: this strong, sweet savory sauce suits budget friendly fish; delicate fish prefers lighter sauces.
Flavor profile: not strongly Asian despite soy sauce; very versatile and pantry friendly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Chicken Recipes
- Method: Skillet, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 323
- Sugar: 21
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 13
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 23
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 107
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Final Thoughts
Cooking Honey Garlic Chicken Breast is one of those small kitchen victories that feel big. In just minutes, you turn simple pantry ingredients into something that tastes like comfort and care. It’s quick enough for weeknights yet special enough to share.
If you try it, let me know how it turns out—or share your spin on it over on Pinterest or Facebook.