Crispy, juicy, and coated in a sticky sauce, Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe is a dish packed with delicious flavor. Simple to make and ready in 15 minutes, this dish is the perfect meal for a family with picky eaters as it has the ultimate balance of both sweet and savory palate.
The Honey Garlic Chicken dish draws its flavor profile from its key ingredients- the sweetness of honey, the pungent and slight spiciness of garlic, and crispy chicken. The tender chicken pieces drizzled with a delicious glaze make it a feast both for the eyes and your tummy. This recipe is perfect for beginners as when it comes to cooking chicken thighs, they are pretty much forgiving and don’t get overcooked easily.
Need another reason to try out my recipe tonight?
Let’s have a closer look at its nutrition profile and give you that extra nudge to get cooking right away!
Health Benefits Of Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Made with healthy and clean ingredients, the honey garlic chicken dinner recipe is packed with protein and lots of nutrients. The combination of the ingredients that are used to prepare this dish offers a balanced meal that boosts your immunity as well as contributes to your overall well-being. Without any further ado, let’s explore the health benefits this recipe provides for you :
Antioxidant Property of Honey
Honey is enriched with antioxidant properties which prevents cell damage in your body. The phenolic acids and flavonoid properties present in honey help fight heart diseases, premature aging, and type 2 diabetes.
Heart Health Benefits of Garlic
Garlic, a key ingredient in the dish, has a compound called allicin that helps lower cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. Garlic is also known for improving the immune system and preventing neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Chicken Thighs- Lean Source Of Protein
Boneless chicken thighs are a good and affordable source of lean protein. The protein helps build muscles and maintain healthy bones, meaning you will be less prone to injuries and diseases such as osteoporosis. The thigh portion of the chicken also contains Vitamin B, Zinc, Iron, and other minerals that promote brain development in kids and protect our nervous system.
Mineral Content Of Sesame Seeds
Sesame used as a garnish in this recipe is rich in Manganese and Calcium. These compounds regulate metabolism and help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.
Ingredient Substitution
While creating recipes, I try to make them as simple and flexible as possible so you can always try them out with the ingredients you have at home.
So, here are some alternatives to the ingredients shown in my recipe card:
Honey
Whether you are allergic to honey or simply don’t have it at home, you can use maple syrup instead. However, processed maple syrup may contain a lot of additional sugar. So, try finding organic maple syrup to use in this recipe. Keep in mind, that the flavor might be different, but both honey and maple syrup pair nicely with chicken.
Soy Sauce
Soy sauce has a strong flavor and if you don’t want that in your dish you can replace it with Tamari. Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce which has a milder flavor and is gluten-free.
Worcestershire sauce is one of my personal favorites to substitute whenever I am short of soy sauce in my kitchen. It doesn’t have the exact taste profile as soy sauce, but it will still complete the dish with its tangy, yet sweet flavor.
Chicken Thighs
The recipe is made with chicken thighs in mind. However, you can use chicken breast, chicken drumstick, or chicken strips as well.
While using these other portions of chicken, keep in mind to adjust your cooking time accordingly. For example, chicken breasts and strips will cook pretty quickly compared to chicken thighs. Chicken drumsticks, on the other hand, will take a similar time or more as they have bones. Although the bones will slow down the cooking process, they will help enhance the flavor of the dish as well.
Garlic Cloves
If you are out of fresh garlic cloves you can use garlic paste or garlic powder instead. For every clove of garlic, use ⅛ tsp of garlic powder or ½ tsp of garlic paste in the recipe.
Topping Ideas For Honey Garlic Chicken
Toppings have the superpower of transforming an ordinary dish into an extraordinary one by adding texture, flavor, and more nutrition.
Here are some fun, delish topping ideas for honey garlic chicken recipe:
Peanuts
Crushed or chopped peanuts add a contrasting texture to the sweet and sticky honey garlic chicken dish. Peanuts are rich in heart-healthy fats and help reduce bad cholesterol levels. So adding peanuts will make the dish more nutritious alongside its crunchy texture.
Lime Wedges
Lime wedges work like a charm to balance out the sweetness of the honey used in this dish. You can squeeze some lime juice into the dish just before serving to add some freshness to the recipe.
Sliced Green Onions
Adding sliced green onion will give your dish a decorative look!
The subtle crunch and the onion flavor of the green onions go well with the juicy tender chicken.
To help maintain the crispiness of this topping, add them to your dish just before serving. If you plan to have leftovers, wrap the green onions in a paper towel, put them into a plastic bag, and store them in the refrigerator to use later.
Recipe Card
15 Minutes Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 pieces / 4 pieces Chicken Thigh (Boneless.)
- ½ tsp / 3 g Salt
- ½ tsp / 1 g Black Pepper
- 1 tbsp / 15 g Garlic Ginger Paste
- 2 tbsp / 30 ml Cooking Oil
- Cornstarch (for coating.)
- 2 tbsp / 28 g Butter
- 6 cloves Garlic (Minced.)
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Vinegar
- 1 tbsp / 15 ml Dark Soy Sauce
- ¼ cup / 85 g Honey
- ½ tsp / 1 g Oregano
- ½ tsp / 1 g Chili Flakes
- Sesame Seed (for garnish.)
- Parsley (for garnish.)
Instructions
Marinate The Chicken
- In a mixing bowl, place 4 pieces of boneless chicken thighs and add salt, black pepper, and garlic ginger paste to the bowl.
- Coat the chicken evenly with the mixture and set it aside.
Fry The Chicken Thighs
- Place a skillet on the stove over medium high heat and pour 2 tbsp of cooking oil in it.
- Lightly dust the chicken thighs with cornstarch and place them in the skillet without overcrowding the pan. You can put 2 chicken thighs at a time to avoid cramming the pan.
- Fry each side for about 4-5 minutes until the color changes to golden brown.
- Transfer the cooked pieces to a wire rack to cool off. Repeat the process until all the chicken thighs are cooked and set them aside.
Prepare The Honey Garlic Sauce
- Place a skillet on the stove and set it to medium heat add butter and let it melt.
- Add 6 cloves of minced garlic to the pan and fry for about 30 seconds then stir in vinegar, dark soy sauce, and honey into the pan.
Add Seasoning To The Sauce
- To enhance the flavor of the sauce, add oregano and chili flakes to the sauce. Mix well until the sauce begins to simmer.
Combine Chicken and Sauce
- Add the chicken pieces that you fried earlier into the sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Turn the chicken to coat in the sauce evenly.
Garnish and Serve!
- Garnish the dish with sesame seeds and chopped parsley for extra flavor and freshness.
- Transfer the honey garlic chicken to a serving plate and enjoy while it’s still hot!
Video
And voila! This honey garlic chicken is all ready to be served with fried rice, crispy stir-fried vegetables, or creamy mashed potatoes – any side you wish.
The sweet and mild flavor of the dish makes it suitable for adults and children alike as the taste is neither too spicy nor too overpowering. Garnished with sesame seeds for a sweet, nutty taste and fresh parsley for balancing out the rich flavor of the sauce, this dish is perfect for both casual dinners and family gatherings.
Recipe FAQs
You need to use an airtight container to store this dish. The honey garlic chicken will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer.
Typically, this dish isn’t supposed to be spicy. However, you can amp up the spice level by adding hot sauce while marinating the chicken. You can also add more red pepper flakes to the recipe.
Yes, you can do that. Just combine all the ingredients, cover the cooker, and cook on low for 6 hours or on high heat for 2-3 hours.
Add 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1-2 tbsp of water and pour it into the mixture. Stir the mixture well until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
