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    Home » Recipes » Chicken » Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

    Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

    Published: Mar 8, 2018 · Modified: May 20, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    ↓ JUMP TO RECIPE ↓ JUMP TO VIDEO

    This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is easy to make and ready in 15 minutes! Made with chicken breasts and a 4 ingredient honey garlic sauce.

    honey garlic chicken in a saucepan

    Weeknight dinner doesn’t get much easier than this honey garlic chicken! It’s even faster than takeout if you consider the time it takes to drive to the restaurant, wait for the food, and then drive home again. You can add cut-up broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, carrots, or peas for honey garlic chicken stir fry.

    In This Post

    • Why We Love Honey Garlic Chicken
    • Honey Garlic Sauce Ingredients
    • Honey Garlic Chicken Ingredients
    • How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken
    • Other Ways To Prepare
      • Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken
      • Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
      • Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders
    • Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe FAQs
    • Similar Recipes

    Why We Love Honey Garlic Chicken

    This is our favorite chicken recipe! My son has already asked me to make this chicken with honey and garlic twice in the past week. I love that it is so easy to prepare, ready in 15 minutes, and it is very versatile. Sometimes we serve it on a bed of rice, and other times with a side of fried rice. Cooked veggies can easily be added, and it goes well with cauliflower rice. My whole family loved this recipe the first time I made it years ago, and we continue to make it regularly!

    Ingredients in bowls.

    Honey Garlic Sauce Ingredients

    • Honey: The main ingredient in the sauce is honey, which is where this chicken gets its name. The honey sweetens the sauce, creating a glossy, sticky coating on the chicken, which carmelizes while cooking.
    • Soy Sauce: We used light or low-sodium soy sauce to get the flavor of soy sauce without the extra sodium.
    • Olive Oil: The oil helps prevent the sauce from sticking to the pan while adding flavor and a smooth texture.
    • Hoisin Sauce: For additional flavor, we added some hoisin sauce which is a thick, sweet, and salty sauce. If you cannot find it, try using sweet barbecue sauce instead.
    Ingredients on a countertop.

    Honey Garlic Chicken Ingredients

    • Chicken: We chose boneless skinless chicken breasts because they can be cut into cubes, have less fat, and cook quickly and evenly.
    • Seasoning: The chicken cubes are lightly seasoned with salt, coarse ground black pepper, and garlic powder before coating them in flour. Seasoning them ahead of time gives the chicken extra flavor.
    • Flour: All-purpose flour helps seal in the moisture and helps give the chicken pieces a golden brown, crispy coating.
    • Oil: We use olive oil to fry the chicken, but you can also use vegetable or canola oil.
    • Garlic: The minced garlic adds lots of flavor to the chicken and helps balance out the sweetness of the honey.
    • Garnish: Top the chicken with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds.

    How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken

    Dark sauce being whisked in a glass bowl.

    Step One: Honey Garlic Sauce

    Start by making the honey garlic sauce for chicken by whisking together the honey, soy sauce, olive oil, and hoisin sauce. Set the sauce mixture aside until later.

    Raw seasoned cubes on meat on a cutting board.

    Step Two: Chicken

    For this recipe, I used boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could also make honey garlic chicken thighs if you like your meat to have more fat.

    Try to cut the chicken into evenly cut bite-sized pieces so they will finish cooking at the same time. After cubing the chicken, season it with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

    Cubed poultry coated with flour in a plastic bag.

    Step Three: Flour

    To get a nice, crispy coating on the chicken, coat it with flour before frying it. I’ve found that the easiest way to do so is to put the chicken pieces in a gallon-sized plastic bag.

    Add the flour, close the top of the bag, and shake the chicken to coat it evenly with flour.

    frying honey garlic chicken in a pan

    Step Four: Frying

    Next, it’s time to cook the chicken. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the seasoned and coated chicken.

    Cook for about three minutes before flipping them over to cook on the other side.

    Add the minced garlic, stir, and cook for two minutes.

    honey garlic chicken in a saucepan with sesame seeds

    Step Five: Sauce

    Finally, it’s time to add the sauce mixture. Turn the heat down to medium and pour in the honey garlic sauce. Stir and cook in the skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring often.

    Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve the honey garlic chicken bites over rice, noodles, or cauliflower rice.

    Other Ways To Prepare

    Air fryer honey garlic chicken and garnishes.

    Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken

    To make air fryer honey garlic chicken, you’ll cook the chicken and the sauce separately. Then, combine them and add the garnish before serving.

    • Cut, season, and coat the chicken with flour as directed in the recipe.
    • Preheat the air fryer to 380˚F. Then, spray the basket with olive oil, put the coated chicken cubes in the air fryer, and spray them with olive oil.
    • Cook the chicken bites at 380˚F for 10-12 minutes, stirring halfway through, until they are lightly browned and reach an internal temperature of 165˚F.
    • While the chicken is air frying, make the honey garlic sauce in a saucepan. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Then, add the honey, light soy sauce, and hoisin sauce. Bring to a boil.
    • In a small bowl, mix together one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of cold water. Add the mixture to the sauce and cook, while stirring constantly, until thickened. Remove from the heat.
    • Transfer the crispy chicken bites from the air fryer to the saucepan and stir to coat the chicken with sauce. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

    Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

    Crock pot honey garlic chicken is another way to prepare this recipe. You’ll cook the chicken and the sauce in a slow cooker and then thicken the sauce on the stovetop before serving.

    • Cut the chicken and season it but skip coating it with flour.
    • Put the chicken pieces, minced garlic, and sauce in the crock pot and stir to coat.
    • Cover and cook on low for 2-4 hours until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.
    • Remove the chicken and set it aside. Transfer the sauce to a saucepan.
    • Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat.
    • In a small bowl, mix together one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of cold water. Add the mixture to the sauce and cook until thickened, stirring constantly.
    • Remove the sauce from the heat, add the chicken, and stir to coat.
    Honey garlic chicken on a fork.

    Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

    Another option is to make honey garlic chicken tenders instead of chicken bites.

    • To do so, you’ll need chicken tenderloins. Or if you have boneless skinless chicken breasts on hand, you can cut them into strips.
    • Follow the recipe as directed but skip cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
    • Increase the frying time to 4-5 minutes per side since the chicken tenderloins are bigger.
    • Add the sauce as directed and turn to coat both sides during the final 3-4 minutes.
    honey garlic chicken with rice in a bowl

    Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe FAQs

    Do I have to use chicken breasts for this recipe?

    The recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts, but skinless chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins would work as well.

    Why are the chicken breasts cut into small pieces before cooking?

    Chicken breasts are cut into pieces in this recipe so that it cooks faster, there are more crispy bits, and you get honey garlic sauce in more areas. But the chicken breasts can be left whole if you prefer, but you will need to extend the cooking time depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.

    What else can I add to this honey garlic chicken?

    Stir in cut-up broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, carrots, or peas for honey garlic chicken stir-fry.

    My sauce won’t thicken. What should I do?

    If you want a thicker sauce, mix one tablespoon of cornstarch into two tablespoons of cold water. Stir the mixture into the sauce.

    My honey garlic sauce is too thick? What should I do?

    If you want a thinner sauce, add a little water at a time until it reaches the consistency you prefer.

    Can I use gluten free flour?

    Yes, you can use gluten free flour, use cornstarch in place of the flour, or skip the flour coating and thicken the sauce with cornstarch, as mentioned above.

    honey garlic chicken with rice in a bowl

    Similar Recipes

    Orange Chicken: This 30-minute skillet recipe for orange chicken is easy to make and so delicious! It’s an easy dinner recipe that your whole family will love.

    General Tso Chicken: Skip the takeout and make this General Tso Chicken recipe at home! It’s easy to make and full of flavor. Serve over rice or noodles for a family dinner.

    Stir Fry Sauce: This stir fry sauce recipe can be used for vegetables, chicken, beef, shrimp, and pork. It is super easy to make and totally adaptable. Store in the fridge or freezer for later!

    Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken: Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken is a Crock Pot recipe that’s easy to make, cheaper than takeout, and tastes better too! It’s a family-friendly recipe that will become a favorite.

    Honey garlic chicken in a pan.

    Honey Garlic Chicken

    This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is easy to make and ready in 15 minutes! Made with chicken breasts and a 4 ingredient honey garlic sauce.
    4.51 from 269 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 4 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 11 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Equipment

    T-Fal Fry Pan
    Hoisin Sauce
    Cutting Board Set

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts
    • ½ teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 2 tablespoon sliced green onions
    • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

    Honey Garlic Sauce

    • ½ cup honey
    • ¼ cup light soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
    • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional

    Instructions

    Honey Garlic Sauce

    • Whisk together honey, light soy sauce, olive oil, and hoisin sauce in a small bowl. Add red pepper flakes for heat, if desired. Set aside for later.

    Honey Garlic Chicken

    • Cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into pieces. Sprinkle with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.
    • Put the chicken pieces in a gallon sized plastic bag. Add the flour, close the top of the bag, and shake the chicken to coat it evenly with flour.
    • Heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the flour coated chicken. Cook for about three minutes, flip the pieces over and cook for another three minutes.
    • Add the minced garlic, stir, and cook for 1-2 minutes.
    • Turn the heat down to medium. Add the honey garlic sauce. Stir and cook for 3-4 minutes.
    • Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

    Video

    Notes

    One: Chicken Options

    You can substitute the boneless skinless chicken breasts with chicken thighs or chicken tenderloins.

    Two: Veggies

    Add broccoli or cauliflower florets, sliced bell peppers, chopped carrots, or peas.

    Three: Air Fryer

    Place the coated chicken pieces in the greased air fryer basket and spray them with olive oil. Cook in a preheated air fryer at 380˚F for 10-12 minutes. Make the sauce in a saucepan. Heat the oil over medium heat, add the garlic, and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add the honey, soy sauce, and hoisin and bring to a boil. In a small bowl, combine one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of cold water. Add it to the sauce and cook, while stirring, until thickened. Coat the cooked chicken pieces with the sauce and garnish.

    Four: Crock Pot

    Season the chicken but skip the flour coating. Put the chicken pieces, minced garlic, and sauce in the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 2-4 hours. Remove the chicken and transfer the sauce to a saucepan. Bring it to a boil over medium heat. In a small bowl, mix together one tablespoon of cornstarch and two tablespoons of cold water. Add the mixture to the sauce and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add the chicken, and stir to coat.

    Five: Storage

    Store cooled leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to two months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 4oz | Calories: 446kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1159mg | Potassium: 525mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 36g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Author: Tonia Larson

     

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Million Dollar Spaghetti Squash »

    Comments

    1. Robert J Smith says

      May 3, 2023 at 11:01 am

      can I use cubed pork chops instead of chicken?

      Reply
      • Tonia Larson says

        May 4, 2023 at 10:10 am

        Hi Robert,
        Yes, that should work, although you may need to adjust the cooking time.
        ~Tonia

        Reply
    2. Rhoda Sumner says

      February 28, 2023 at 4:48 am

      5 stars
      There are lots of different variations of this recipe but a lot of them require ingredients that I just don’t usually keep on hand and just lept falling short of what are called for. But i just happened to hav3 everything i needed for this one. Yay. I did add a bit of garlic to my sauce mixture as well as adding it into the skillet. And i added corn starch to give my chicken a little extra crunch 😋 Delicious recipe! I will definitely be doing this one again.

      Reply
    3. Susan says

      February 18, 2023 at 8:53 pm

      My family loves this dish. I add stir fried mushrooms, carrots, bok choy, red peppers, and broccoli. I serve it over black, red, and brown rice. It was a healthy and delicious meal. It’s my second time to make it.

      Reply
      • Jim says

        April 28, 2023 at 6:12 pm

        I made this for dinner tonight looking for something new. It was so good! I watched my wife’s lifeless eyes light eye first time in years! She was so intrigued by something new for once, she made sweet love to me for hours! Thank you your recipe brought some hope to this marriage!

        Reply
    4. Susan says

      February 19, 2023 at 2:48 am

      5 stars
      Everyone enjoyed. To boost the healthiness of the dish I added stir fried mushrooms, carrots, bok choy, red peppers, and broccoli and served over a mix of black, red, and brown rice.

      Reply
    5. Nicole says

      January 31, 2023 at 12:26 am

      5 stars
      This recipe is perfect. Delicious, quick, cheap. My son literally came all the way downstairs from his closed bedroom to ask what I was making

      Reply
    6. Glori says

      December 21, 2022 at 6:04 pm

      How does chicken cook in like 6 minutes? Totally raw

      Reply
      • Tonia says

        December 21, 2022 at 8:00 pm

        Why would you only cook it for 6 minutes? In step 3, the chicken is cooked for 6 minutes, then in step 4, it is cooked for another 2 minutes, and finally, in step 5, it is cooked for an additional 3-4 minutes. That is a total of 11-12 minutes for bite-sized pieces of chicken.

        Reply
      • nisa james says

        January 3, 2023 at 10:23 am

        small pieces cook fast

        Reply
    7. Christal Clay says

      March 27, 2022 at 7:53 pm

      I love the recipe I made it for my family and they enjoyed it. I will make it again.

      Reply
    8. Sarah says

      February 6, 2022 at 7:42 pm

      The base is perfect. I wanted to play around and make a hakka style sauce. I added chopped ginger, garlic, a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice, chilli flakes and quite a bit of togarashi. Garnished with green onions and dried chillies at the end. I ran out of flour so used cornstarch to fry the chicken.

      Reply
    9. Sarah says

      February 7, 2022 at 1:42 am

      5 stars
      The base is perfect. I wanted to play around and make a hakka style sauce. I added chopped ginger, garlic, a splash of fresh squeezed orange juice, chilli flakes and quite a bit of togarashi. Garnished with green onions and dried chillies at the end. I ran out of flour so used cornstarch to fry the chicken.

      Reply
    10. Tammy says

      September 23, 2021 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      Made this today which makes the 10th time in only a few months. This is so good!!! Definitely one of my favorites. Totally recommend.

      Reply
    11. Tara says

      July 10, 2021 at 7:31 am

      This was excellent, I will be making this for my family when they come to visit. Thank you!

      Reply
    12. Edwina Howard says

      June 13, 2021 at 6:37 pm

      I made this today. I had to make my own hoisin sauce. Tastes great but I wish the chicken could have been a little more crispy.

      Reply
      • Hunter says

        June 17, 2021 at 6:22 pm

        use corn starch instead of flower, this will crispy those chicken bites up

        Reply
      • Sandy r says

        February 27, 2022 at 11:51 am

        How did you make your own Hoisin Sauce? This sounds amazing.

        Reply
    13. AJ says

      May 10, 2021 at 3:27 pm

      Hi, so I tried this, and it was terrific; I would say tho to make the chicken a little more tender and juicy while being crispy with flour and bread crumbs. I made bigger cuts but not too big, still relatively small. And had the chicken sit in buttermilk for half an hour before putting on seasoning and flour. I put the salt, pepper and minced garlic instead while on the pan. It turned out perfect. I also added sliced bell peppers as a veggie, so it’s not all chicken. Honestly, very amazing; I will definitely do it again as a side with my stir fry noodles.

      Reply
    14. Monserrat says

      February 15, 2021 at 6:26 pm

      The first time I made this it was amazing! The second time my sauce was super runny and smelled off as though the honey or soy sauce was not cooking right. I’m not sure what I did wrong the second time around! Anybody run into this when cooking with soy sauce and honey?

      Reply
    15. Sylvia says

      January 22, 2021 at 1:03 pm

      Absolutely amazing!! Tastes soooo good. Definitely one of my favourite recipes. Thank you 😍.

      Reply
    16. Jenny says

      June 27, 2020 at 1:40 pm

      5 stars
      So delicious! Family favorite. I added stir fry vegetables.

      Reply
    17. Dave Pickering says

      May 2, 2020 at 12:04 pm

      Loved this meal,followed recipe as is but had it with new potatoes, super tasty and easy to make

      Reply
    18. Alicia says

      April 19, 2020 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      That was absolutely amazing! Thank you for the recipe!!

      Reply
    19. Alicia says

      April 19, 2020 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      That was absolutely amazing! Thank you for the recipe!!

      Reply
    20. Hana says

      April 15, 2020 at 3:33 pm

      Great recipe and tastes delicious! Is this suitable for freezing?

      Reply
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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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