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Chicken/ Garlic/ Hearty Dinners

Honey Garlic Chicken

October 21, 2019 (Last Updated: October 17, 2022) by Chris Collins

These Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts are made in one pan with basic pantry ingredients. The perfect quick and easy chicken dinner!

overhead shot of chicken in pan with spoon and sauce

Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

You know, it wasn’t that long ago I uploaded my Honey Garlic Pork Chops. But can you ever really have too much honey garlic?! Absolutely not no. Hence here we are, similar recipe but this time with the glorious chicken breast!

I love this recipe for so many different reasons, mainly because it’s outrageously delicious, but also because it’s so darn quick and easy to make! 15mins and some pantry staples is all you’ll need.

How to prep honey garlic chicken breasts (quick summary)

  1. Bring two chicken breasts to room temp.
  2. Slice through the centre to make 4 even sized breasts.
  3. Coat in olive oil, onion & garlic powder, salt & pepper.
  4. Fry for a few mins each side until golden and just cooked through the centre.
  5. Remove from pan.

How to make honey garlic chicken breast - 5 step by step photos

Can I use Chicken Thigh – You sure can! I recommend bone in skin on chicken thighs for maximum flavour. Season them as stated in recipe, then fry skin side down first, then flip and follow on the recipe. You may need to fry for longer to cook through the centre.

Honey Garlic Sauce

This sauce itself is actually incredibly simple. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Honey
  • Garlic
  • Soy Sauce
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Fresh Thyme
  • Butter

I recommend using runny honey (as opposed to the firm kind you can get) to ensure the sauce doesn’t go clumpy. I also highly recommend light soy sauce as opposed to dark.

How to make Honey Garlic Sauce (quick summary)

  1. Melt butter in the pan.
  2. Add garlic and slightly brown.
  3. Pour in honey, soy sauce and apple cider vinegar, then add thyme and seasoning.
  4. Simmer then add back in chicken.

How to make honey garlic chicken sauce - 4 step by step photos

Top Tip #1 – Be very vigilant after you’ve added the garlic as it will brown quickly, and will continue to do so after you added the liquid too. A minute or so should be fine in between adding the butter and liquids.
Top Tip #2 – If for whatever reason your sauce thickens too much or drys out, consider adding a splash of chicken stock (preferably low sodium).

Once the sauce has thickened, turn the heat off as you baste the chicken. You don’t want the chicken to overcook and dry out!

Right, gimme that spoon.

pouring honey garlic sauce on chicken breast in skillet with golden spoon

And there we have it! An incredibly quick, super easy and ever so delicious chicken dinner ready for the taking!

What to serve with honey garlic chicken?

Potatoes: Mustard MashRoasted Baby PotatoesGoose Fat Roast PotatoesOven Baked Chips.
Veg: Parmesan Roasted CauliflowerHoney Balsamic Roasted CarrotsGarlic Green Beans.

Hey, whilst you’re here why not check out my other recipes?

One Pan Chicken Dinner Recipes

Alrighty, let’s tuck into this honey garlic chicken recipe shall we!?

honey garlic chicken breast on plate with mashed potatoes and green beans blurred in the background

How to make Honey Garlic Chicken (Full Recipe & Video)

overhead shot of chicken in pan with spoon and sauce

Honey Garlic Chicken

These Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts are made in one pan with basic pantry ingredients. The perfect quick and easy chicken dinner!
4.80 from 10 votes
Print Pin Rate
Servings (click & slide): 4
Course: Dinner / Main Course
Cuisine: Comfort Food
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 313kcal
Cost per serving: £1.50 / $2

Equipment:

  • 12" Skillet & Wooden Spoon
  • Sharp Knife & Chopping Board

Ingredients (check list):

  • 2x 9oz/250g Chicken Breasts
  • 1/4 cup / 70g Honey
  • 3 tbsp / 45g / 1.6oz Butter
  • 2 cloves of Garlic, minced
  • 1.5 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
  • 1 sprig of Fresh Thyme
  • 1 tbsp Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp each: Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Salt (plus more to taste)
  • 1/4 tsp Black Pepper (plus more to taste)

Instructions:

  • Allow your chicken to come to room temp, then slice through the centre to create 4 even sized breasts. Coat in 1/2 tsp onion powder, garlic powder, salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper and 1 tbsp olive oil.
  • Fry over medium heat 3-4mins each side (or until golden and just cooked through the centre, don't overcook) then remove from the pan.
  • Melt in 3 tbsp butter, then add 2 cloves of minced garlic. Stir until the garlic just begins to brown (careful, this will happen quickly!) then pour in 1/4cup/70g honey, 1.5 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tbsp light soy sauce. Add fresh thyme and season to taste.
  • Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for a couple of minutes then add back in your chicken. Turn off the heat and spoon over the sauce to fully coat. Enjoy!

Quick 1 min demo!

Notes:

a) Over reduced sauce - If for whatever reason your sauce thickens too much/drys out consider adding a splash of chicken stock (preferably low sodium).
b) Honey - Ensure you're using runny honey so the sauce doesn't clump up!
c) Chicken Seasoning - I use a little onion/garlic powder to spruce up the chicken itself. The star of the show is of course the sauce, but nothing worse than unseasoned chicken to go with it. If you don't have onion/garlic powder then just use a hefty pinch of salt and black pepper. Some thyme also works great.
d) Chicken Thighs - You can sub chicken thighs if you wish. I recommend bone in skin on thighs, fry skin side down first to create a crispy layer, then flip and carry on with the rest of the recipe.
e) Inspiration - This recipe is adapted from the wonderful Recipetineats.
f) Calories - Based on 1 breast each with 1/4 of the sauce.

Your Private Notes:

Nutrition:

Nutrition Facts
Honey Garlic Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 313 Calories from Fat 119
% Daily Value*
Fat 13.17g20%
Saturated Fat 4.909g25%
Trans Fat 0.012g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.322g
Monounsaturated Fat 5.312g
Cholesterol 102mg34%
Sodium 456mg19%
Potassium 460mg13%
Carbohydrates 19.17g6%
Fiber 0.2g1%
Sugar 18.22g20%
Protein 28.94g58%
Vitamin A 220IU4%
Vitamin C 0.9mg1%
Calcium 18mg2%
Iron 0.82mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition is based on the absence of salt unless stated as a measurement in the ingredients. Cost is worked out based on ingredients bought from UK supermarkets, then divided by the number of servings. In both instances these values are just for guidance. Please check out my FAQ Page for more info.
Tried this recipe?Show me how you got on by tagging @dontgobaconmyheart_ on IG and #dontgobaconmyheart
Looking for more?You'll find plenty more delicious comfort food like this in my Debut Cookbook 'Comfy'

If you loved this Honey Garlic Chicken recipe be sure to pin it for later! Already made it or got a burning question? Give me a shout in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook along the way!

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Recipe Rating




20 Comments

  • Reply
    Susan
    August 4, 2021 at 5:27 pm

    This was delicious!!! I made it with creamed spinach on the side and the two together was amazing!
    That’s for the recipe can’t wait to try another of yours

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      August 5, 2021 at 2:41 pm

      Ooo I bet that was delicious with creamed spinach! C.x

  • Reply
    Harriet Oliver
    April 10, 2021 at 8:39 pm

    5 stars
    This was so delicious. Even my fussy children said PLEASE MAKE THIS AGAIN. I served it with buttery mash and petits pois for a cosy, rainy Friday night supper and it was GREAT.

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      April 11, 2021 at 11:31 am

      That’s so awesome to hear, Harriet! Thanks so much for popping back for a review 🙂

  • Reply
    Kim Nemergut
    February 16, 2021 at 12:30 pm

    5 stars
    Instant favorite recipe! Followed recipe exactly (with the exception of pounding the chicken breasts thin instead of cutting in half, since I found chicken breasts that weren’t gigantic for once). What a quick, easy-to-follow, and incredibly delicious recipe!! Thank you for sharing this!! The sauce was delicious on everything else on the plate. Cooked up nicely in a cast iron skillet. Will turn to this recipe over and over again in the future for a lovely meal!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      February 16, 2021 at 6:08 pm

      This is so great to hear, Kim! Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for popping back for a review 🙂

  • Reply
    Jim Buerster
    August 11, 2020 at 10:49 pm

    5 stars
    The sauce is fantastic!! Took me a little longer to prep, but well worth the time. I will need to double the sauce recipe, it taste great over rice.

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      August 13, 2020 at 5:39 pm

      Thanks Jim! Glad it went down well 🙂

  • Reply
    Erin
    April 28, 2020 at 1:05 am

    5 stars
    So easy and very delicious!! Thanks for sharing ☺️

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      April 28, 2020 at 10:02 am

      You’re so welcome, Erin! Thanks for popping back and reviewing 🙂

  • Reply
    Amy
    October 21, 2019 at 12:55 pm

    5 stars
    The glaze on that chicken looks fantastic!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 21, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Amy! 🙂

  • Reply
    Annie @ Annie's Noms
    October 21, 2019 at 12:12 pm

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for new ways to make chicken for dinner – I must try this as it looks fabulous! My husband would love it too!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 21, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Enjoy! 🙂

  • Reply
    kim
    October 21, 2019 at 11:57 am

    5 stars
    What a delicious recipe! This is definitely going on my dinner menu!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 21, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      Enjoy!!

  • Reply
    Natalie
    October 21, 2019 at 11:42 am

    5 stars
    I love honey and garlic together! This chicken looks so moist and delicious!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 21, 2019 at 2:30 pm

      It’s the best combo isn’t it!?

  • Reply
    Danielle Wolter
    October 21, 2019 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    that honey garlic glaze sounds just incredible. The chicken look so juicy and perfect – I can’t wait to try it!

    • Reply
      Chris Collins
      October 21, 2019 at 2:29 pm

      Hope you love it!

    5 KNOCKOUT

    DINNERS

    YOU'LL NEVER STOP MAKING!

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