20 Minute Garlic Chicken with Honey Sauce

This garlic chicken with honey sauce comes together in just 20 minutes and all in one pan! It’s made with just a handful of simple ingredients but it’s also LOADED with flavor.

Easy Garlic Chicken with Honey Sauce

• If you’re looking for a new chicken recipe to add to your rotation, this is it! This crowd-pleasing, one-pan, 20-minute garlic honey chicken is one of my favorite recipes ever! The chicken and sauce all cook in the same pan which means fewer dishes for you and it means you get that really delicious flavor from the sauteed chicken infused right into the sauce.
• The ingredient list is short and sweet. You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already. And if you don’t, you’ll want to keep them stocked so you’re just 20 minutes away from sticky honey garlic chicken!

Ingredients for Garlic Chicken

• Olive Oil & Butter: Olive oil and butter are the best combination to saute chicken breast and then create a delicious pan sauce with the drippings.
• Chicken Breast: I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breast for this recipe but you could also use chicken thighs if you like.
• Flour: The flour is going to coat the chicken and add a little bit more of a crust to the outside once it’s sauteed.
• Garlic: Use fresh garlic for this recipe for the best flavor. Garlic powder will work in a pinch but fresh garlic is so much more flavorful. I like to thinly slice it in this recipe but you can also mince the garlic. If you’re using garlic powder, start with about 3/4 of a teaspoon and add more as needed.
• Soy Sauce: Just a little bit of soy sauce adds a delicious, salty, umami flavor.
• Rice Vinegar: A splash of rice vinegar will add just a bit of tang and balance out the sweetness from the honey and the salt from the soy sauce.
• Honey: Honey is the key ingredient in this sauce so use your family’s favorite.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken at Home

Season chicken with salt and pepper and dredge it in flour.

Saute in olive oil and butter until a dark golden brown crust forms.

Saute thinly sliced garlic in butter and the pan drippings from the chicken.

Add soy sauce and seasoned rice vinegar to deglaze the pan. Simmer the sauce until it thickens then add chicken back into the pan and warm through.

Garnish with sliced green onion and enjoy!

Tips for Making Honey Garlic Chicken

• Slice the chicken in half as evenly as possible. This will ensure that it cooks evenly and all the way through.
• Make sure the pan is nice and hot before you add the chicken so that it sears and gets that beautiful dark golden brown crust. That is going to add more flavor to the chicken itself and more flavor to the honey sauce.
• Don’t let the garlic burn! Keep the heat low and keep the garlic moving so that it cooks and becomes fragrant but doesn’t turn brown or burn.
• Be sure to deglaze the pan and scrape all those yummy bits off the bottom! I find that this large saute pan works really well for searing and then using a soft spatula or whisk to gently scrape the pan clean. Those little bits are going to add tons of flavor to the honey sauce.

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

• If you’re more into chicken thighs than boneless, skinless chicken breast, feel free to use them instead!
• Chicken thighs usually come in packages of 2+ pounds so I recommend doubling all the ingredients so that you’ve got enough flour to coat the thighs and enough sauce to coat them.
• If you’re making this recipe with chicken thighs, you’ll want to bake the chicken thighs in a 375-degree oven for 5-10 minutes or more (after cooking them in the sauce) until the chicken thighs are cooked through all the way.

FAQ

What goes best with honey garlic chicken?

I love to serve this honey garlic chicken with rice, broccoli, and ripe avocado for a quick and easy lunch. It’s also delicious with air fryer asparagus, air fryer green beans, and air fryer zucchini. Roasted baby potatoes and a simple house salad are another classic option.

What is honey garlic sauce made of?

This easy honey garlic sauce is made with the pan drippings from the sauteed chicken, butter, thinly sliced garlic, soy sauce, seasoned rice vinegar, and honey. The combination creates a perfectly sticky, smooth sauce that beautifully coats the chicken.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This garlic chicken is the perfect meal prep recipe! Throw a batch together on Sunday afternoon and you’ve got easy lunches ready to go all week. Pair with rice, steamed broccoli, and ripe avocado for a delicious meal that you’ll be looking forward to!

Storing Leftover Honey Garlic Chicken

Store leftover honey garlic chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.

Freezing Honey Garlic Chicken

Freeze honey garlic chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating Garlic Chicken with Honey Sauce

Reheat leftover honey garlic chicken in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the sauce when reheating as well. Cook until warmed through. You can also dice up the chicken before reheating so that it warms through quickly without getting overcooked.

Try these chicken recipes next!

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