Description
A flavorful Honey Garlic Chicken recipe featuring tender chicken tenders simmered in a sweet, spicy, and sticky honey garlic sauce, perfect for serving over rice with steamed broccoli. This dish combines savory garlic, honey sweetness, and a hint of spice for a delicious homemade alternative to takeout.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
Sauce
- 4 large cloves minced garlic
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic chili crisp (optional)
- 1/3 cup honey
Garnish
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
To Serve
- Cooked rice
- Steamed broccoli
Instructions
- Prepare sauce: In a medium bowl, mix chicken stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and optional garlic chili crisp. Whisk together until combined, warming briefly in the microwave if needed to fully dissolve the honey. Set aside.
- Season and coat chicken: Season chicken tenders evenly with salt and pepper. Coat each piece in cornstarch for a light crust.
- Cook chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each side for 1 to 2 minutes until lightly golden brown. Transfer cooked chicken to a dish and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce heat to medium-low and add butter to the same skillet. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Combine sauce and chicken: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with garlic and butter. Stir to combine. Add the chicken pieces back to the skillet and submerge them in the sauce.
- Simmer: Lower heat to low and let the chicken simmer at a gentle boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and reduces to a sticky consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley over the chicken. Serve hot over cooked rice with steamed broccoli on the side.
Notes
- For less spice, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
- Garlic chili crisp adds a nice heat and texture but can be omitted for a milder sauce.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the pan when browning chicken to achieve a nice crust.
- Warm the honey slightly if it is crystallized to ensure it mixes well into the sauce.
- Use fresh parsley for a bright, fresh garnish that complements the rich sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
