Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Introduction

Honey Garlic Chicken is a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors that makes for a quick and satisfying meal. Tender chicken thighs are coated and pan-fried to golden perfection, then simmered in a sticky honey garlic sauce. This dish pairs beautifully with boiled rice for a comforting dinner.

Ingredients

• 8 chicken thighs (skinless and boneless)
• 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 cloves minced garlic
• 110 g (1/3 cup) honey
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) chicken stock
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

To serve:

• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• Boiled rice

Instructions

1. Step 1: Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and add the cornflour, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken in the cornflour mixture until fully coated.
2. Step 2: Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or skillet over high heat.
3. Step 3: Add the chicken thighs to the pan and cook on one side until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes.
4. Step 4: Add the butter to the pan and let it melt. Then add the minced garlic, stirring to combine. Lower the heat to medium to prevent the garlic from burning.
5. Step 5: In a separate bowl, mix the honey, chicken stock, rice vinegar, and light soy sauce to create the sauce.
6. Step 6: Pour the sauce into the pan. Increase the heat to bring it to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 4-5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and the chicken is cooked through with no pink in the center.
7. Step 7: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and chilli flakes over the chicken. Serve hot over boiled rice.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the honey sauce for 30 minutes before cooking.
• You can substitute chicken thighs with breasts, but adjust cooking times to avoid drying out the meat.
• Add steamed vegetables like broccoli or snap peas for a complete meal.
• Use maple syrup instead of honey for a slightly different sweetness.

Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a pan over medium heat to preserve the sauce’s consistency, or microwave until warmed through. Avoid overcooking when reheating to keep the chicken tender.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use frozen chicken thighs for this recipe?

Yes, you can use frozen chicken thighs but make sure to thaw them completely before cooking to ensure even cooking and proper coating with cornflour.

How can I make the sauce thicker?

If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer for a few minutes longer to reduce further. You can also mix a small amount of cornflour with cold water and stir it into the sauce to thicken it quickly.

Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

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4.5 from 85 reviews

This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe features tender, boneless chicken thighs coated in a light cornflour crust, then pan-fried to a golden perfection and simmered in a luscious honey garlic sauce. The balance of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and tangy rice vinegar creates a flavorful glaze that clings beautifully to the chicken. Garnished with fresh parsley and a sprinkle of chili flakes, this dish pairs perfectly with boiled rice for a comforting and delicious meal.

• Author: Isabella
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken and Coating

• 8 chicken thighs (skinless and boneless)
• 2 tbsp cornflour (cornstarch)
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp pepper

Cooking

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 cloves minced garlic

Sauce

• 110 g (1/3 cup) honey
• 80 ml (1/3 cup) chicken stock
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce

To Serve

• 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
• ½ tsp chilli flakes
• Boiled rice

Instructions

1. Coat the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a bowl and add the cornflour, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken thoroughly until fully coated with the cornflour mixture, ensuring even coverage to create a light crust when cooking.
2. Heat the Pan: Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan or skillet over high heat to get it hot and ready for searing the chicken.
3. Cook Chicken Thighs: Add the coated chicken thighs to the hot pan and cook on one side until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 2 minutes on the other side.
4. Add Butter and Garlic: Add the unsalted butter to the pan and let it melt. Then add the minced garlic, stirring together with the butter and chicken. Reduce the heat to medium to prevent the garlic from burning while preparing the sauce.
5. Prepare the Sauce: In a separate bowl, combine honey, chicken stock, rice vinegar, and light soy sauce. Stir well to blend all ingredients into a smooth sauce.
6. Add Sauce and Simmer: Pour the prepared sauce into the pan with the chicken. Increase the heat to bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 4-5 minutes. This will allow the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken as it finishes cooking through, ensuring the chicken is no longer pink in the center.
7. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle finely chopped fresh parsley and chili flakes over the dish. Serve the saucy honey garlic chicken hot over a bed of boiled rice for a complete meal.

Notes

• Ensure the chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) for safety.
• You can use chicken breasts if preferred, but thighs remain juicier and more flavorful.
• If you like your sauce sweeter or tangier, adjust the amount of honey or rice vinegar to taste.
• For a spicier dish, increase the chili flakes or add fresh sliced chili peppers.
• Serve immediately as the sauce thickens and sets quickly once removed from heat.

Keywords: Honey Garlic Chicken, chicken thighs, honey garlic sauce, easy chicken recipe, pan-fried chicken, Asian chicken dish, quick dinner