If you’re craving a dish that’s both comforting and bursting with flavor, you’ll love my Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe. It’s easy to whip up, incredibly tasty, and perfect for weeknight dinners or when you want to impress without fuss.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I first made this honey garlic butter chicken one evening after a long day when I wanted something quick but absolutely delicious. The way the buttery, garlicky sauce combines with the sweetness of honey just wins me over every single time, and I bet you’ll feel the same way.
- Speedy and simple: You can get fancy-tasting chicken on the table in about 15 minutes—perfect for busy nights.
- Flavor-packed sauce: The honey, garlic, and butter create a luscious glaze that’s both sweet and savory.
- Customizable: You can easily adjust the heat, add brightness, or make it saucier depending on your mood.
- Great for leftovers: It reheats beautifully and pairs well with so many side dishes.
Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient here is doing a special job to make this honey garlic butter chicken recipe sing. From the tender chicken breasts to the sweet and tangy sauce, everything works together in harmony. When shopping, fresh garlic and good quality butter make a noticeable difference, so don’t skimp there.
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Pounding them to an even thickness ensures quick and even cooking, plus tender bites.
- Salt and pepper: The simple seasoning that enhances natural chicken flavor.
- Flour: Creates a light crust and helps thicken the sauce wonderfully.
- Butter: Adds richness and lets the garlic infuse beautifully.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is the star aromatics here—don’t use pre-minced in a jar if you can help it!
- Honey: Brings a delicate sweetness that balances the garlic and tang.
- Soy sauce: Adds depth and umami, making the sauce more complex.
- Apple cider vinegar: A touch of acidity brightens the whole dish.
- Chicken broth (optional): Makes the sauce extra saucy if you prefer more liquid glaze.
- Fresh parsley or green onions (optional): A sprinkle at the end adds freshness and color.
Make It Your Way
One of the best parts about this honey garlic butter chicken recipe is how easy it is to personalize. I like to tweak it depending on what’s in season or what flavors I’m craving—there’s plenty of room for your own spin!
- Variation: Sometimes I sprinkle in red pepper flakes for a little kick—if you like heat, give it a try!
- Make it saucier: Adding chicken broth helps if you prefer more sauce to soak up with rice or bread.
- Brighten it up: A splash of lemon or lime juice right before serving gives a fresh zing that cuts through the richness nicely.
- Protein swaps: I’ve even used this sauce with pork chops or shrimp—not traditional but delicious!
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
First, pound your chicken breasts to about ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. This step is key because it ensures the chicken cooks evenly and stays tender. Season both sides with salt and pepper, then dredge the pieces lightly in flour, shaking off any extra. This light coating helps create a delicious crust and thickens the sauce later.
Step 2: Sear the Chicken
Heat a skillet over medium-high and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. When it’s hot and bubbling, add the chicken breasts. Cook them for 4-5 minutes on one side until beautifully golden. Then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes. Don’t move them around too much — let them get that seared crust.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
Turn the heat down to medium and melt the remaining tablespoon of butter in the same skillet. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant—you can smell it filling your kitchen! Now pour in the sauce mixture of honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Let it gently simmer, stirring often, until it thickens and the chicken reaches 165°F internally. If you like it saucier, add chicken broth, stir, and simmer a bit longer.
Step 4: Finish and Serve
Flip the chicken again to make sure both sides are coated in that luscious sauce. Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley or chopped green onions, and serve immediately while it’s warm and glossy. Trust me, you’ll want to dig right in!
Top Tip
From my experience cooking this honey garlic butter chicken recipe multiple times, small details really make a difference. So here are a few tips that will take your dish from good to unforgettable, and help you avoid common pitfalls.
- Even thickness: Don’t skip pounding the chicken—it ensures fast, even cooking without dried out edges.
- Watch the garlic: Garlic burns quickly, so sauté it just until fragrant, about 30 seconds, then add your sauce right away to keep it sweet, not bitter.
- Use fresh honey: Raw or good-quality honey adds the best flavor and shine to the sauce. It really stands out compared to store-brand varieties.
- Don’t overcrowd your pan: Sear the chicken in batches if needed—crowding lowers the temperature and prevents a crisp crust.
How to Serve Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Garnishes
I usually sprinkle chopped fresh parsley or sliced green onions on top. They add a pop of color and a fresh brightness that balances the richness of the buttery sauce. Sometimes, a wedge of lemon on the side for squeezing adds a lovely zing.
Side Dishes
This chicken pairs beautifully with steamed jasmine rice or buttery mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce. For veggies, I love serving it alongside garlic roasted broccoli or a crisp green salad. Roasted carrots or snap peas also make lovely companions for the meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I like plating this chicken on a bed of creamy polenta or cauliflower puree. Serving it with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds or a drizzle of sriracha mayo gives it that extra wow factor. You can even skewer the chicken pieces and drizzle sauce over for a fun appetizer vibe.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The sauce keeps the chicken moist, so it actually tastes great the next day — just reheat gently to avoid drying out.
Freezing
I’ve frozen this chicken successfully several times. Just cool completely, pack in freezer-safe containers or bags, and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
To reheat, I warm it gently in a skillet over low to medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth if the sauce thickened too much. This helps keep the chicken juicy and the sauce glossy without scorching.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work wonderfully too. They’re a bit fattier, so the chicken will be extra juicy and flavorful. Just adjust the cooking time slightly to ensure they're cooked through.
If you prefer your sauce thicker, simply let it simmer a bit longer uncovered to reduce. To make it saucier, add about ¼ cup of chicken broth as the recipe suggests, which loosens the sauce without diluting the flavor. Adjust according to your preference.
Yes! You can prep the chicken by seasoning and dredging it in flour ahead and keep it refrigerated for a few hours before cooking. The cooked dish also reheats well, making it an excellent make-ahead meal for busy days.
I love serving this chicken with simple sides like steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables. A fresh green salad or sautéed greens add a nice balance. The sauce is so good you’ll want something to soak it up!
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this honey garlic butter chicken recipe is one of those gems I go back to again and again. It strikes the perfect balance between sweet, savory, and garlicky richness, and it never feels like you spent all day in the kitchen. I hope you love making and eating it as much as I do—it’s restaurant-worthy comfort food that’s totally achievable at home. Give it a try and let me know what variations you come up with!
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Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken recipe features tender, perfectly seared chicken breasts coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic butter sauce. The pan-seared chicken is cooked to juicy perfection with a luscious blend of honey, garlic, butter, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar, creating a quick and delicious dinner option that's perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5-8 oz. each)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup flour
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
Sauce
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup chicken broth (optional)
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar until fully combined and set aside.
- Pound the chicken breasts: Use a meat mallet to gently pound each chicken breast to an even thickness of ½ inch for uniform cooking.
- Season and dredge the chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper, then dredge them in flour, shaking off any excess flour to ensure a light coating.
- Sear the chicken: Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook on one side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip the chicken: Turn the chicken breasts over and sear on the other side for 1-2 minutes to develop a nice crust.
- Add garlic and melt remaining butter: Lower the heat to medium, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet, then add minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer with sauce: Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce into the skillet. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken, spooning it over the chicken, while cooking until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Make it saucier (optional): If you prefer a saucier dish, stir in ¼ cup chicken broth and simmer briefly to combine.
- Coat chicken with sauce and garnish: Turn the chicken breasts in the sauce to coat evenly. Transfer to plates and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onions if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve hot with your favorite sides and enjoy the flavorful honey garlic butter chicken.
Notes
- Use smaller chicken breasts (5-8 oz) for even cooking; for larger breasts, slice them in half lengthwise to create cutlets.
- For a saucier sauce, add ¼ cup chicken broth during the simmering step.
- Add some heat by sprinkling red pepper flakes into the sauce while cooking.
- Brighten the flavor with a squeeze of fresh lime or lemon juice added at the end of cooking.
- Make sure to cook the chicken fully to an internal temperature of 165ºF for safety and juiciness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
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