Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken made with tender chicken tenders simmered in a sweet, spicy and sticky honey sauce. This ultimate honey garlic chicken recipe is flavorful and better than take-out, perfect served over rice with steamed broccoli.
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
- 4 large cloves minced garlic
Sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic chili crisp (optional, like momofuku)
- 1/3 cup honey
Garnish
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes (use mild less based on spice preference)
To Serve
- Rice
- Steamed broccoli
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and garlic chili crisp if using. Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave if necessary to help incorporate the honey. Set aside.
- Season and coat the chicken: Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper, then toss in cornstarch to coat evenly.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken tenders in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes until light golden brown. Transfer cooked chicken to a dish and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce heat to medium-low, add butter to the same skillet and let it melt. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add sauce and chicken: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with the garlic and butter, stirring to combine. Add the chicken tenders back into the skillet, submerging them in the sauce.
- Simmer to thicken: Turn heat to low and simmer for about 10 minutes or until the sauce has mostly evaporated and thickened to a sticky consistency.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley over the chicken. Serve hot over rice with steamed broccoli on the side.
Notes
- For a milder dish, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
- Garlic chili crisp adds extra flavor but can be omitted for less spice.
- To keep chicken tender, avoid overcooking when browning; just achieve a golden crust.
- Use fresh parsley for the best garnish flavor but dried parsley can be substituted if needed.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the sticky texture of the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
