If you're struggling to decide between sweet and savoury, honey garlic chicken is your rescue. It has the perfect mix of sweet, sticky honey and savoury garlic, making each bite unforgettable. The rich golden glaze coats the chicken beautifully, making honey garlic chicken one of the most popular comfort dishes.
The best part? It suits every meal plan. Whether it's an intimate dinner, a family party, or a quick weekday meal amidst the hustle and bustle, honey garlic chicken is a staple that won't disappoint. It satisfies the heart more than the stomach and packs a punch of flavors that picky eaters and food lovers love equally.
This blog will spill the honey (read beans) on a delicious honey garlic chicken recipe. Every little detail is laid out with food ideas that complement it! So do read until the end.
Ingredients You Will Need
Most of the ingredients mentioned here will likely be present in your pantry. If not, make sure you shop for them.
For the chicken:
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs chopped into cubes
2 tablespoons of cornstarch (optional for a crispy finish)
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, and chilli flakes to taste
2 tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil
For honey garlic sauce:
For garnishing:
Chopped green onions
Sesame seeds
Let's Prepare: Step-By-Step Process
1. Prep the Chicken
Start by preparing the chicken. Pat the cubes dry and toss them in a mix of garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and chilli flakes. Once they are coated well, add some cornstarch if you want to make them slightly crispy. Make sure the coating is not too thick—just enough for the chicken to get crispy and for the sauce to stick nicely.
2. Grill the Chicken
In a medium-sized pan, heat some oil over medium-high heat. Place the chicken pieces and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until they turn slightly golden brown. Don't haste. Let it cook slowly through. Remove it from the pan and set aside.
3. Prepare the Sauce
The most exciting part of preparing this recipe is making the sauce. So let's get to it.
In the same pan, mix soy sauce, vinegar, and honey. Then add freshly minced garlic and fry it until fragrant. Add cornstarch with water to create a slurry and stir it into the sauce. Cook until the sauce reduces and thickens, ideally 3-4 minutes. If you like some heat, add red pepper flakes.
4. Combine the Two
Return the cooked chicken to the pan. Toss it into the sauce until well-coated and properly mixed. Keep the heat on for another minute for the chicken to soak up all the sauce and flavors.
5. Garnish
Transfer it into a serving bowl and garnish it with chopped green onions or sesame seeds for an added touch.
Chicken Breast vs Chicken Thighs: Which One to Pick?
Your choice, chicken breasts or chicken thighs, can change the flavor, texture, and overall experience of the dish. Let's take a quick look at how.
Chicken Thighs
Due to their high fat content, chicken thighs are naturally very flavorful and juicy. They tend to stay tender and moist even if they're slightly overcooked.
Chicken Breasts
Chicken breasts are leaner and faster to cook. They have low-fat content, making them a great choice if you want a lighter version. They stay tender when cooked properly and offer a cleaner, milder flavor. It's also high in protein and an excellent choice for health-conscious meals. Just one small reminder. Chicken breasts can dry out very quickly. Thus, you need to be very careful while cooking them. You'll have to slice them evenly and avoid high heat for too long. Unfortunately, this may not allow the sauce to be absorbed properly.
Foods to Serve Along With Honey Garlic Chicken
You can easily serve honey garlic chicken as is. But if you are looking for complementary dishes, here are a few options!
1. Steamed Jasmine or Basmati Rice
Rice is a classic pairing for sauce-rich dishes for a good reason. Jasmine and Basmati rice have a light, fluffy texture and flavor that beautifully soak up the sweet-savory sauce.
2. Stir-Fried Vegetables
A mix of freshly chopped vegetables like broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, baby corn, and snow peas can quickly add color, crunch, and a lot of nutrition to your plate.
These vegetables are naturally sweet and complement the taste of garlic very well. Moreover, their crunch balances the softness of the chicken. To match the flavor profile, you may want to lightly toss soy sauce and sesame oil.
3. Garlic Noodles
Make it even more garlicky with garlic noodles. Like rice, they soak up the sauce very well, satisfy the hunger beautifully, and carry the same flavor profile.
Raw Honey from GeoHoney!
As a best practice, use 100% raw natural honey for this recipe. It intensifies the flavors, leaving you with an unmatched dining experience.
GeoHoney's raw honey brings out the deep caramelized notes in every bite and its nutrients. It is freshly harvested from their inimitable farms from over 500 global locations and promises a rich, healthy experience.
Visit GeoHoney today and shop from our 200+ monofloral honey and related products!
