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Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts are shown as the featured image for a delicious recipe.

Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

This recipe delivers mouthwatering honey garlic chicken breasts with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. Searing the chicken before simmering in a luscious honey garlic sauce ensures tender, juicy results every time. Serve with rice or your favorite side for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 2
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Calories: 450
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 6-8 ounces each
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
  • Salt to taste
  • Freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Sesame seeds optional garnish
  • Chopped green onions optional garnish

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Measuring spoons
  • Measuring cups
  • knife
  • cutting board
  • paper towels
  • spatula
  • tongs
  • small bowl

Method
 

  1. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Add the chicken breasts to the skillet and sear for 4-5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  5. Pour in the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Add red pepper flakes if using. Stir to combine.
  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to form a slurry.
  7. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency (about 1-2 minutes).
  8. Return the chicken breasts to the skillet and coat them evenly with the honey garlic sauce.
  9. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for another 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has further reduced and glazed onto the chicken. Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
  10. Remove the chicken from the skillet and slice it.
  11. Drizzle the remaining sauce over the chicken.
  12. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired.
  13. Serve hot with rice, noodles, or your favorite side dish.

Notes

For best results, use fresh garlic and high-quality honey. Patting the chicken dry before searing is crucial for achieving a good sear and preventing the chicken from steaming. Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to your desired level of spice. Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or microwave.