When you need dinner on the table fast, this easy Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is the perfect solution. Ready in just 20 minutes, this one-pan chicken recipe features juicy pan-fried chicken coated in a thick, sticky honey garlic sauce made with simple pantry ingredients.
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This skillet dinner is my go-to choice when I need a fast, satisfying main on busy weeknights. The key to perfectly golden, flavorful chicken is starting with a dry surface. Patting the chicken thighs dry removes excess moisture so they sear in the pan instead of steaming.
Why My Recipe Works
- Crispy skin: Searing the chicken thighs skin-side down allows the natural fat to slowly render, creating a golden, crispy surface.
- Flavorful garlic sauce: Mixing the minced garlic directly into the sauce protects it from the high heat of the skillet, allowing it to infuse the glaze without burning.
- Sticky glaze that clings: The rendered chicken fat and crisp surface create the perfect texture for the honey garlic sauce to stick to the chicken instead of pooling in the pan.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Exact ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Main Ingredients
- Skin-on bone-in chicken thighs: Stay juicy and develop a crispy exterior. (Sub: Skin-on boneless chicken thighs)
- Vegetable oil: High smoke point oil for a clean sear. (Sub: Canola oil, avocado oil, or peanut oil)
- Salt & black pepper
- Garlic powder: Adds flavor without burning during searing.
- Green onions: Thinly sliced for garnish.
Honey Garlic Sauce
- Fresh garlic cloves: Finely minced for maximum flavor.
- Honey: Creates a thick, sticky glaze.
- Water: Helps prevent the sugars from burning.
- Rice vinegar: Balances the sweetness. (Sub: Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar)
- Regular soy sauce: Adds savory depth. (Sub: Low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce)
- Toasted sesame oil: Adds nutty flavor.
- Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce. (Sub: Potato starch or tapioca starch)
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make honey garlic chicken:
- Debone the meat: Place the chicken thighs bone-side up on a cutting board. Locate the center bone and make small cuts around it until the bone pulls free.
- Dry the surface: Pat the chicken thighs completely dry on both sides with paper towels to remove surface moisture.
- Season the chicken: Coat both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- Mix the sauce: Combine the honey garlic sauce ingredients as listed above in a small bowl. Stir until dissolved.
- Sear the thighs: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Glaze and garnish: Reduce heat to low-medium. Pour the sauce into the pan around the chicken and allow it to thicken. Flip the thighs skin-side down for 15 seconds to coat, then return them skin-side up and garnish with green onions.
Expert Tips
- Choose evenly sized chicken thighs so they cook more evenly.
- Use a sharp paring knife when deboning to avoid cutting through the chicken skin.
- Fully preheat the skillet before adding oil to help achieve crispy skin.
- Finely mince the garlic so it blends evenly into the glaze without large bitter pieces.
- Insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the meat to confirm it reaches 165°F.
Variations
- Gluten-Free Swap: Replace the regular soy sauce with an equal amount of tamari or coconut aminos.
- Spicy Kick: Stir ½ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes into the honey garlic sauce.
- Air Fryer Method: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Evenly spray the basket with oil. Place the seasoned chicken thighs inside, and air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Toss with the prepared glaze before serving.
Pairing Suggestions
Honey garlic chicken pairs well with:
- Egg Drop Soup: A light starter that balances the sweet honey garlic glaze.
- Egg Fried Rice: Absorbs the extra sauce and adds a savory side.
- Spicy Garlic Bok Choy: Adds freshness and cuts through the richness of the chicken.
Storage & Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in a sealed bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating Method: Reheat skin-side down in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes or microwave for 1-2 minutes until heated through.
FAQ
Can I use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs?
Yes, but chicken breasts dry out faster than thighs. Reduce the initial searing time by 1-2 minutes per side and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Why is my honey garlic sauce too runny?
The sauce needs to simmer to activate the cornstarch. Let it bubble for an extra 60 seconds after adding it to the skillet, or add more cornstarch slurry if needed.
How do I keep the chicken skin crispy after adding the sauce?
Pour the glaze around the chicken instead of directly over the skin. Keep the skin-side down coating time to about 15 seconds to add flavor without making the skin soggy.
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📖 Recipe
Easy 20-min. Honey Garlic Chicken
When you need dinner on the table fast, this easy Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is the perfect solution. Ready in just 20 minutes, this one-pan chicken recipe features juicy pan-fried chicken coated in a thick, sticky honey garlic sauce made with simple pantry ingredients.
Ingredients
- 4 skin-on bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
Honey Garlic Sauce
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tablespoon water room temperature
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil toasted kind
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Place the chicken thighs bone-side up on a cutting board. Locate the center bone and make small cuts around it until the bone pulls free.
- Pat the chicken thighs completely dry on both sides with paper towels to remove surface moisture.
- Coat both sides evenly with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- Combine the honey garlic sauce ingredients as listed above in a small bowl. Stir until dissolved.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and cook until golden brown, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook for 2 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Reduce heat to low-medium. Pour the sauce into the pan around the chicken and allow it to thicken. Flip the thighs skin-side down for 15 seconds to coat, then return them skin-side up and garnish with green onions.
Enjoyed my recipe?Please leave a 5 star review (be kind)! Tag me on social media @christieathome as I'd love to see your creations!
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Nutrition
Calories: 340kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 506mg | Potassium: 271mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 89IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 19mg | Iron: 1mg
Susan
Wowza, Christi!! A home run. I will definitely make this again. So flavorful. I am on a low-fat diet so I chose skinless thighs and did the air fryer version. Who knew healthy could taste so good! I made the baby bok choy and for added crunch, I julienned some carrots and red bell pepper, raw. Drizzled the sauce over all. It was delicious! Thank you. I will continue to follow your recipes.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much making my recipe and for leaving this review, Susan! Happy it worked out well for you with the air fryer. I appreciate the feedback on that.
Ivette
It says to thicken the sauce but i dont see cornstach on the recioe
Christie Lai
Hi there, it's in the recipe card if you scroll down to the base of the post under the section Honey Garlic Sauce. It's not featured in the video as I recently updated the recipe to include this ingredient.
Nina H
Delicious! So glad I found your recipes.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Nina! So happy it worked out well for you!
Karen Montambo
What is the cornstarch for? I didn’t see you use it
Christie Lai
Hi there, this recipe has been updated to include cornstarch so it's not included in the initial recipe video.
Makayla Young
This is more of a question will this recipe still work if I debone chicken legs because that's what we buy I'm just trying to find chicken recipes because my best friends mom keeps buying it for us and I don't know what to do with it besides boil it I never really learned to cook chicken ðŸ˜
Christie Lai
Hi Makayla, yes that should work too and if you're able to cut the chicken into even sized pieces that would allow for a consistent cooking time. Hope it works out and apologies for the delayed response.
Isaac
Yesterday I prepared it for supper and that receipe is easy (really), accurate and also delicious.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and so glad you liked it!
chris
love it will cook it again thank u so much 🤗 God bless u more...
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for the kind words and positive review! So glad you enjoyed it!
Tanya
Easy, delicious and perfectly sweet! Thank you!
Christie Lai
So glad you liked it! Thank you so much for making it.
Jd
I've bèn making your honey garlic chicken over & over, the more I make the more I like it,that's hw delicious that recipe of yours is
Quinn Puffer
I think this recipe has good composition but just didn't work out quite right when I made it (I am somewhat of a beginner cook, hence why I am leaving a 5 star as I probably messed up somewhere). I think my stove top runs cold in general, so when I made this I had to give the chicken a little extra time to cook through even though I was using tenderloins which are thinner and then I think the sauce just didn't thicken like it was supposed to. Next time I'm going to try adding the sauce earlier in to let it reduce a little more so that it's thicker. The sauce itself tastes good.
Christie Lai
Thanks so much for leaving a positive review! Yes, I find each stove top can be varying in its heat settings and its different across all brands so I'm glad you gave the chicken extra time to cook so it's cooked through. Also, if there isn't a high enough heat the sauce won't thicken as much. Hope this helps and glad you enjoyed it overall!
Kay
Thank you for this recipe. My family loved it.
Christie Lai
So glad to hear! Thanks so much for making it!
Jd
Just tried cooking your honey garlic chicken & it's so delicious just ate too much I really love ure recipes
Margot
Made this the other night and it was a hit with the family! Thank you.