This easy Honey Chicken recipe is made with simple pantry ingredients and comes together in about 30 minutes. Tender chicken is coated in a buttery honey garlic sauce that’s sweet, savory, and family-approved, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
This Honey Chicken is one of those recipes I keep coming back to when I need a quick dinner that I know everyone will eat. The sauce comes together with simple ingredients I almost always have on hand, and it’s delicious served over rice to stretch the meal even further.
It’s a great alternative to takeout and always gets added to our regular dinner rotation.
- One skillet recipe – Fewer dishes means easier cleanup after dinner.
- Budget-friendly meal – A simple way to turn affordable chicken breasts into a restaurant-quality dinner at home.
- Great for meal prep – The leftovers reheat well for lunches and quick dinners throughout the week.
- Pairs with almost anything – Serve it with rice, noodles, potatoes, or vegetables depending on what you have on hand.
Ingredients
- Chicken Breasts – Slicing the chicken breasts into thinner cutlets helps them cook quickly and evenly. You can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs if that’s what you have on hand.
- Cornstarch – Coating the chicken in cornstarch creates a light crust that helps the sauce cling to every bite. It also helps thicken the honey sauce.
- Honey – The star ingredient that gives this dish its sweet flavor. Use your favorite variety of honey for the best results.
- Chicken Broth – Adds flavor and helps create a silky sauce. You can use homemade, store-bought, or even chicken bouillon mixed with water.
- Garlic – Fresh garlic provides the best flavor, but jarred minced garlic works great for a quick shortcut.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Brightens the sauce and balances the sweetness of the honey. Bottled lemon juice can be substituted if needed.
- Soy Sauce – Adds savory flavor and depth to the sauce. Low-sodium soy sauce works well if you’re watching sodium levels.
- Butter – Gives the sauce a rich, smooth finish and helps bring all the flavors together.
- Olive Oil – Used for cooking the chicken and creating a beautiful golden-brown crust.
Scroll to the bottom of the post for the full recipe card with ingredient amounts and complete instructions.
How to Make Honey Chicken
Step 1 – Slice 1 lb chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thinner cutlets.
Step 2 – Place ¼ cup cornstarch in a shallow bowl and coat the chicken evenly.
Step 3 – Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and season with 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes until browned. Flip the chicken and cook for 4-5 more minute until the other side is browned and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove from the skillet.
Step 4 – In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup chicken broth, 1 tbsp minced garlic, ⅓ cup honey, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp cornstarch until smooth.
Step 5 – Reduce heat to medium and melt 4 tbsp butter in the same skillet.
Step 6 – Pour in the sauce mixture, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Cook for 1-3 minutes, stirring, until thickened. Return the chicken to the skillet and coat with the sauce. Serve warm.
Tips for Success
- Let the chicken cook undisturbed for 4 to 5 minutes per side to create a golden-brown crust.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches 165°F.
- Slice chicken breasts evenly so they cook at the same rate.
- Whisk the sauce ingredients thoroughly before adding them to the skillet to prevent lumps.
- For extra sauce to serve over rice, double the sauce ingredients.
Variations & Substitutions
- Use Chicken Thighs: Boneless skinless thighs work great and stay extra juicy.
- Add Vegetables: Stir in broccoli, snap peas, or green beans during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Make It Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha to the sauce.
- Use Bottled Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice provides the best flavor, but bottled works in a pinch.
- Gluten-Free Option: Substitute tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce.
Storage, Leftovers & Freezer Instructions
- Refrigerator – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheating – Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through.
- Freezer – Allow the chicken and sauce to cool completely. Store in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. This recipe reheats well, making it a great option for meal prep lunches and easy dinners throughout the week.
Rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, steamed broccoli, or a simple salad all pair well with the sweet and savory sauce.
The cornstarch helps create a light crust on the chicken and also helps the sauce cling to the meat.
More Easy Skillet Chicken Recipes
I hope you give this Honey Chicken recipe a try! It’s one of our favorite easy dinners when we need something quick, flavorful, and made with simple ingredients. If you make it, please leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. Don’t forget to rate the recipe—it helps other readers and means so much to me!
Honey Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken:
- 1 lb chicken breasts
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Sauce:
- 4 tbsp butter
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp minced garlic or 3 cloves
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise to create thinner cutlets.
- Place cornstarch in a shallow bowl and coat the chicken evenly.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken and season with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes until browned.
- Flip the chicken and cook for 4-5 more minute until the other side is browned and cooked through (internal temp 165°F). Remove from the skillet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together chicken broth, minced garlic, honey, lemon juice, soy sauce, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Reduce heat to medium and melt butter in the same skillet.
- Pour in the sauce mixture, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Cook for 1-3 minutes, stirring, until thickened.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and coat with the sauce. Serve warm.
I really love this Honey Chicken recipe, it’s easy to make on busy days, my family loves it too.
Tracy – That’s wonderful. Thank you for letting us know.
This honey chicken was delicious and I will make it again.I love cooking Asian type dishes.
Lana – I’m so happy to hear this. Thank you so much!
So easy to cook and I do believe all 4 of these will be loved by Hubby and they also will be added to my monthly menu.
This looks so good!!!
This is on my dinner plan for this evening. I can’t wait to try it!
I hope you love it, Carol! Let me know how dinner turns out!
This recipe looks delicious. I love honey with chicken.
Thank you, Linda! Honey and chicken are such a delicious combination. I hope you give it a try!
This recipe will be added to shopping list. I will prepare it soon.
So glad you’re giving it a try, Nancy! I’d love to hear what you think after you make it.
Awesome
Thank you, Danielle! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate the five stars!
This chicken recipe looks to be a keeper. I’m going to have to try this one for sure.
Thank you, Ron! I hope it earns a spot on your dinner rotation. Let me know what you think!
I am putting this on our list to make this week. I can’t wait to try it.
I hope you love it, Debra! Thanks for adding it to your meal plan this week!
Ohhhh yessss this sounds amazing! Will take some breasts out of the freezer and give it a try. have everything else here ?
This was a quick and easy meal PACKED with flavor! My kids loved it. This has definitely made its way into heavy rotation! Thank-you ??
You’re so welcome, Angelique! Hearing that your kids loved it makes my day. So glad it’s going into your regular dinner rotation!
Tastes great and simple to make.
Thank you, Lorraine! I love keeping dinner simple, so I’m thrilled you enjoyed it. Thanks for the five stars!
This is a simple and flavorful recipe that my family will enjoy. We enjoy combination of honey and soy sauce. Thanks for the recipe.
This dish is amazingly good. Love the flavors it has. I like easy and simple recipes. Thanks for all the yummy recipes you have.
Have a great day!
I make this recipe in the Instant pot. It usually comes out really juicy and tasty!
This looks like a great healthy chicken recipe with lots of flavor and easy to make!
Delicious, I’m all for good quick simple recipes. I’ve tried alot of your recipes first time commenting. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Mary! I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the recipes, and I’m so happy you left your first comment. Quick and simple dinners are my favorite!
This chicken is really good ? ?
So glad you enjoyed it, Eva! Thank you for the 5 stars and for taking the time to leave a review!
Great recipe!
Thank you, Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed the honey chicken!
This was delicious! The whole family loved it. I added shaved onions to the sauce.
We liked this recipe, it was delicious. We will be making it again.
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much for sharing, and I hope you enjoy it again soon!
Very good and easy recipe
Thank you so much for sharing Susan! I appreciate the comment and the positive review!
How much honey?
Lee – I use 1/3 cup honey for this recipe.
So yummy!!
Yay Penny! I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe and thank for the positive review!