Description
This Honey Garlic Chicken Bites recipe features tender chicken pieces cooked to golden perfection and coated in a glossy, sweet, and savory honey garlic sauce. Ready in just about 30 minutes, it's a perfect quick weeknight meal that delivers bold flavor and a delightful balance of sweetness and umami.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thighs, or a combination, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Garnish
- Thinly sliced scallions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat 1 1/2 pounds chopped boneless, skinless chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season all over with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
- Make the Sauce: Whisk together 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar in a small bowl until combined.
- Cook First Half of Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large cast-iron or stainless steel skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add half of the chicken in a single layer. Cook until golden-brown on the bottom and the chicken easily releases from the pan, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until golden brown on the second side, about 2 minutes more. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.
- Cook Remaining Chicken: Heat the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil in the skillet and repeat the browning process with the remaining chicken pieces. Transfer all cooked chicken to the plate.
- Combine and Simmer: Return all the chicken and any accumulated juices to the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Increase heat to medium-high, pour in the prepared honey garlic sauce, and cook while spooning the sauce over the chicken. Continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce thickens to a glossy consistency and is reduced by about half, around 3 to 4 minutes.
- Serve: Garnish with thinly sliced scallions if desired and serve warm.
Notes
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Chicken can be breast, thigh, or a combination based on preference.
- Use tamari instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free version.
- For extra crispiness, avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning chicken.
- Adjust honey quantity for desired sweetness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
