Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken made with tender chicken tenders simmered in a sweet, spicy, and sticky honey garlic sauce. This recipe is quick, flavorful, and perfect when served over rice and steamed broccoli, making it a delicious homemade alternative to take-out.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 large cloves minced garlic
Sauce
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp garlic chili crisp (optional)
- ⅓ cup honey
Garnish & Serving
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 tsp red pepper flakes (adjust based on spice preference)
- Rice (for serving)
- Steamed broccoli (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken stock, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and garlic chili crisp if using. If the honey doesn’t combine easily, heat the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds and whisk again. Set aside.
- Season and coat chicken: Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Coat them evenly with cornstarch, shaking off any excess.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook each side for 1-2 minutes until lightly golden brown. Transfer cooked chicken to a dish and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic and start sauce: Reduce heat to medium-low in the same skillet. Add butter and let it melt. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Combine sauce and chicken: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with garlic and butter. Stir to combine, then add chicken tenders back into the skillet, submerging them in the sauce.
- Simmer: Turn heat to low and let the chicken simmer in the sauce for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and mostly evaporates, becoming sticky.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley over the chicken. Serve immediately over cooked rice with steamed broccoli on the side.
Notes
- For a milder dish, reduce or omit red pepper flakes.
- Garlic chili crisp adds a nice spicy texture, but can be omitted for a milder sauce.
- Use chicken stock or broth for richer flavor; water can be substituted in a pinch.
- To thicken the sauce further, simmer a few more minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve with steamed vegetables like broccoli or snap peas for a balanced meal.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat gently on the stovetop.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
