This homemade Honey Garlic Chicken is perfect to serve over rice or steamed vegetables. The sweet and savory blend of honey, soy sauce, and garlic makes this 5-ingredient sauce irresistibly delicious on tender morsels of chicken.

Don’t miss the video tutorial below to see how simple it is to whip up this mouthwatering, sticky chicken at home!

Honey Garlic Chicken served over white rice garnished with chives and sesame seeds.

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We love simple chicken recipes from General Tso’s Chicken to Lemon Chicken. If you’re looking for easy and flavorful dinner ideas, be sure to add this Honey Garlic Chicken recipe to your Pinterest board. Its perfect blend of flavors makes it a quick, delicious meal everyone will love.

Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

My entire family loved this sweet and sticky Honey Garlic Chicken! It’s so much better than frozen versions from the grocery store because it’s made with real, juicy pieces of chicken breast without being overloaded with heavy breading. The fact that it’s naturally sweetened with honey makes me love it even more! My kids cleaned their plates and even went back for seconds!

This recipe is super easy to make! It comes together in just 20 minutes and is far better (and healthier) than any takeout in town. You have complete control over the ingredients in your meal, and this recipe can easily be doubled to feed a crowd or to create intentional leftovers for lunch the next day!

Honey Garlic Chicken Video Tutorial

Watch me make this Honey Garlic Chicken. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, this step-by-step video will have you serving up this tender, juicy chicken coated in a sticky honey garlic sauce in no time. You do not want to miss this one!

Is Honey Garlic Chicken Spicy?

When I first made this recipe, I thought I had added too much sriracha (1 Tbsp), but surprisingly once I tossed the sauce with the chicken, I could barely detect the spiciness at all, and neither could my kids (which was a relief because they aren’t fans of spicy foods).

I love that you can easily adjust the heat in this sauce to your liking. If you’re a fan of spice, feel free to add more sriracha or even a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to give the sauce an extra kick!

Up close saucy honey garlic chicken in a skillet

Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken

The key to making great Honey Garlic Chicken is creating the perfect balance of flavors with quality honey and soy sauce. Allowing the sauce to thicken creates a deliciously sticky glaze that clings to the chicken, ensuring every bite is bursting with so much flavor.

  • Chicken – boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1″ pieces.
  • Soy Sauce – provides a salty contrast to the sweetness of the honey, creating a well-balanced flavor profile. It also helps tenderize the chicken and gives the sauce its dark color. I prefer a low-sodium soy sauce. Feel free to use a gluten-free version to make this recipe GF.
  • Honey – adds a natural sweetness that complements the savory soy sauce and garlic. The sticky honey gives this dish its distinctive sticky glaze.
  • Corn Starch – Used to thicken the sauce and lightly coat the chicken, creating a nice golden crust. Coating the chicken in starch also helps the sauce stick to the chicken.
  • Sriracha Sauce – adds a little spice to the dish. You can add it to taste.
  • Garnish – I suggest topping this dish with sesame seeds if you have them. You can also try almond slivers, parsley or cilantro.
Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, Sriracha sauce, honey, soy sauce, garlic cloves, water, cornstarch

Variations

While this recipe is written for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, the delicious Honey Garlic Chicken sauce works wonderfully with a variety of proteins, including:

  • Chicken tenders
  • Chicken thighs
  • Chicken wings
  • Stir Fry recipes
  • Tofu “steaks” for a vegetarian option
  • Shrimp or Fish

Make it spicy – Feel free to add more Sriracha for extra heat, or even a pinch of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. For a fresh twist, try adding ½ tsp of fresh ginger (minced) along with the garlic.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken

I like to start with the sauce so it can simmer and develop it’s sticky sweet flavors while you prep the chicken.

  • Prepare the Sauce – In a medium saucepan, combine water, soy sauce, honey, sriracha, and minced garlic. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  1. Thicken the Sauce – In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water until dissolved. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan and stir until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low.
How to make Honey Garlic Chicken Sauce step by step: In a medium saucepan, add water, soy sauce, honey, sriracha, and minced garlic. Combine with reduced cornstarch slurry to thicken.
  1. Coat the Chicken – Add the chicken pieces into a large zip-top bag and sprinkle the top with cornstarch. Seal the bag and toss the chicken inside until evenly coated with cornstarch.
  1. Cook the Chicken – Set a large non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly coat the bottom with oil. Add the chicken in a single layer and sauté for a few minutes on each side until cooked through. Avoid crowding the pan and cook in batches or use two skillets to speed up the process.
  1. Add the Sauce – Once the chicken is cooked, turn off the heat. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to coat. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, if needed.
  1. Garnish and Serve – Serve over white rice, if desired, and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.
How to make Honey Garlic Chicken: cube chicken, toss in cornstarch, pour Honey Garlic Chicken sauce over chicken, and stir to coat.

What to Serve With Garlic Honey Chicken

Honey Garlic Chicken pairs beautifully over a variety of sides. Some of our favorites include:

Honey Garlic Chicken served over white rice, topped with sesame seeds and green onion.

Make-Ahead

  • To Refrigerate: Cool to room temperature, then transfer it to an airtight container. It can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
  • Freezing: Freeze in a freezer storage bag or airtight container for up to 3 months.
  • To Reheat: (from frozen) Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Then warm it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until heated through.
Honey Garlic Chicken in a pan with a stamped Natasha's Kitchen spoon resting beside the pan of cubed, cooked chicken breast.

This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is a quick and delicious option that will elevate your weeknight dinner with its rich flavors and satisfying texture. Using just a few simple ingredients, you can create a dish that’s ideal for busy evenings or meal prep, making it a family favorite in no time!

More Easy Chicken Recipes

If you love this Garlic Honey Chicken recipe, be sure to check out these other easy-to-make chicken dishes that will keep dinner exciting.

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Honey Garlic Chicken

4.98 from 36 votes
Honey Garlic Chicken cubed and served over white rice, topped with sesame seeds and green onion.
Honey Garlic Chicken is an easy, 20-minute, 5-ingredient stir fry. The sticky honey sauce coats every morsel of chicken without extra breading. Serve this over a bed of white rice and some veggies for an easy dinner everyone will love.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients 

Servings: 5 servings
  • 2 to 2½ lbs chicken breast, (2 large or 4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces)*
  • ½ cup corn starch
  • 1 cup filtered water
  • cup low sodium soy sauce, *or gluten-free soy sauce
  • cup honey, or more to taste
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp Sriracha sauce, or added to desired spice level*
  • 3 cloves garlic, (1 Tbsp minced)
  • 2 Tbsp corn starch
  • 2 Tbsp cold water
  • Sesame seeds and chives, optional garnish

Instructions

  • In a medium saucepan, combine water, soy sauce, honey, sriracha, and minced garlic. Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • In a small dish, stir together 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cold water until dissolved. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan and stir until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low.
  • Add the chicken pieces into a large zip-top bag and sprinkle the top with cornstarch. Seal the bag and toss the chicken inside until evenly coated with cornstarch.
  • Set a large non-stick pan over medium heat and lightly coat the bottom with oil. Add the chicken in a single layer and sauté for a few minutes on each side until cooked through. Avoid crowding the pan and cook in batches or use two skillets to speed up the process.
  • Once the chicken is cooked, turn off the heat. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to coat. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if needed.
  • Serve over white rice, if desired, and garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions.

Notes

*For a Spicy Stir Fry – With 1 Tbsp of Sriracha sauce, the spiciness is almost undetectable and won’t be spicy. For a spicier sauce, add more sriracha and even a pinch of red pepper flakes while cooking the sauce if desired.
*Protein Variations: It’s easy to use the sauce for a variety of stir fry recipes and on different proteins such as: chicken tenders, chicken thighs or wings, Shrimp or Fish, or Tofu “steaks” for a vegetarian option.

Nutrition Per Serving

1serving Serving349kcal Calories35g Carbs40g Protein5g Fat1g Saturated Fat1g Polyunsaturated Fat1g Monounsaturated Fat0.02g Trans Fat116mg Cholesterol897mg Sodium754mg Potassium0.4g Fiber19g Sugar59IU Vitamin A5mg Vitamin C21mg Calcium1mg Iron
Nutrition Facts
Honey Garlic Chicken
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
349
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
 
0.02
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
116
mg
39
%
Sodium
 
897
mg
39
%
Potassium
 
754
mg
22
%
Carbohydrates
 
35
g
12
%
Fiber
 
0.4
g
2
%
Sugar
 
19
g
21
%
Protein
 
40
g
80
%
Vitamin A
 
59
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
5
mg
6
%
Calcium
 
21
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Honey Garlic Chicken
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 349
Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook
4.98 from 36 votes

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Recipe Rating




Comments

  • JoAnne
    June 9, 2025

    Here we go again ! ANOTHER fantastic recipe! I watched you make it and did my thump on the counter! I cooked the chicken so just a bit raw in the middle so the sauce finished it! I garnish as per you! So yummy ! My kids make your recipes! Thank you!

    Reply

  • BK
    June 3, 2025

    Another GREAT recipe! We didn’t have sriracha and since we don’t like spicy foods, we were OK leaving it out. It was still delicious! Maybe the next time we make it we’ll be a bit daring and use just 1/2 T of sriracha 😉 OH! and the sauce was beautiful and golden just like the video. 🙂

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      June 3, 2025

      Thank you for watching and for making this recipe, BK! I’m so glad you loved it.

      Reply

  • Scott Allison
    May 11, 2025

    Made this tonight over here in a small village outside Stirling Scotland absolutely fantastic the family loved every bit of it

    Reply

  • Lulu
    April 29, 2025

    Amazing dish! I made this for the first time so I followed the directions explicitly. Turned out delicious. Next time I will use 1.5 tbsps sriracha instead of one to give it just a little more kick. Great weeknight dish. I can also make the sauce ahead to make dinner prep even easier. Thank you!

    Reply

  • Arcelia Cervantes
    April 26, 2025

    I absolutely love your recipes! Every recipe that i have made has been a success. My family has enjoyed every bite.

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      April 26, 2025

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Arcelia!

      Reply

  • Mary
    April 19, 2025

    Very disappointed I followed the instructions and mine were not as light looking as the picture, very dark with the soya sauce. I also bought your cook book and now question if the recipes are exactly like the pictures

    Reply

    • Natasha
      April 19, 2025

      Hi Mary, did you change anything else in the recipe? Sometimes if you cook over too high of heat, the honey can cause the sauce to brown too much. That’s the only thing I can think of besides any possible ingredient changes? When I made it, my honey garlic chicken was not dark but pretty close to what you see in the photos. You can also see that is the case in the video.

      Reply

  • Lynn
    April 14, 2025

    This was delicious. Will be making it again.

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      April 14, 2025

      So glad you enjoyed it, Lynn!

      Reply

  • Amy
    March 26, 2025

    Made this for the first time tonight. So good!! I didn’t have sriracha so I substituted that with some ghost pepper sauce lol (husband however thinks I put sriracha so shh 🤫 lol!) I cut the ghost pepper sauce in half though. But still… super delish!

    Reply

  • Nikki
    March 15, 2025

    Delicious! I didnt add sriracha because I didn’t have any. It came out great. Served with white rice and green beans 10/10

    Reply

    • Natashas Kitchen
      March 15, 2025

      That’s just awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review, Nikki!

      Reply

  • Jeanne Troyer
    March 12, 2025

    Hey Natasha, I made this a few months back and loved the dish, so did hubby. It’s on my make again for this week night. We have enjoyed several of your recipes. Keep ‘em coming!😊

    Reply

    • NatashasKitchen.com
      March 12, 2025

      That’s so great to hear, Jeanne!

      Reply

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