Description
This Hot Honey Garlic Chicken recipe features tender chicken thighs or breasts coated in a sticky, sweet, and spicy honey garlic glaze. The sauce is infused with garlic, hot sauce, and a touch of vinegar, caramelized perfectly in a skillet for an easy, flavorful weeknight meal. Serve it alongside rice, potatoes, or veggies for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 1/2 lbs (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Hot Honey Garlic Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon butter
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs or breasts dry and season evenly with salt, black pepper, and paprika to infuse flavor into the meat before cooking.
- Heat the skillet and cook chicken: Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5–7 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked through.
- Set chicken aside: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate to rest while preparing the sauce, allowing it to retain juiciness.
- Prepare the sauce base: Reduce the heat to medium, add butter to the same skillet, then add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add sauce ingredients: Stir in honey, hot sauce, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes into the skillet. Allow the sauce to simmer for 2–3 minutes until it thickens slightly and becomes glossy.
- Coat chicken with sauce: Return the chicken pieces to the skillet, tossing them gently to coat in the hot honey garlic glaze thoroughly.
- Caramelize the chicken: Cook the coated chicken for an additional 1–2 minutes, letting the sauce caramelize and become sticky and shiny on the chicken’s surface.
- Serve: Serve the hot honey garlic chicken immediately with your choice of rice, vegetables, or potatoes for a complete meal.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to suit your preferred spice tolerance.
- Chicken thighs are preferred as they remain juicy and tender when cooked, but breasts work well too.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with gluten-free tamari sauce.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions for added texture and flavor before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
