Description
This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken recipe features tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and coated in a luscious honey garlic butter sauce. With simple pantry ingredients like honey, garlic, butter, and soy sauce, this dish is a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner option that delivers sweet, savory, and aromatic notes in every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5-8 oz. each)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup flour
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (optional)
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Sauce: Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl until well combined to create the sauce.
- Pound the Chicken: Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap or in a plastic bag and pound to an even 1/2 inch thickness using a meat mallet. This helps them cook evenly.
- Season and Dredge: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with salt and pepper, then dredge each piece in flour, shaking off any excess to ensure a light coating.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the chicken breasts and sear on one side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Flip Chicken: Turn the chicken breasts over and sear on the other side for 1-2 minutes, achieving a slight golden crust.
- Add Garlic and Butter: Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining tablespoon of butter to the skillet, then add the minced garlic. Sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer with Sauce: Pour the prepared honey garlic sauce into the skillet. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce until it thickens slightly and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, about 3-5 minutes.
- Make it Saucy (Optional): For a thinner, more abundant sauce, stir in 1/4 cup of chicken broth and simmer for an additional minute.
- Coat and Garnish: Turn the chicken to coat all sides evenly in the sauce. Remove from heat and garnish with freshly chopped parsley or green onions if desired.
- Serve: Plate the chicken and spoon extra sauce over the top. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Use smaller boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5-8 oz). For larger breasts, slice them in half horizontally to make cutlets for quicker cooking.
- To make the sauce saucier, add 1/4 cup chicken broth when simmering.
- Add a bit of heat with a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Brighten the flavor by adding a splash of lime or lemon juice just before serving.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken to keep it juicy and tender.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (about 6 oz)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
