The Best Honey Garlic Chicken
Tender chicken thighs glazed in a sweet-savory honey-garlic sauce, ready in 30 minutes with minimal cleanup. This asian-inspired chicken (gluten-free) ready in about 35 minutes pairs boneless skinless chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs, boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tbsp, grated ginger
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup, chopped green onions
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs chicken thighs dry with paper towels, then season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
- Step 2: Whisk 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp grated ginger, 1 tsp cornstarch, and 1/4 cup water in a small bowl until smooth.
- Step 3: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken thighs and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F), then remove and set aside.
- Step 4: Pour the sauce mixture into the skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened and glossy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Step 5: Return chicken to the skillet, coating evenly with sauce, and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped green onions and 1 tbsp sesame seeds before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does The Best Honey Garlic Chicken take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (10 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover The Best Honey Garlic Chicken?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep soy sauce from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in The Best Honey Garlic Chicken?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale The Best Honey Garlic Chicken for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
Is The Best Honey Garlic Chicken gluten-free?
Yes — this recipe is tagged gluten-free based on its ingredient list. Always cross-check labels for packaged ingredients (sauces, broths, condiments) since formulations vary by brand.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Made with what I had on hand and it still came out great.
- ★★★★☆
Nice recipe! Presentation was beautiful. Flavor was good, not great.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 25-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
