Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts – Simple Weeknight Recipe

If you like dinners that feel homemade but do not take over your whole evening, these honey garlic chicken breasts fit right in. The idea is simple: well-seasoned chicken seared in a skillet, then simmered in a quick honey garlic sauce with soy, butter, and a squeeze of lemon. Nothing fancy, just straightforward flavors that work together and taste good with rice, potatoes, or a pile of vegetables.

Honey garlic chicken breasts are one of those recipes you can pull together on a weeknight without planning too far ahead. Most of the ingredients are pantry basics, and the whole thing comes together in one pan. The chicken browns first, then the garlic, honey, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, and water turn into a glossy sauce that coats every bite. It is the kind of meal you can make while chatting, listening to music, or just unwinding from the day.

Ingredients for this Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

Here is everything you need to make these honey garlic chicken breasts in one skillet.

• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts – Pat them dry so they brown nicely in the pan.
• Salt – About 1 teaspoon to season the chicken evenly.
• Black pepper – 1/2 teaspoon for a gentle bite.
• Paprika – 1 teaspoon adds a mild warmth and color to the chicken.
• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons for searing the chicken breasts until golden.
• Unsalted butter – 2 tablespoons to enrich the honey garlic sauce.
• Garlic, minced – 4 cloves, cooked briefly so it turns fragrant but not bitter.
• Honey – 1/3 cup for sweetness and that sticky glaze effect.
• Low-sodium soy sauce – 1/4 cup to balance the honey with saltiness and depth.
• Lemon juice – 1 tablespoon, just enough to brighten the sauce.
• Water – 1/4 cup to help form the base of the sauce.
• Cornstarch – 1 tablespoon to thicken the honey garlic mixture.
• Water, for cornstarch slurry – 1 tablespoon to whisk with the cornstarch.
• Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for serving) – 1 tablespoon for a bit of color on top.

Instructions

Take a breath, clear a bit of counter space, and let us walk through the honey garlic chicken breasts step by step.

1. Season the chicken.
   Pat the boneless skinless chicken breasts dry with paper towels. This helps them brown instead of steam. Sprinkle both sides with the salt, black pepper, and paprika, pressing the seasonings in lightly so they stick.

2. Heat the skillet.
   Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Give the oil a minute to heat until it shimmers slightly.

3. Sear the first side.
   Lay the seasoned chicken breasts in the hot skillet. Let them cook for 5–6 minutes on the first side without moving them. You are looking for a golden brown crust to form.

4. Flip and cook the second side.
   Flip the chicken breasts and cook for another 5–6 minutes. They should be mostly cooked through at this point. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside while you make the sauce in the same skillet.

5. Add the butter.
   Reduce the heat to medium. Add the unsalted butter to the skillet and let it melt, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom with a spoon or spatula. Those bits carry a lot of flavor into the sauce.

6. Cook the garlic.
   Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant. Keep it moving so it does not burn, because burnt garlic can make the sauce taste harsh.

7. Build the honey garlic sauce.
   Pour in the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, and the 1/4 cup of water. Stir well until everything is combined and the honey has dissolved into the liquid. You will see the sauce start to bubble gently.

8. Make the cornstarch slurry.
   In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with the 1 tablespoon of water until completely smooth. This slurry will help the sauce thicken and cling to the chicken.

9. Thicken the sauce.
   Stir the cornstarch slurry into the skillet. Let the sauce simmer for 1–2 minutes, stirring now and then, until it thickens slightly and looks glossy.

10. Return the chicken to the pan.
    Add the chicken breasts and any juices from the plate back into the skillet. Turn each piece over a few times so it gets coated all over in the honey garlic sauce.

11. Finish cooking.
    Let the chicken simmer gently in the sauce for 3–4 minutes, or until cooked through and the sauce clings nicely to the meat. Spoon some of the sauce over the top as it cooks.

12. Garnish and serve.
    Take the skillet off the heat. Sprinkle the tops of the chicken with the chopped fresh parsley if you are using it, and spoon extra honey garlic sauce over each piece just before serving.

Cook and Prep Times

• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Cook time: 20 minutes
• Total time: About 35 minutes
• Servings: 4 portions of honey garlic chicken breasts

Nutritional information

The following is an approximate nutritional breakdown per serving of honey garlic chicken breasts, assuming four servings from the recipe:

• Calories: 360 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 24g
• Protein: 32g
• Fat: 13g
• Saturated fat: 4g
• Sodium: 690mg
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 21g

These numbers can shift a bit depending on the exact size of your chicken breasts and how much sauce you spoon over each plate, but they give you a solid idea of what to expect.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, you can swap the boneless skinless chicken breasts for boneless skinless chicken thighs if you prefer darker meat. The method stays the same: season with the salt, black pepper, and paprika, sear them in the olive oil, then simmer them in the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, water, and garlic sauce. Just keep an eye on the cooking time, as thighs can take a little longer to cook through than thinner breasts.

How do I know when the chicken is cooked through?

The chicken is ready when it is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear. After searing and then simmering in the honey garlic sauce, you can cut into the thickest part of a chicken breast to check. If you use a meat thermometer, you are aiming for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Letting the chicken rest briefly in the skillet off the heat, still coated in the sauce, also helps keep it tender.

What can I serve with honey garlic chicken breasts?

These honey garlic chicken breasts pair well with simple sides that soak up the sauce. Steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or plain pasta all work nicely, and you can add a side of vegetables like a green salad or steamed broccoli if you like. The key is to spoon some of the honey, garlic, soy, lemon, and butter sauce from the skillet over whatever you serve alongside, so nothing goes to waste.

Honey Garlic Chicken Breasts

Tender pan-seared chicken breasts simmered in a simple honey garlic sauce with soy, butter, and a touch of lemon for a quick, comforting dinner.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Servings 4

Calories 360 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 0.33 cup honey
• 0.25 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 0.25 cup water
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water, for cornstarch slurry
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for serving)

Instructions

 

• Pat the boneless skinless chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides with the salt, black pepper, and paprika.
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add the seasoned chicken breasts to the hot skillet and cook for 5–6 minutes on the first side without moving them, until golden brown.
• Flip the chicken breasts and cook for another 5–6 minutes, or until almost cooked through, then transfer them to a plate and set aside.
• Reduce the heat to medium and add the unsalted butter to the same skillet, letting it melt and scraping up any browned bits from the bottom.
• Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant, stirring constantly so it does not burn.
• Pour in the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, lemon juice, and the 0.25 cup of water, stirring well to combine into a smooth honey garlic sauce.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and the 1 tablespoon of water to make a smooth slurry.
• Stir the cornstarch slurry into the skillet and let the sauce simmer for 1–2 minutes, stirring, until it thickens slightly.
• Return the chicken breasts and any juices from the plate back into the skillet, turning them to coat in the honey garlic sauce.
• Let the chicken simmer gently in the sauce for 3–4 minutes, or until cooked through and the sauce is glossy and clings to the chicken.
• Remove the skillet from the heat and sprinkle the chicken with the chopped fresh parsley if using, then spoon extra sauce over the top before serving.