Get ready to meet your new favorite weeknight dinner: this irresistible Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken. This recipe delivers a perfectly balanced sweet and savory sauce that caramelizes into a sticky, glossy glaze over tender, juicy chicken. It’s a simple, flavor-packed dish that comes together in under 30 minutes, making it faster, healthier, and more delicious than takeout. Forget boring chicken; this is a meal the whole family will ask for again and again.
We’re focusing on creating that perfect, luscious glaze that clings to every bite. With just a handful of pantry staples, you can achieve a restaurant-quality dish right in your own kitchen. Let’s get cooking!
Why This Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Recipe Works
There are countless chicken recipes out there, but this one truly stands out. It’s designed for maximum flavor with minimal effort, making it a reliable go-to for any occasion.
- Quick & Easy: From prep to plate in less than 30 minutes, it’s the ideal solution for busy evenings.
- Pantry Staples: You likely have most, if not all, of the ingredients on hand already.
- Perfectly Balanced Flavor: The combination of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, pungent garlic, and zesty ginger creates a multi-layered, addictive sauce.
- Foolproof Glaze: We use a simple cornstarch slurry to ensure the sauce thickens to a perfect, sticky consistency every time.
The Key Ingredients
The magic of this dish lies in its simple yet powerful ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to create the ultimate honey-soy glaze.
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces for quick cooking. You can also use thighs!
- Soy Sauce: The savory, umami backbone of our sauce. Use a low-sodium version to better control the saltiness.
- Honey: Provides the sweetness and helps create that signature sticky glaze.
- Garlic & Ginger: Freshly minced garlic and ginger are essential for a vibrant, aromatic flavor.
- Rice Vinegar: Adds a touch of acidity to cut through the richness and balance the sauce.
- Sesame Oil: A little goes a long way, adding a wonderful nutty aroma.
- Cornstarch: Our secret weapon for thickening the sauce into a perfect glaze.
How to Make Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Step-By-Step
This recipe is incredibly straightforward. We’ll start by preparing the sauce, then cook the chicken, and finally combine everything for a glossy, delicious finish.
Step 1: Prepare the Honey-Soy Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. In a separate, even smaller bowl, mix the cornstarch with two tablespoons of water to create a slurry. Set both aside.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat with a tablespoon of vegetable oil. Add the chicken in a single layer, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
Step 3: Glaze and Thicken
Pour the honey-soy sauce mixture into the skillet with the chicken. Bring it to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Give the cornstarch slurry a quick re-stir and pour it into the skillet. Continue to stir constantly for another 1-2 minutes, until the sauce thickens and beautifully coats the chicken.
Expert Tips for the Perfect Glaze
Want to make your Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken absolutely perfect? Follow these simple tips.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Cook the chicken in batches if necessary to ensure it sears and browns properly instead of steaming.
- Use Fresh Aromatics: Fresh garlic and ginger make a world of difference in flavor compared to their dried counterparts.
- Control the Heat: Once you add the sauce, keep the heat at a medium simmer to prevent the honey from burning before the sauce thickens.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile chicken dish pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides. For a classic meal, serve it over a bed of fluffy white or brown rice with a side of steamed broccoli or crispy roasted cauliflower. It’s also fantastic with noodles or quinoa. For another delicious and easy dinner idea, check out our easy oven-baked chicken drumsticks.
Variations and Substitutions
Feel free to customize this recipe to your liking!
- Different Cuts of Chicken: This glaze works equally well on boneless, skinless chicken thighs, wings, or even drumsticks. Just adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Add Some Heat: For a spicy kick, add a teaspoon of sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Make it a Stir-Fry: Add bell peppers, onions, and snap peas to the skillet for a complete one-pan meal. For another great one-pan recipe, try this ground turkey and zucchini skillet (coming soon).
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Store any leftover honey-soy chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply microwave for 1-2 minutes or gently warm in a skillet over medium-low heat until heated through. The glaze may thicken in the fridge, but it will loosen up again when reheated.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative. They are very flavorful and stay juicy. Simply cut them into bite-sized pieces and cook for a few extra minutes until they are cooked through.
The key is to use a low-sodium soy sauce. This gives you much better control over the final saltiness of the dish, allowing the sweet and savory flavors to be perfectly balanced.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. The sauce will loosen up again as it heats.
The best way to thicken honey soy sauce is with a cornstarch slurry. Mix one part cornstarch with two parts cold water until smooth, then whisk it into the simmering sauce. It will thicken into a perfect glaze in just 1-2 minutes.
This dish is incredibly versatile! It pairs perfectly with steamed white or brown rice, quinoa, or noodles. For vegetables, try steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, or a medley of stir-fried bell peppers and onions.
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are a great alternative. They are very flavorful and stay juicy. Simply cut them into bite-sized pieces and cook for a few extra minutes until they are cooked through.
The key is to use a low-sodium soy sauce. This gives you much better control over the final saltiness of the dish, allowing the sweet and savory flavors to be perfectly balanced.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. You can reheat them in the microwave or in a skillet over low heat until warmed through. The sauce will loosen up again as it heats.
The best way to thicken honey soy sauce is with a cornstarch slurry. Mix one part cornstarch with two parts cold water until smooth, then whisk it into the simmering sauce. It will thicken into a perfect glaze in just 1-2 minutes.
This dish is incredibly versatile! It pairs perfectly with steamed white or brown rice, quinoa, or noodles. For vegetables, try steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, or a medley of stir-fried bell peppers and onions.
Share Your Creations!
We are certain you’ll love this simple yet incredibly flavorful Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken recipe. It’s a game-changer for busy weeknights! If you make this dish, we’d love to see it. Share your photos on Pinterest and let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken: A Sticky, Savory Weeknight Delight
This Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken recipe is your key to a quick, delicious weeknight dinner. Tender chicken coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory glaze made from pantry staples comes together in under 30 minutes. Perfect for the whole family!
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to form a smooth slurry. Set both aside.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Pour the prepared honey-soy sauce mixture into the skillet over the chicken. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Re-whisk the cornstarch slurry and pour it into the simmering sauce. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken in a beautiful glaze.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
Tip 1: Ensure your pan is hot before adding the chicken to get a nice sear.
Tip 2: For a deeper flavor, you can marinate the chicken in half of the honey-soy sauce (before adding the cornstarch slurry) for 15-30 minutes before cooking.
Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken: A Sticky, Savory Weeknight Delight
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a small bowl, whisk together the low-sodium soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to form a smooth slurry. Set both aside.
- Pat the chicken pieces dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Pour the prepared honey-soy sauce mixture into the skillet over the chicken. Bring to a simmer and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Re-whisk the cornstarch slurry and pour it into the simmering sauce. Stir continuously for 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken in a beautiful glaze.
- Remove from heat. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
Tip 2: For a deeper flavor, you can marinate the chicken in half of the honey-soy sauce (before adding the cornstarch slurry) for 15-30 minutes before cooking.
