Sticky Honey Chicken: Sweet, Savory, and Seriously Addictive

 

This Sticky Honey Chicken recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. The chicken is perfectly tender and coated in a luscious, sweet, and savory honey glaze that will have everyone begging for seconds. It's a fantastic weeknight meal that feels a little bit fancy, but is surprisingly easy to make. Perfect served with rice, noodles, or your favorite roasted vegetables!

Yields: 4 servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

• For the Chicken:

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon paprika

• For the Sticky Honey Glaze:

  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)

• Garnish (Optional):

  • Sesame seeds
  • Chopped green onions

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Chicken: In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the spices.

2. Cook the Chicken: Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through. This should take about 8-10 minutes. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

3. Make the Sticky Honey Glaze: While the chicken is cooking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, ketchup, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes (if using).

4. Combine Glaze and Chicken: Once the chicken is cooked, pour the honey glaze mixture into the skillet. Bring to a simmer.

5. Thicken the Glaze: In a separate small bowl, whisk together cornstarch and water to create a slurry. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the skillet and stir continuously. The sauce will thicken quickly.

6. Coat the Chicken: Continue to cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thick and glossy and evenly coats the chicken.

7. Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions, if desired. Serve immediately over rice, noodles, or with your favorite side dishes.

   
   
   

Tips and Variations:

• For extra crispy chicken, you can lightly coat the chicken pieces with cornstarch before cooking.
• Add some vegetables to the skillet along with the chicken, such as broccoli florets, bell peppers, or snap peas.
• Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes to control the spiciness.
• You can substitute chicken breast for chicken thighs, but thighs tend to be more tender and flavorful.
• For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Enjoy your Sticky Honey Chicken! Let me know in the comments how it turns out!