Make Honey Garlic Chicken as an Easy Skillet Meal Tonight!

Honey Garlic Butter Chicken

yield: 4 SERVINGS

prep time: 10 MINUTES

cook time: 20 MINUTES

total time: 30 MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 1.25 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thigh meat, cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon crunchy chili flakes in oil
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • rice, for serving
  • broccoli, for serving

Directions

1

Heat up a large skillet on the stove to med/high heat with olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.

2

Add the small cut up pieces of chicken to skillet once butter is melted. Season chicken generously with salt & pepper. Let chicken cook until it starts turning white.

3

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, minced garlic, vinegar, chili oil, and honey. Stir well to coat chicken.

4

The sauce will be a thin consistency and then cook down. Keep cooking and turning the chicken to caramelize the outside.

5

Once chicken is fully cooked and caramelized, pour chicken pieces over rice, and serve with a veggie such as broccoli as desired.

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Try this savory and sweet-tasting honey garlic chicken! It’s an easy skillet meal idea the entire family will LOVE!

honey butter chicken easy skillet meal idea – Close up of the meal in a serving dish

Need a quick meal idea for busy weeknights?

Try this easy chicken recipe as an easy skillet meal idea the entire family will LOVE! We ate every last bite, and the caramelized buttery texture on this chicken is FANTASTIC. I love the buttery honey drizzle it creates too.

You’ll be adding this tasty idea to the meal rotation for sure!

honey chicken ingredients on the counter

Easy skillet meals with common ingredients are the BEST!

The fresh minced garlic and apple cider vinegar add a delicious, savory flavor, and the honey makes the chicken taste sweetened and caramelizes nicely. I added some crunchy garlic chili sauce I picked up at my grocery store like this one. Trader Joe’s has a great version too. It can be omitted or adjusted to taste. You can also just add chili flakes or chili oil.

chicken pieces in a large skillet

adding honey and ingredients to honey garlic chicken

honey garlic chicken in a skilet


Print

Honey Garlic Butter Chicken

yield: 4 SERVINGS

prep time: 10 MINUTES

cook time: 20 MINUTES

total time: 30 MINUTES

This savory and sweet chicken is an easy-to-make family favorite!

Ingredients

  • 1.25 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thigh meat, cut into small pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • salt & pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon crunchy chili flakes in oil
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • rice, for serving
  • broccoli, for serving

Directions

1

Heat up a large skillet on the stove to med/high heat with olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter.

2

Add the small cut up pieces of chicken to skillet once butter is melted. Season chicken generously with salt & pepper. Let chicken cook until it starts turning white.

3

Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, minced garlic, vinegar, chili oil, and honey. Stir well to coat chicken.

4

The sauce will be a thin consistency and then cook down. Keep cooking and turning the chicken to caramelize the outside.

5

Once chicken is fully cooked and caramelized, pour chicken pieces over rice, and serve with a veggie such as broccoli as desired.

Additional Notes

Recipe adapted from RealHouseMoms.com

Brought to you by Hip2Save.

More tips for making honey butter garlic chicken:

  • You can use chicken breast meat or thighs for this. I have made it numerous times with each, but do prefer the thigh meat as it’s more tender.
  • While the chicken is cooking I usually have the rice and veggies steaming in the rice cooker. You can also serve it over mashed potatoes.
  • Use your largest skillet or a wok for this recipe. I am enjoying cooking with my Hexclad hybrid nonstick frying pan sears meat well and is dishwasher safe.
  • It does take a bit for the chicken to sear and caramelize. It will be a little watery and then cook down. It’s not necessarily a mega saucy recipe and more like a buttery drizzle in the pan. If you’d like more of a sauce maybe double those ingredients.

plate of honey garlic chicken

Honey butter chicken heaven!

My kids went nuts for this meal, and they can be a super picky crowd!  I served this chicken on top of steamed white rice and some steamed broccoli on the side, and there were no leftovers! I loved the amazing texture and everything about this honey-butter chicken. Next time I may add some cashews or peanuts for a crunch! Easy no-fuss meals like this one make me so happy, and this one is for sure worth trying. Enjoy!


Make my easy weeknight stir-fry next! 

 


About the writer:

Lina has a Bachelor's Degree from Northern Arizona University with 11 years of blogging and photography experience having work featured in Today.com, Martha Stewart, Country Living, Fox News, Buzzfeed, and HGTV.


Join The Discussion

Comments 53

  1. countrygal

    This sounds awesome, I will be making this real soon. Thanks

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Thanks so much! Enjoy! : )

  2. MrsK

    Since I don’t have any Chili Oil, I found an easy recipe for homemade Chili Oil on the Food Network (just olive oil and dried crushed red pepper flakes). I know, I know, I should just pick up some at my local Asian Market, but that’s an extra stop. 🙂
    Thank you.

    • Erika

      Oh! That’s awesome! Saves me a purchase for something I won’t use often!

    • countrygal

      Thanks for the tip, won’t have to buy something extra, love those homemade ideas.

    • 50

      That’s what I always do…why buy something that you can easily make yourself? I use corn oil instead though, since it doesn’t have a strong flavor and aroma like olive oil.

    • Collin (Mrs. Hip)

      Such an awesome tip! 🙌

  3. Brandy

    I’m definitely going to try this and serve it over riced cauliflower with broccoli. Sounds delicious AND I have everything at home; WIN!

  4. cindy

    Fantastic my family loved it thank you for the push to make dinner and save some money 😉 10,000 times better than any take out 😉 I love you ALL at hip2save…..follower for like 9 years omg!!! Thank you!!

  5. Jennifet

    Yep, the title of this dish got me. Buttery honey..What could be better!?! Yum, will try soon, thanks!

  6. Steph

    Yeah, finally a meal that doesn’t involve an instant pot or air fryer. Sorry I just prefer stovetop/skillet cooking.

  7. sue

    Hmm, the chili oil……………seems like a good use for those free packets at pizza hut!

  8. candace

    I’m assuming the blue thing is a salt container? Wheres it from?

  9. Juma

    This looks delicious I can’t wait to try this. I have just decided that this will be one of my side dishes for Christmas dinner when I go home. Going try this with spaghetti noodles and do a stir fry. Love simple recipes that can easily be adapted many ways. Also thanks for the chili oils recipe my bottle apparently turned rancid ugh. Thanks for a stove top skillet meal that I will be sharing with family and friends.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      That sounds awesome with the noodles! Yummy.

  10. Mabos

    Making several meals today for my son and his wife who are expecting (my first grandchild!) Sitting down for a minute and came across this recipe. I’m going to make this as soon as my sorry old bones get up!

  11. Judi

    That blue salt container sells on amazon for $8.56 Stoneware-Keeper has a lid also.

  12. Judi

    Sorry I meant to say serving spoon not lid…

  13. Lolie

    Sounds delicious! We will definitely be trying this recipe, thank you!

  14. Drtinsd

    Made this tonight and it was a huge hit with the whole family; even my picky kiddos. Thank you very much! This recipe will be going on the regular rotation for sure!

  15. Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

    I am so happy! Thanks for sharing!

  16. Evette

    Mine came out very watery and wasn’t carmelizing. I made a double batch and rechecked measurements, but not sure why. Maybe I should have drained it after I browned it and before I added the last ingredients?

    • Drtinsd

      I initially had the same problem but turned up the heat and that was the key for me to get the carmelizing.

      • Hope

        Mine too, I’m glad I’m not the only one, it still tasted good but had to soak up a bunch of oil first. I thought I followed the steps too, next time will drain chicken first.

    • Judy

      what if i did not have the chile oil? Can I use olive oil or regular oil ?

      • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

        oh sure – just omit or maybe throw in a few chili flakes 🙂

    • mel

      Whenever I need a good sear or carmalize, I start my chicken in my cast iron pan. then I remove it and use my copper pan for the rest of the recipe!

  17. Dawn

    This sounds so yummy! Can’t wait to try it. Do you know about how many this would serve? I’m thinking 4?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Yep! Oh thanks so much for stopping by. You’ll love this.

  18. Brittany

    I recently made this chicken recipe. It was very delicious, cooked as written, with the thigh pieces. We also added slightly more chili oil (found in Wal-Mart) for a little pop. Super yummy, easy to make and kids + adults can enjoy the flavor.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Thanks Brittany! I’m so glad you enjoyed – this is a yummy meal 🤗

  19. Anna Roe

    I’ve tried this twice. The first time didn’t get it to caramelize but tonight it was perfect. I varied the ingredients a little bit but it was still quite tasty.

    Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh good! Glad you could adapt to your own ❤️ yum!

  20. juliebrockett

    Sounds kind of like chicken adobo! Will definitely try this, with chicken thighs and I am also going to add veggies to make it a meal — trying to be more low carb.

    Thank you!

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Perfect – sounds yum!

  21. Linda

    Ugh, tried this recipe twice and couldn’t get it to carmelize either time! What am I doing wrong?

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Oh darn! Sorry this didn’t work out- I know that’s frustrating…hmm – wonder if there was more water in your chicken, or pan not hot enough maybe? 😔

  22. Mel

    Thanks so much for this recipe! I just made this for the 3rd time. Everyone loves it! It’s so easy to make and goes great over mashed potatoes.

  23. Sharon

    Made for first time. Served it over Trader Joe’s Jasmine Rice and it was very good. My only issue is that, in trying to get better caramelization, I overlooked the chicken (breast meat—we don’t like dark meat) and it was a little dry. I’ll know for next time.

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Thanks for sharing Sharon! ❤️

  24. Tracey

    I don’t even know how i came upon this recipe but i am so glad i did. I made this tonight for dinner and it was amazing. i used chicken breast instead and i didn’t have chili oil or crushed red pepper flakes to omit but it was still very yummy. Will be looking for the chili oil to keep on hand as i see this being a staple recipe. Thank you Hip2save

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      That’s so great to hear Tracey! So glad you enjoyed ❤️

  25. Sharon

    Made this tonight it was delicious served over rice. I used chicken breasts and I didn’t use Chile oil. I am going to get Chile oil for my next time I make the recipe. Thank you

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      oh thanks for sharing Sharon!

  26. Jade misk

    I made this tonight and I some how completely failed 🙁 I used chicken breast and it was more watery than anything, it was good but I wished it looked like the picture lol!

  27. Jamie

    Does the chili oil make it at all spicy? I am very sensitive to even mild levels of spiciness. Any substitutes for the chili oil I could try? Otherwise sounds awesome!

  28. Candice Clary

    I tried this recipe tonight but doubled it and it never caramelized 😕

    • Irene (Hip Sidekick)

      Mmmmm…sorry to hear that, Candice. I’ve had issues with carmelizing certain foods and always had success the next time when I turned up the heat to a hotter temperature. Hope that’s helpful.

  29. Mary

    I made this tonight for supper. I doubled the recipe but didnt get the carmelize glaze. Not sure what i did wrong. It was still good over rice but didn’t get any sauce.

  30. Betty Backstrom

    Mine looks nothing like this. No sauce.

  31. Jennifer Burrell

    Cooking this right now and mine is not caramelizing. It’s looks so pale. Not sure where I went wrong .

    • Lina D (Hip2Save Sidekick)

      Hmm maybe try to turn up the heat a little?

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