Irresistibly Juicy Honey Butter Chicken Recipe for Cozy Dinners

My grandma’s secret honey butter chicken recipe always sparks mouthwatering memories at our family gatherings.

Her Southern kitchen taught me that simple ingredients can create magic on a plate.

Crispy chicken gets draped in a golden, glossy coating that whispers comfort and warmth.

Weeknight dinners demand quick, delicious solutions that make everyone smile around the table.

Coating tender meat with sweet and rich butter creates an unexpectedly luxurious experience.

Subtle hints of honey bring a delicate sweetness that balances the savory chicken perfectly.

You won’t be able to resist trying this irresistible dish that promises to become a new favorite.

Honey Butter Chicken Delivers Sweetness With Crisp, Juicy Flavor

• Speed Demon Meal: Whip up this delectable chicken dish in under 20 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights when time is tight.
• Family-Friendly Flavor: Kids and adults will love the sweet and savory combination of honey and garlic, making it a crowd-pleasing recipe that satisfies everyone's taste buds.
• Minimal Ingredient Magic: Requires just a handful of pantry staples, allowing home cooks to create a restaurant-quality meal without complicated shopping or exotic ingredients.
• One-Skillet Wonder: Simplifies cooking process by using a single pan from start to finish, reducing kitchen cleanup and making meal preparation stress-free and efficient.

What Builds Honey Butter Chicken

• Chicken Breast: Tender white meat that forms the base of the dish, best when cut into uniform bite-sized pieces for even cooking.

• Honey, Soy Sauce: Sweet and savory combination that creates a rich, glossy coating for the chicken, providing depth and balance to the overall taste.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that adds a robust, pungent flavor, best when freshly minced for maximum intensity.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth, velvety sauce with a luxurious mouthfeel.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out the natural flavors of the chicken, use freshly ground black pepper for best results.
• Olive Oil: Helps prevent sticking and provides a light, healthy cooking medium with a subtle fruity undertone.
• Fresh Parsley: Optional garnish that adds a pop of color and fresh herbaceous note to the finished dish.

Honey Butter Chicken How-To

Step 1: Spice Up the Chicken

Generously sprinkle salt and black pepper over the chicken pieces, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor infusion.

Step 2: Sizzle and Brown

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Carefully place chicken in the pan and cook until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms on each side.

Once perfectly seared, transfer the chicken to a temporary plate.

Step 3: Aromatic Garlic Butter Base

In the same skillet, melt butter and add minced garlic.

Sauté the garlic until it becomes wonderfully fragrant and releases its delightful aroma, creating a rich foundation for the sauce.

Step 4: Create Sticky Sweet Glaze

Add honey and soy sauce to the skillet.

Stir the ingredients together and let them simmer for 1-2 minutes, allowing the sauce to develop a luxurious, glossy consistency.

Step 5: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Carefully return the seared chicken pieces back to the skillet.

Gently toss and coat each piece in the glistening honey-soy sauce, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 6: Final Cooking and Glazing

Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.

The sauce will thicken and create a stunning, sticky glaze that clings beautifully to the chicken.

Step 7: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken for a pop of color and fresh flavor.

Serve immediately while hot and enjoy the irresistible combination of sweet, savory, and succulent chicken.

Honey Butter Chicken The Way Pros Do It

• Generously coat chicken with salt and pepper before cooking to ensure deep, balanced flavor throughout the meat.
• Maintain medium-high heat when browning chicken to achieve a perfect golden-brown exterior without burning.
• Whisk honey and soy sauce thoroughly to balance sweetness and saltiness, creating a glossy, cohesive glaze.
• Sauté minced garlic in butter until just fragrant, avoiding burning to prevent bitterness in the final sauce.
• Toss chicken in sauce and cook briefly to allow the coating to caramelize without drying out the meat, ensuring a sticky, succulent finish.

Honey Butter Chicken Simple Storage Tips To Follow

• Store leftover honey butter chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Warm chicken in a preheated 350°F oven, covered with foil, for 10-15 minutes to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
• Reheat individual portions on medium power for 1-2 minutes, stopping midway to stir and ensure even heating.
• Keep extra sauce separately to prevent the chicken from becoming soggy when storing and reheating, adding it fresh when serving.

Honey Butter Chicken Complements

• Pair with Crisp Riesling: Select a slightly sweet German Riesling that complements the honey's sweetness and balances the savory soy sauce, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
• Create Roasted Vegetable Side: Prepare honey-glazed carrots or roasted Brussels sprouts to echo the chicken's caramelized honey notes, adding complementary textures and flavors.
• Match with Garlic Jasmine Rice: Cook fluffy jasmine rice with a hint of garlic to absorb the delicious pan sauce, providing a perfect base that enhances the chicken's rich glaze.
• Serve with Crusty Bread: Include a rustic artisan bread to soak up the remaining honey butter sauce, ensuring no delicious flavor goes to waste and adding a delightful textural contrast.

Honey Butter Chicken Ideas

• Gluten-Free Option: Replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to make the recipe suitable for gluten-sensitive individuals.
• Low-Carb Variation: Swap honey with sugar-free maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener to reduce carbohydrate content while maintaining a similar sweet flavor profile.
• Spicy Kick Adaptation: Add red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce to the honey butter sauce for those who enjoy a bit of heat and want to elevate the flavor complexity.
• Herb-Infused Alternative: Incorporate fresh thyme or rosemary into the sauce to create an aromatic herb-enhanced version of the classic honey butter chicken recipe.

FAQs

• Can I use chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe?

You can use either chicken breasts or thighs. Breasts are leaner, while thighs have more flavor and tend to be juicier. Just adjust cooking time accordingly to ensure chicken is fully cooked.

• Is there a way to make this recipe healthier?

Yes, you can use less butter, opt for low-sodium soy sauce, and use skinless chicken. Consider using a honey alternative like maple syrup or agave for a different flavor profile.

• How do I know the chicken is fully cooked?

Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature. Chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) at the thickest part. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the thickest part – the meat should be white with no pink areas.

• Can I make this recipe in advance?

While best served fresh, you can prepare the chicken and sauce separately, then combine and reheat just before serving. Store chicken and sauce in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Honey Butter Chicken Recipe

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4.7 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent honey butter chicken delivers a mouthwatering blend of sweet and savory flavors that dance across your palate. Golden-crusted chicken bathed in rich, glossy sauce promises a delightful dining experience you’ll savor with every delectable bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Proteins:

• 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast (cut into bite-sized pieces)

Sauces and Seasonings:

• 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) honey
• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons (28 grams) butter
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Cooking Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (15 grams) fresh parsley (optional)

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Instructions

1. Generously coat chicken pieces with salt and pepper, ensuring even seasoning across all surfaces.
2. Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a hot cooking environment.
3. Carefully place seasoned chicken into the skillet, allowing each piece to develop a rich, golden-brown exterior through careful browning.
4. Transfer the perfectly seared chicken to a separate plate, keeping it warm and ready for the next stage.
5. Reduce skillet heat and introduce butter, allowing it to melt smoothly and create a fragrant base.
6. Add minced garlic to the melted butter, stirring continuously to release its aromatic qualities without burning.
7. Pour honey and soy sauce into the skillet, whisking the ingredients to create a glossy, cohesive sauce.
8. Allow the sauce to simmer gently, developing depth and slightly reducing in volume.
9. Reintroduce the browned chicken into the skillet, carefully coating each piece with the honey-soy glaze.
10. Continue cooking, turning the chicken periodically to ensure complete sauce coverage and even heating.
11. Cook until the sauce reaches a thick, clingy consistency and the chicken appears beautifully glazed.
12. Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley over the chicken for a vibrant, fresh finish.
13. Serve immediately while the chicken remains hot and the glaze is at its most luxurious.

Notes

• Ensure chicken is at room temperature before cooking to guarantee even browning and prevent uneven cooking.
• Pat chicken dry with paper towels to achieve a crispy, golden exterior that helps the sauce stick better.
• For a gluten-free version, replace soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain the rich umami flavor.
• Adjust honey quantity based on personal sweetness preference, using less for a more savory profile or more for a sweeter glaze.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 10 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 20 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 25 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg