Description
Honey Garlic Butter Chicken is a simple and delicious dish featuring tender chicken breasts seared to golden perfection and coated in a rich sauce made from honey, garlic, butter, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Perfect for a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner, this recipe delivers a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors with an optional saucy finish using chicken broth.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5–8 oz. each)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup flour
Sauce
- 4 tablespoons butter, divided
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup chicken broth (optional)
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the sauce: Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl until well combined to create the flavorful sauce.
- Pound the chicken: Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to gently pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch, ensuring even cooking.
- Season and dredge: Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper on both sides, then dredge them in flour, shaking off any excess to create a light coating.
- Sear the chicken: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Add the chicken breasts and sear one side for 4-5 minutes until golden brown.
- Flip and cook: Turn the chicken over and sear the other side for 1-2 minutes for color and partial cooking.
- Add garlic and melt remaining butter: Reduce the heat to medium and add the last tablespoon of butter to the skillet. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Simmer in sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the chicken and let it simmer gently until the sauce thickens and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, about 3-5 minutes.
- Optional saucy finish: For a saucier consistency, add 1/4 cup chicken broth to the skillet during simmering and stir to combine.
- Coat and garnish: Turn the chicken to coat both sides evenly with the sauce. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh parsley or green onions if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Plate the honey garlic butter chicken and enjoy immediately with your favorite side dishes.
Notes
- Use smaller chicken breasts (5-8 oz.) for even cooking; large breasts can be halved lengthwise to make cutlets.
- To make the dish saucier, add 1/4 cup chicken broth when simmering the sauce.
- Add a touch of heat by sprinkling red pepper flakes along with the garlic.
- Brighten the flavor by adding a splash of fresh lime or lemon juice before serving.
- For variations, substitute butter with olive oil or use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce for a gluten-free option.
