Name: Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5-8 oz. each); Salt and pepper; 1/4 cup flour; 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)

If you’re craving a dinner that delivers bold flavor without fuss, this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe is your go-to. Tender chicken breasts get that perfect golden sear, then soak up a luscious honey-garlic-butter sauce that’s downright addictive. Stick around and I’ll walk you through how to nail it every time!

Honey Garlic Chicken - Several pieces of cooked chicken fillets are in a pan, covered by a shiny brown sauce that looks thick and smooth. The chicken is golden brown and tender with small green onion pieces scattered on top. The sauce pools around the chicken, creating a glossy layer that highlights the texture of the meat underneath. The pan shows some browning marks from cooking. The background is a white marbled texture. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I absolutely adore this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe because it turns simple ingredients into something truly special, with minimal effort. It’s one of those meals you can whip up on a busy weeknight but serve like you spent hours in the kitchen.

Effortless Flavor: The honey and garlic combine with butter for an irresistibly rich and sweet-savory sauce.
Perfectly Juicy Chicken: Searing the chicken in butter seals in the juices, so every bite is tender.
Super Quick: From prep to plate in about 15 minutes—perfect for busy nights or last-minute guests.
Customizable: Easy to tweak with simple ingredients like red pepper flakes or lemon for extra zing.

Honey Garlic Chicken - The dish shows one thick layer of light golden brown cooked chicken with a shiny, dark brown sauce on top, garnished with thin slices of green onion. The chicken sits on a bed of white rice, which is mixed with bits of the same sauce giving some parts a light brown tint. On the side, there is a small bunch of bright green, fresh green beans. Everything is arranged on a white plate over a white marbled surface, with a silver fork visible at the edge. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Ingredients & Why They Work

Every ingredient here plays its role in building that lovely balance of sweet, salty, and buttery richness. Picking fresh garlic and quality butter can really elevate the final dish, so don’t skimp on those!

Honey Garlic Chicken - Flat lay of four raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts with smooth pale pink skin, several cloves of fresh garlic showing their papery white skin and creamy interiors, a small jar of golden honey glistening under the light, bright green fresh parsley leaves with delicate textures, a clear glass bottle of amber soy sauce reflecting light, a halved lemon with vibrant yellow flesh and juicy texture, and a small mound of fine, white all-purpose flour scattered lightly, arranged naturally with some herbs overlapping the chicken pieces, placed on white marbled surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts: Pounding them to an even thickness ensures they cook evenly and stay juicy without drying out.
Salt and pepper: Simple seasoning that brings out the chicken’s natural flavor.
Flour: Helps create a nice crust on the chicken when seared and thickens the sauce slightly.
Butter: Adds rich, creamy flavor and helps develop that golden-brown sear on the chicken.
Garlic: Fresh garlic is a must for that punch of aromatic flavor—mince it finely!
Honey: Brings natural sweetness and caramelizes beautifully in the pan.
Soy sauce: Adds a umami depth and saltiness to balance the honey.
Apple cider vinegar: A little acidity brightens the sauce and keeps it from feeling too heavy.
Chicken broth (optional): Use if you want a thinner, saucier consistency.
Fresh parsley or green onions (optional): Sprinkle on top for color and a fresh, herbal note.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

I love experimenting with this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe by adding little twists depending on my mood or pantry. Feel free to make it your own—you really can’t go wrong with this combo!

Add a kick: I sometimes toss in a sprinkle of red pepper flakes while sautéing the garlic. It adds a subtle heat that wakes up the sweet-sauce balance.
Brighten it up: A squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice right before serving adds a fresh zing that cuts through the richness.
Make it saucier: If you like more sauce, just stir in a little chicken broth—it keeps everything luscious and silky.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Step 1: Prep the chicken for even cooking

Start by pounding your chicken breasts to about ½ inch thick. This trick helps them cook evenly, so you avoid a dry outside and undercooked inside. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper, then lightly coat them in flour. Shake off the excess to prevent clumps—it just needs a thin dusting to help with browning.

Step 2: Sear the chicken for that golden crust

Heat 3 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a skillet. Once melted and shimmering, add the chicken. Let it sear without moving for 4-5 minutes until you get a beautiful golden crust. Then flip and sear the other side for 1-2 minutes. Don’t rush this—you want that rich color for flavor.

Step 3: Create the honey garlic butter sauce

Turn the heat down to medium and melt the remaining tablespoon of butter. Add your minced garlic and sauté for just 30 seconds until fragrant—garlic can burn fast, so keep a close eye. Pour in the honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar mixture you whisked together earlier, then let it simmer. It’ll thicken quickly and get glossy as it reduces.

Step 4: Finish cooking and coat in sauce

Let the chicken cook in the simmering sauce until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. I use a quick instant-read thermometer here to avoid guesswork. If you want it saucier, add a splash of chicken broth to loosen things up. Turn the chicken a few times in the sauce, really coating each piece before plating. A sprinkle of fresh parsley or green onions on top adds a fresh pop every time.

Top Tip

Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks that make this Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe shine. These little insights will make your cooking smoother and the results truly restaurant-quality!

Don’t skip pounding the chicken: It might feel like an extra step, but it guarantees your chicken cooks evenly and stays juicy.
Watch your garlic closely: Garlic burns in seconds, turning bitter. Sauté it just until fragrant—30 seconds is perfect.
Use real butter, not margarine: It adds rich flavor and helps create that gorgeous golden crust you want on the chicken.
Check doneness with a thermometer: Saves you from drying out chicken or undercooking it, especially when working with different sized breasts.

How to Serve Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I love topping this chicken with freshly chopped parsley or bright green onions—they add a fresh, colorful contrast to the saucy richness. Sometimes, I even sprinkle a few toasted sesame seeds for a subtle crunch and extra dimension.

Side Dishes

This pairs beautifully with steamed jasmine rice or buttery mashed potatoes that soak up the sauce like a dream. Roasted broccoli or a crisp green salad add fresh balance and texture to the plate.

Creative Ways to Present

For a special occasion, I've served this on a wooden plank with lemon wedges and fresh herbs scattered on top. It makes a simple meal feel fancy! Another fun idea: slice the chicken and serve it over garlic butter noodles with drizzled sauce for a family-style feast.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I usually store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Be sure to cool it completely before refrigerating to keep that sauce silky and the chicken tender.

Freezing

This dish freezes well! I separate the chicken and sauce into portions and freeze them flat in freezer bags for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating gently to preserve texture.

Reheating

I reheat leftovers slowly on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of chicken broth or water if the sauce has thickened too much. This helps the chicken stay juicy and keeps the sauce from sticking to the pan.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?

Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs will add extra juiciness and flavor. Just adjust the cooking time slightly since thighs can be thicker and need a bit longer to reach the safe internal temperature of 165ºF.

How do I prevent the honey from burning?

Honey can burn quickly if cooked on too high heat. To avoid this, add the honey mixture after reducing the heat to medium, and keep an eye on it while it simmers. Stir regularly and don’t let it boil too vigorously.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes! Replace butter with a plant-based alternative like coconut oil or a vegan butter substitute. The flavor will be slightly different but still delicious and rich.

What can I serve with Honey Garlic Butter Chicken for a low-carb meal?

Try serving it with cauliflower rice, sautéed greens like spinach or kale, or roasted vegetables. These low-carb sides complement the flavors and keep the meal light.

Final Thoughts

This Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Recipe is one of those kitchen triumphs I keep coming back to when I want dinner that feels special but doesn’t take forever. It’s approachable, full of flavor, and adaptable enough to suit whatever you have on hand. Next time you want a meal that’s sure to impress yet truly simple, give this a whirl—I promise you’ll love it as much as I do!