These delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are a perfect weeknight meal, featuring tender chicken breast coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce.
This skillet meal comes together quickly for a family-friendly dinner that everyone will love. It’s a fantastic option when you need a flavorful meal on the table without a lot of fuss.
Whether you’re a busy parent, a student looking for an easy dinner, or just someone who appreciates a good meal without the long prep, this recipe is designed for you. Get ready to discover how simple and satisfying honey garlic chicken can be.
Table of Contents
- What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
- Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
- Time Needed From Start To Finish
- How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
- Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
- Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
- How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
- Total Time: 25-30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are a perfect weeknight meal, featuring tender chicken breast coated in a sweet and savory honey garlic sauce. This skillet meal comes together quickly for a family-friendly dinner that everyone will love. It’s a fantastic option when you need a flavorful meal on the table without a lot of fuss.
Ingredients
Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken: Start by cutting the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting a nice sear on the chicken. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and black pepper.
2. Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. You might need to do this in two batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
3. Whisk the Sauce Ingredients: While the chicken is cooking or resting, prepare the honey garlic sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using). In a separate small cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the water to create a slurry.
4. Simmer the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the honey garlic sauce mixture into the same skillet you used for the chicken. Bring it to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. These bits add extra flavor to your sauce.
5. Thicken the Sauce: Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
6. Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet with the thickened honey garlic sauce. Toss gently to ensure all the chicken bites are thoroughly coated in the delicious sauce.
7. Final Touches and Serving: Cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the chicken to warm through and absorb more of the sauce’s flavor. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or green onions, if desired, before serving immediately.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: skillet
- Cuisine: asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
Keywords: chicken, honey garlic, skillet meal, weeknight dinner, easy, savory, sweet, quick, family friendly, chicken breast
What You’ll Love About This Quick And Easy Recipe
This Honey Garlic Chicken Bites recipe is a true weeknight hero because it delivers big on flavor with minimal effort. It’s perfect for busy families, individuals, or anyone who wants a delicious homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. The chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces, cooks quickly and evenly, ensuring tender results every time. The star of the show is undoubtedly the sweet and savory honey garlic sauce, which coats every piece of chicken beautifully, making it incredibly appealing to even the pickiest eaters. You can serve this versatile dish with a simple side of rice or a green salad, making it a complete meal that’s both satisfying and easy to clean up after. It’s an ideal choice for a casual family dinner, a quick lunch prep, or even a last-minute gathering.
Everything You Need To Make This Recipe Without Stress
Gathering your ingredients ahead of time makes the cooking process much smoother. You’ll find most of these items are pantry staples, making this a convenient recipe to whip up any night of the week.
INGREDIENTS:
- 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for a touch of heat)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or green onions, chopped, for garnish (optional)
For simple substitutions, you can easily adapt this recipe to what you have on hand. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar or even a squeeze of lemon juice can work in a pinch to add that touch of acidity. Low sodium soy sauce is recommended to control the saltiness, but regular soy sauce is perfectly fine if that’s what you have; just be mindful when adding extra salt. If you prefer a gluten-free option, use tamari instead of soy sauce. For a thicker sauce, you can increase the cornstarch slightly, or for a thinner sauce, reduce it. Feel free to adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your family’s spice preference; omit them entirely for a milder dish.
Time Needed From Start To Finish
This recipe is designed for speed and efficiency, making it perfect for those busy evenings.
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Cook time: 15-20 minutes
- Total time: 25-30 minutes
How To Make It Step By Step With Visual Cues
Creating these delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Bites is straightforward. Follow these steps for a perfect skillet meal every time.
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by cutting the boneless, skinless chicken breasts into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels. This step is crucial for getting a nice sear on the chicken. Season the chicken pieces lightly with salt and black pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the chicken pieces in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. You might need to do this in two batches. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set it aside on a plate.
- Whisk the Sauce Ingredients: While the chicken is cooking or resting, prepare the honey garlic sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, apple cider vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using). In a separate small cup, dissolve the cornstarch in the water to create a slurry.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour the honey garlic sauce mixture into the same skillet you used for the chicken. Bring it to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. These bits add extra flavor to your sauce.
- Thicken the Sauce: Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly. Continue to whisk and cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. It should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the cooked chicken pieces to the skillet with the thickened honey garlic sauce. Toss gently to ensure all the chicken bites are thoroughly coated in the delicious sauce.
- Final Touches and Serving: Cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the chicken to warm through and absorb more of the sauce’s flavor. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley or green onions, if desired, before serving immediately.
Easy Variations And Serving Ideas That Fit Real Life
This Honey Garlic Chicken Bites recipe is incredibly versatile and can be adapted to suit various tastes and occasions. For a kid-friendly twist, you can omit the red pepper flakes entirely to keep the flavor sweet and savory without any heat. Kids often love dipping, so serving the chicken with a side of plain rice or even some steamed broccoli florets can make it more appealing.
To expand this into a more substantial meal, consider serving it over fluffy white rice, brown rice, or quinoa. It also pairs wonderfully with a side of roasted vegetables like broccoli, asparagus, or bell peppers. For a lighter option, serve it alongside a crisp green salad with a light vinaigrette. If you’re looking for a quick meal prep idea, make a larger batch and divide it into containers with your chosen side for easy lunches throughout the week.
You can also experiment with different garnishes to add freshness and texture. Toasted sesame seeds can provide a nutty crunch, while a sprinkle of fresh cilantro offers a different aromatic profile. For a slightly different flavor, you could add a dash of ginger to the sauce. This dish is fantastic for a casual family dinner, but it’s also elegant enough to serve to guests, perhaps as part of a larger buffet spread with other Asian-inspired dishes.
Common Slip-Ups And How To Avoid Them
Even simple recipes can have common pitfalls. Being aware of these can help you achieve perfect Honey Garlic Chicken Bites every time.
- Overcrowding the Skillet: This is a frequent mistake when searing chicken. If you add too many chicken pieces to the pan at once, the temperature of the skillet drops, and the chicken will steam instead of sear. This results in pale, rubbery chicken instead of beautifully browned, tender bites. Always cook the chicken in batches if necessary, ensuring there’s enough space for each piece to make contact with the hot pan.
- Not Patting the Chicken Dry: Moisture on the chicken surface prevents browning. Before seasoning, always pat the chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels. This allows for a better sear and a more flavorful result.
- Overcooking the Chicken: Chicken breast cooks relatively quickly, especially when cut into small pieces. Overcooking will make it dry and tough. Cook until it’s just cooked through and no longer pink in the center, typically 3-4 minutes per side for 1-inch pieces. A meat thermometer should read 165°F (74°C).
- Burning the Garlic: Garlic can burn quickly, especially when added to a hot pan. When making the sauce, ensure the heat is reduced to medium-low before adding the minced garlic to the skillet. This allows the garlic to become fragrant without turning bitter.
- Lumpy Cornstarch Slurry: If you add cornstarch directly to a hot sauce, it will clump. Always dissolve cornstarch in a small amount of cold water *before* adding it to a hot liquid. This creates a smooth slurry that will thicken the sauce evenly without lumps.
- Not Adjusting Seasoning: Taste the sauce before adding the chicken back in. Depending on your soy sauce and personal preference, you might need a pinch more salt or a grind of black pepper. Adjusting the seasoning ensures the final dish is perfectly balanced.
How To Store It And Make It Ahead Without Ruining Texture
These Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are excellent for meal prep and leftovers, making your weeknights even easier.
To store any leftover chicken, allow it to cool completely to room temperature. Transfer the chicken and its sauce to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
For reheating, the best method is to gently warm the chicken in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add a tablespoon or two of water or chicken broth to the pan to help loosen the sauce and prevent the chicken from drying out. Stir occasionally until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions, though the texture might be slightly less tender than skillet reheating.
FAQs
- Can I make these ahead? Yes—prep ahead, refrigerate, then serve when ready.
- How long do leftovers last? Store covered in the fridge for 3–4 days for best texture.
- Can I adjust sweetness? Yes—add more or less sweetener to taste.
- Can I change the fruit? Yes—swap strawberries for blueberries, raspberries, or sliced banana.
