Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken is a crowd-pleaser with its juicy, golden-brown chicken thighs simmered in a sweet, garlicky sauce. This comforting dish is quick to prepare and packed with flavor, making it a perfect choice for busy weeknights or an easy weekend dinner. With just a few simple ingredients, you can bring restaurant-style flavor straight to your kitchen.

Recipe

Serving: 4
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
4 pieces chicken thighs, skin-on, boneless
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon avocado oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
1 cup water
2 tablespoons avocado oil

Instructions

1. Prepare the chicken:

• Remove any extra skin and fat from the chicken thighs.
• Make shallow cuts into the chicken meat about 1 inch apart without slicing all the way through — this helps it absorb flavor and cook faster.
• Pat the skin dry with a paper towel and remove any pinfeathers.
• Season both sides of the chicken with salt and white pepper.

2. Make the sauce:

• In a bowl, mix together minced garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and water.
• Whisk well until combined and set aside.

3. Pan-fry the chicken:

• In a pan over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of avocado oil.
• Place the chicken skin-side down and fry for 3 minutes until golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3 minutes.
• Drain and discard any excess oil from the pan.

4. Simmer with the sauce:

• Turn the heat to low and place the chicken skin-side down.
• Pour the prepared sauce into the pan and simmer for about 6 minutes.
• Flip the chicken and cook for another 6 minutes.
• Turn heat to high and reduce the sauce for about 5 minutes until thick and glossy.

5. Serve:

• Serve whole or slice into bite-sized pieces. Enjoy while hot!

Tips & notes

• Choose bone-in thighs for extra flavor: If you don’t mind the bones, they add extra richness to the dish.
• High-smoke-point oil: Use avocado oil or another oil suitable for searing without burning.
• Garlic in traditional Chinese medicine: Garlic is believed to fight infections and bad energy. It’s traditionally eaten during New Year or seasonal transitions like Li Chun Day to boost Qi and fend off evil spirits.