Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken

Name: Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter; 2 Tablespoons water; 3 Tablespoons soy sauce; 1 1/2 Tablespoon rice vinegar; 1/3 cup honey; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 6-8 cloves garlic (grated); 1 teaspoon ginger root (grated); 6 (2 pounds) boneless skinless chicken thighs

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These Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are sweet, tangy, spicy, and smothered in a sticky honey sauce. This is one of my go to weeknight dishes because it is so easy to make and your whole family will love it.

My husband always talks about this honey chicken he used to love from a Chinese restaurant in a mall food court where he grew up. So I wanted to create a dish with similar flavors.

My recipe is much different and I like to think better, but the star of the show is still honey sauce. Sweet, sticky, and addicting.

It shortly has become one of our favorite weeknight dinners.

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Highlights
Ingredients
Instructions
Expert Tips
FAQs
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Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken

Highlights

Super easy
Bold flavors
Sweet and sticky sauce
Family friendly gluten free weeknight dinner
Great served over rice

Ingredients

Smoked paprika: You can substitute plain paprika but it does not have as much flavor.
Ginger: I recommend using pre-grated ginger that comes in a jar. You can also grated your own, the pre-grated is just easier.
Chicken thighs: You can substitute chicken breasts. However, they dry out much easier and have less flavor.
Unsalted butter: You can swap this for any neutral flavored oil.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.

Instructions

before you start

Get yourself a cast iron skillet! I use the Lodge 10 inch cast iron skillet for this recipe and most of my cooking. It is a great and affordable option.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°. Place the butter in the cast iron skillet. Put it into the oven while it preheats.

Step 2: In a small bowl, mix together the water, soy sauce, vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, chili flakes, onion powder, smoked paprika, garlic, and ginger. Whisk together until well combined.

steps 1 & 2
melted butter in skillet
sauce mixed in bowl

TIP - Whisk the sauce until the honey is completely incorporated.

Step 3: Remove the hot cast iron skillet from the oven. Place the chicken in the skillet in a single layer. Pour all of the sauce over the chicken.

Step 4: Bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Broil for 5 minutes. Spoon lots of sauce over the chicken before serving.

steps 3 & 4
raw chicken in skillet with sauce
finished chicken garnished with sesame seeds and green onions

TIP - Use a meat thermometer so that your chicken comes out perfectly cooked every time.

Expert Tips

Use a meat thermometer. Using a thermometer guarantees you have cooked the chicken to minimum safe internal temperature and that it is not overcooked.
Use a cast iron skillet. Cast iron retains heat very well. I use the Lodge 10 inch cast iron skillet for this recipe and most of my cooking. It is a great and affordable option.
Broil the chicken. This browns the top and further carmelized the sugar in the honey.
Serve the chicken with lots of sauce. Be sure to spoon lots of the sauce over chicken when it comes out of the oven. It is also great drizzled over some steamed rice and broccoli.
Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Not only does it look pretty, but adds some nice texture and freshness.

FAQs

How do you store leftover honey chicken?

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for 3 days.

Do you have to use cast iron?

You do not have to use cast-iron, but I highly recommend it. If you need to make this dish without one, any oven safe casserole type dish will work.

Can you make this dairy free?

Absolutely! I love the flavor of butter so I use it, but it is not the crucial for this recipe. You can use vegan butter, coconut oil, or olive oil.

What do you serve with honey chicken?

On a bed of plain steamed jasmine rice. It will soak up all the sauce and taste so flavorful. You can also serve it with fried rice. Steamed broccoli is a great side dish as well. Cauliflower rice is a great low carb option.