This honey sticky garlic chicken recipe is brought to you by two online recipes, and my awful cold. I can barely talk, so I wanted something spicy and zippy to clear my head. But, since I’m not feeling well, it also had to be pretty easy. And only use pantry ingredients, since I’m not going out unless I absolutely have to! I was stuffy before I ate this, but not after! Yay!
I found two recipes online that were not quite right on their own, so I combined them. The first one was a bit bland. The second required boneless breasts and said to dip the chicken in eggs and panko and then bake. I never buy chicken breasts (no flavor), I didn’t want to bother deboning the chicken thigh I had, and I sure wasn’t in the mood for all that dipping and cleanup. Four bowls! No no no.
So, this chicken dish is super-simple to make. Just brown the chicken, and make a quick sauce. The honey and rice vinegar add a touch of sweetness, while the garlic, chili garlic sauce, and a bit of jalapeño pepper deliver a spicy kick (just perfect when you have the creeping crud). Then there’s sesame seeds for a bit of crunch.
You can adjust the heat downwards by using sriracha instead of the chili garlic sauce and substituting bell pepper for the jalapeño.
Another option is to toss in some fresh or frozen veggies while the chicken is cooking. That makes it a heartier meal, and adds some extra color and vitamins. Also good for colds. A more colorful plate somehow looks tastier, I think..
Honey Sticky Garlic Chicken
Notes
If you want less heat, use sriracha instead of chili garlic sauce. If you don't have rice wine vinegar, try apple cider vinegar instead.
Ingredients
- 1 chicken thigh (bone-in)
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 T neutral oil
- 1 clove garlic, chopped
- 1 T honey
- 2 tsp chicken broth
- 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
- 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- generous pinch ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp chili garlic sauce
- 1/4 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/8 inch slice jalapeño pepper, seeds removed, and diced
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in small skillet. When oil is hot, add the chicken and brown on both sides, about five minutes total.
- Reduce heat to medium, cover the pan, and cook 20 minutes, turning occasionally.
- Combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl and stir to make the sauce.
- Increase heat to medium high. Add the sauce, and cook, stirring until it thickens, about 1-2 minutes.
- Plate the chicken and spoon the sauce over it.
Honey Sticky Garlic Chicken Substitutions and Variations
- Add broccoli, snow peas, bok choy, or other veggies to the chicken about half way through the cooking process (fresh) or 15 minutes in (frozen)
- Add extra chiles
- If you don’t have rice vinegar, try apple cider vinegar (you want something with sweetness to balance the tartness)
- If you have time and patience, cut the chicken up, dip in egg, and then in panko crumbs
More Chinese Chicken Recipes
Stir Fry Chicken with Peanut Sauce
Why go out for chicken with peanut sauce when you can make it easily at home? This recipe is ready in about 15 or 20 minutes, less time than you’d wait for takeout or delivery.
Sichuan Chinese Chicken and Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
My brother was raving about the version of this at his local restaurant. So naturally I had to make my own. Tender eggplant, a jolt from chili garlic sauce, and salty sweet hoisin sauce pack a lot of flavor. And it’s ready in minutes.
Chinese Chicken Noodle Cabbage Soup for One Person
Fragrant with garlic, spicy chili, and a hint of sweetness from honey, this Chinese chicken noodle cabbage soup tastes good and knocks out germs too.