Skip the Chinese take-out and make this delicious Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry! This easy dinner recipe features tender chicken and vegetables stir-fried with a simple honey garlic sauce that's both savory and sweet that takes this dinner to the next level!
When you need a quick option for dinner, a hearty stir fry is always a good choice! A stir fry is a dish made by quickly frying vegetables and meat in a hot pan. Once flash-cooked, it's tossed with a soy-based sauce that can be flavored in many different ways.
Honey and garlic are a great combination for stir-fry sauce. The honey gives the sauce a nice sweetness, while the garlic provides savory notes and a little bit of spice.
In this recipe, vegetables are chopped and sauteed in a hot pan, creating lots of flavors. Then, diced chicken breast gets added to the pan and cooked until browned and cooked through. Once the chicken is cooked, toss in the honey garlic sauce and simmer until thickened. Serve over rice, noodles, or steamed veggies for a complete meal!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- It only takes 30 minutes to make, making it perfect for busy weeknights!
- A great way to use up any vegetables you have on hand.
- It's a one-pan meal which means fewer dishes to clean up.
- The honey garlic sauce is easy to make and has a salty-sweet flavor that even kids enjoy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Stir Fry Vegetables - This stir fry is packed with veggies, including shredded carrots, minced garlic, snow peas, red bell pepper, and broccoli.
- Butter - Used to saute the vegetables in the hot pan and the chicken breast.
- Seasonings - A mix of salt, pepper, and dried onion powder work together to give the stir fry a proper flavor.
- Chicken Breast - This meat is packed with protein and takes on the honey garlic sauce well.
- Low Sodium Soy Sauce - Makes up the base of the sauce giving it a salty umami flavor.
- Chicken Broth - Thins out the sauce while adding rich chicken flavor.
- Honey - A natural way to sweeten up the stir-fry sauce that tastes delicious!
- Sesame Oil - Adds a touch of toasted sesame flavor throughout the dish.
- Cornstarch - This ingredient gets added to the sauce to help thicken up the sauce, so it coats the chicken and vegetables.
How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
Cook the vegetables: Heat two tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add carrots, snow peas, bell pepper, and broccoli to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove and place on a plate and cover with foil.
Cook the chicken: Add the remaining butter and melt in the same skillet. Season chicken with black pepper, salt, and onion powder on both sides. Then, add to skillet and cook 6-7 minutes, occasionally stirring, until all sides are browned and the chicken is cooked through.
Assemble the stir-fry sauce: In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, sesame seed oil, honey, and cornstarch. Whisk until well combined.
Plate and serve: Pour sauce over chicken and vegetables, occasionally tossing until sauce thickens. Serve while hot over rice or noodles. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Slice all of the vegetables roughly the same size to ensure they cook evenly.
- Ensure the pan is hot enough as you don't want to steam the vegetables; you want them to cook quickly so they remain crisp.
- If the sauce is too thick, add a little more chicken broth or water until it reaches the desired consistency.
- The safe internal temperature of chicken breast is 165F degrees. Use a meat thermometer to check, or cut into the chicken to check that it is no longer pink in the center.
Variations
- Use different types of meat: Chicken breast is not the only meat that goes well with this honey garlic sauce. Try shrimp, pork, or beef!
- Try different vegetables: Instead of the vegetables listed above, you could use mushrooms, zucchini, bok choy, or kale.
- Make it gluten-free: Use tamari in place of soy sauce to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Add a kick of heat: Add a pinch of chili flakes, cayenne pepper, or sriracha to the sauce for some heat.
- Garnish ideas: Top with green onions, toasted sesame seeds, or chopped peanuts for even more flavor.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: Once cooled, add the stir fry into an airtight container and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Freezing: Let the stir fry cool completely, then add to a freezer-safe bag or container. Store in the freezer for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the microwave or stovetop until warm. Keep in mind that the vegetables will be softer once frozen and thawed.
Reheating: To reheat stir fry, add it to a microwave-safe dish and heat in 30-second intervals until warm or reheat in a hot skillet over high heat.
FAQ
Although it's possible, it's best to use fresh as frozen vegetables tend to release water as they thaw and cook, which can make the sauce watery.
Yes! This honey garlic sauce is delicious with chicken, shrimp, pork, or beef. You can also use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.
Rice or noodles are classic sides, but this would also be delicious with quinoa, cauliflower rice, or even zucchini noodles.
SHARE IT & RATE IT
We would love it if you would leave a 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below. Then follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Share your favorite recipes or ask questions in our Facebook Group.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
- Easy White Chicken Enchiladas with Sour Cream
- Easy Puff Pastry Chicken Pot Pie
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
- Honey Teriyaki Chicken
- Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
- Creamy Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp butter (divided 1 tablespoon and 1 tablespoon)
- ½ cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup snow peas
- 1 med red bell pepper (sliced)
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1-inch pieces)
- 4 tbsp garlic (minced)
- ⅓ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth
- 3 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoon over butter over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add carrots, snow peas, bell pepper, and broccoli to skillet. Cook 4-5 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove and place on a plate and cover.
- Add remaining butter and melt. Season chicken with black pepper, salt, and onion powder. Then, add to skillet and cook 6-7 minutes stirring occasionally until all sides are browned.
- Add garlic to the pan and saute for 30 seconds. Add vegetables back into the skillet stirring occasionally.
- In a medium bowl, add soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, sesame seed oil, honey, and cornstarch. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour sauce over chicken and vegetables stirring occasionally until sauce thickens.
- Serve while hot over rice. Enjoy!
Notes
- If you want to add some spiciness to your dish, incorporate ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
- For even cooking, it's best to cut your vegetables into similar-sized pieces. To ensure the carrots cook quickly, I suggest slicing them very thinly.
- If you prefer to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead, you'll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly by adding 2-3 minutes to ensure they are fully cooked.
- Don't hesitate to swap out any of the listed veggies with your personal favorites to suit your taste preferences.
Nutrition
*All nutrition information provided is automatically calculated and is an estimate and will vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact numbers on your ingredients, I would recommend calculating them with your prefered nutrition calculator.
Leave a Reply