DinnerCountHoney Garlic Chicken
This chicken is sticky, sweet, and garlicky, and it is the kind of dinner kids tend to finish. Bite-size pieces of chicken brown in a skillet. Then a sauce of honey, soy sauce, garlic, a splash of vinegar, and a little cornstarch goes in, and it thickens into a glaze in two or three minutes. Serve it over rice with sesame seeds and green onion.
Ingredients (serves 4)
- Chicken breasts1½ lb
- Honey¼ cup
- Soy sauce¼ cup
- Garlic clove4 cloves
- Apple cider vinegar1 tbsp
- Cornstarch1 tbsp
- Olive oil2 tbsp
- Sesame seeds1 tsp
- Green onion1 stalk
- White rice1 cup
How Much to Make for 2, 4, 6, or 8
For 2 people, you’ll need ¾ lb chicken breasts, ½ cup white rice, and 2 tbsp honey.
For 4 people, you’ll need 1½ lb chicken breasts, 1 cup white rice, and ¼ cup honey.
For 6 people, you’ll need 2¼ lb chicken breasts, 1½ cups white rice, and 6 tbsp honey.
For 8 people, you’ll need 3 lb chicken breasts, 2 cups white rice, and ½ cup honey.
| Ingredient | For 2 | For 4 | For 6 | For 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breasts | ¾ lb | 1½ lb | 2¼ lb | 3 lb |
| Honey | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | 6 tbsp | ½ cup |
| Soy sauce | 2 tbsp | ¼ cup | 6 tbsp | ½ cup |
| Garlic clove | 2 cloves | 4 cloves | 6 cloves | 8 cloves |
| Apple cider vinegar | 1½ tsp | 1 tbsp | 1½ tbsp | 2 tbsp |
| Cornstarch | 1½ tsp | 1 tbsp | 1½ tbsp | 2 tbsp |
| Olive oil | 1 tbsp | 2 tbsp | 3 tbsp | ¼ cup |
| Sesame seeds | ½ tsp | 1 tsp | 1½ tsp | 2 tsp |
| Green onion | 1 stalk | 1 stalk | 2 stalks | 2 stalks |
| White rice | ½ cup | 1 cup | 1½ cups | 2 cups |
The amounts are rounded to what you can measure at home. Pounds are rounded to the nearest quarter or third, cups to the marks on a measuring cup, and spoons to real measuring spoons. An egg stays whole. Because of the rounding, some amounts are the same at two sizes.
- For 2: This recipe is written for 4 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 2 adult portions, which is roughly 0.5 times the recipe. This is less than the recipe assumes. The same 12-inch skillet works (a 10-inch one is better if you have it). Small amounts cook faster and sauces thicken sooner, so check early and add a splash of water if the pan gets dry.
- For 6: This recipe is written for 4 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 6 adult portions, which is roughly 1.5 times the recipe. This calls for a 12-inch skillet. At about 1.5× the recipe, brown it in two batches, because a crowded pan steams the food and does not brown it. Then bring it back together in the skillet.
- For 8: This recipe is written for 4 adult-size portions. You are cooking about 8 adult portions, which is roughly 2 times the recipe. This calls for a 12-inch skillet. At about 2× the recipe, brown it in two batches, because a crowded pan steams the food and does not brown it. Then bring it back together in the skillet.
In DinnerCount, this recipe is sized to exactly who’s home tonight, whether that is a hungry teenager, a toddler, or a guest.
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Steps
- Start the rice, following the package directions. The chicken takes about 15 minutes once the pan is hot, and rice keeps better than chicken while it waits.
- Slice the green onion and finely chop the garlic first, while the cutting board is clean. Then cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes. Whisk the honey, the soy sauce, the vinegar, the garlic, and the cornstarch together in a small bowl.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about a minute, until it is hot but not smoking. Add the chicken in a single layer and leave it alone for 2 minutes, so it browns and does not steam. Then stir and cook for 4 minutes more. The chicken is ready when the pieces are browned on most sides, and it finishes cooking in the sauce.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring. The chicken is done when the sauce has thickened and clings to it, and the biggest piece reads 165°F on a thermometer.
- Serve the chicken over the rice with the sesame seeds and green onion on top.
Good to Know
- Contains Wheat, Soy, Sesame. This comes from the ingredient names, so it is not a complete list. The ingredient names do not show what is inside a jar, a mix, or a sauce, and formulas change. For an allergy or intolerance, read the package every time, and never decide from this line.
- 🌡 Chicken: cook to 165°F at the thickest part, the USDA minimum for poultry. A thermometer is the test, and color is not.
