There’s something truly comforting about tender chicken glazed in a sweet and savory sauce that just makes you smile. This Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe hits that spot perfectly — it’s sticky, flavorful, and comes together faster than you’d think, making it a weekly favorite at my house.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve tried plenty of honey garlic chicken recipes, but this one stands out because it’s so easy, adaptable, and genuinely restaurant-quality. No weird ingredients or complicated steps — just honest flavor that anyone can master.
- Speedy and Simple: You’ll have dinner on the table in about 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
- Sticky, Sweet, and Savory: The sauce balances honey’s natural sweetness with garlic’s punch and a little heat for depth.
- Cook Once, Eat Twice: This recipe reheats beautifully and even freezes well, making leftovers a joy.
- Customizable Heat Level: You control the spice with red pepper flakes and optional chili crisp to suit your taste perfectly.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of this Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe lies in the harmony of simple ingredients each playing their part—from tender chicken to a luscious honey-garlic sauce that clings to every bite. Here’s why I swear by these staples and a few tips to get the best results.
- Chicken tenders: They cook quickly and remain juicy—perfect for a quick stir-fry.
- Salt and pepper: Basic but essential for seasoning the chicken well before coating.
- Cornstarch: This creates a thin, crispy coating that helps thicken the sauce and gives the chicken great texture.
- Olive oil: Use a neutral or light olive oil to help brown the chicken without overpowering the flavors.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps mellow the sharpness of garlic.
- Garlic: Fresh and minced, it’s the star flavor that gives the sauce its aroma and bite.
- Chicken stock: Provides a savory, meaty base that gives the sauce depth without heaviness.
- Rice vinegar: Adds a subtle tang that brightens up the sweetness of the honey.
- Light soy sauce: Balances salty umami notes with the sweet and sour components.
- Garlic chili crisp (optional): Adds extra texture and a spicy kick—you don’t have to, but I love the flavor boost!
- Honey: The sweet star of the show that creates that gorgeous sticky glaze.
- Fresh parsley: Chopped finely to add a fresh, herbal contrast and pretty color.
- Red pepper flakes: For that gentle heat—you decide how much, depending on your spice tolerance.
Make It Your Way
This Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe is like a blank canvas you can make your own. I often tweak the heat level or toss in extra veggies when I want to sneak in more color and crunch. You should totally do the same!
- Variation: I once swapped chicken tenders for firm tofu and added snap peas and bell peppers for a vegetarian twist that was surprisingly satisfying.
- Spice it up or down: If you prefer mild, just skip the chili crisp and use less red pepper flakes. Craving bold? Double up on those!
- Veggie boost: Stir in broccoli florets or snow peas right after adding the sauce to get a perfect tender-crisp texture.
- Swap your rice: I love serving this over brown rice or even cauliflower rice for lighter options—both soak up the sauce beautifully.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe
Step 1: Mix your magic sauce
I start by whisking together chicken stock, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and optionally garlic chili crisp in a bowl. If the honey is thick, I zap the mix in the microwave for about 30 seconds so it blends smoothly. Setting this aside early means the flavors get to know each other—getting tastier even before cooking.
Step 2: Prep and brown the chicken
Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper, then toss them in cornstarch until coated lightly but evenly. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, then add the chicken—do this in batches if necessary, so they don’t steam. Cook about 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. I like to transfer the browned chicken onto a plate and tent with foil to keep warm while I work on the sauce.
Step 3: Build the sauce and finish cooking
In the same skillet, lower heat to medium-low and melt butter. Toss in minced garlic and sauté until fragrant—watch closely so it doesn’t burn, about 1 minute. Pour in your sauce mixture, stirring to combine with the garlic butter. Return the chicken to the pan, submerging each piece in the sauce. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for around 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and clings to the chicken.
Step 4: Finish with heat and herbs
Once your sauce is gorgeously sticky, sprinkle the chicken with red pepper flakes and fresh parsley. I like the color contrast and hit of freshness this adds. Serve everything hot over steamed rice with a side of broccoli for a truly balanced meal.
Top Tip
After making this Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe countless times, a few small tricks really upped my game:
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: Cooking the chicken in batches ensures it browns nicely instead of steaming and becoming soggy.
- Whisk your sauce early: Blending and heating the sauce before cooking helps the honey dissolve fully and the flavors mingle better.
- Low and slow for sauce: Keep the simmer gentle so the sauce thickens perfectly without burning or becoming bitter.
- Finish with fresh herbs: Adding parsley at the end brightens the rich sauce and adds a lovely pop of color.
How to Serve Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe
Garnishes
I usually top mine with chopped fresh parsley—it’s simple but adds such a fresh burst that lifts all the flavors. Sometimes I throw on a few extra red pepper flakes if we want more heat or a drizzle of extra garlic chili crisp for texture and zing. A squeeze of fresh lemon over the finished dish can also brighten it wonderfully.
Side Dishes
Steamed broccoli is my go-to because it’s quick, healthy, and soaks up the sauce perfectly. I also love serving this dish with jasmine or brown rice—you could try cauliflower rice for low-carb or even noodles like soba or rice noodles for a twist. A simple cucumber salad on the side adds crunch and freshness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun dinner party, I’ve served this stir-fry over coconut rice and garnished with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced scallions—everyone loved the extra aromas and crunch. Another time, I packed it in lettuce cups with shredded carrots for a lighter, hands-on meal that was a hit with kids and adults alike.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I usually pop leftovers into an airtight container and refrigerate. The chicken stays tender and the sauce thickens a bit more overnight, making it even tastier the next day. Just reheat gently on the stove or microwave until warmed through.
Freezing
Fun fact: this Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe freezes really well. I portion it out into freezer-safe containers and freeze it for up to 3 months. When you’re ready, thaw in the fridge overnight and gently reheat. The sauce might thicken even more, so add a splash of water or broth while reheating to loosen it up.
Reheating
To keep the chicken juicy and the sauce glossy when reheating, I recommend warming it gently on low heat in a skillet with a splash of water or chicken stock. Microwave works too—just cover and stir halfway through to heat evenly without drying out.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! Just cut chicken breasts into strips or bite-size pieces and watch cooking time to avoid drying out the meat. Chicken tenders just cook faster and are naturally more tender.
You can substitute rice vinegar with apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, but start with a little less since those vinegars can be more acidic. The tang adds brightness to balance the honey’s sweetness.
It’s totally optional! Garlic chili crisp adds crunch and extra spice, but if you don’t have it on hand, the red pepper flakes will give your dish enough heat. You won’t miss it.
Definitely. I recommend adding broccoli, snow peas, bell peppers, or carrots. Add them after browning the chicken and before simmering the sauce so they cook through but keep some bite.
Final Thoughts
This Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe has become one of those dishes I reach for again and again. It’s not just about how delicious it is (though—wow, it really is!), but how it brings ease and smiles to hectic days. Plus, it’s endlessly adaptable and forgiving, so you’ll always end up with a dish worth sharing. Trust me, once you try it, it might just become your new weeknight staple too.
Print
Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken made with tender chicken tenders simmered in a sweet, spicy, and sticky honey garlic sauce. This ultimate honey garlic chicken recipe is flavorful and better than take-out, perfect to serve over rice with steamed broccoli on the side.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
Sauce
- 4 large cloves minced garlic
- ¼ cup chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon garlic chili crisp (optional)
- ⅓ cup honey
Garnish and Serving
- 2 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust based on spice preference)
- Rice (for serving)
- Steamed broccoli (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together chicken stock, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and garlic chili crisp if using. Warm in the microwave for 30 seconds if needed to help dissolve the honey. Set aside.
- Season and coat chicken: Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper, then coat evenly with cornstarch.
- Cook chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking each side for 2 minutes or until light golden brown. Transfer cooked chicken to a dish and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Sauté garlic: Reduce heat to medium-low, add butter to the same skillet and melt. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Combine and simmer: Pour the prepared sauce into the skillet with garlic and butter, stir to combine. Add the chicken pieces back into the skillet, submerging them in the sauce. Lower heat to low and let simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces.
- Finish and serve: Sprinkle red pepper flakes and chopped fresh parsley over the chicken. Serve hot over cooked rice with steamed broccoli on the side.
Notes
- For a milder dish, reduce or omit the red pepper flakes.
- Using chicken tenders ensures quick cooking and tender results.
- If garlic chili crisp is not available, you can substitute with chili flakes and extra minced garlic.
- Coating chicken in cornstarch before cooking provides a sticky and crispy texture.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the sauce at its best consistency.
- Butter can be substituted with additional olive oil for a dairy-free version.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
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