Description
These Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are tender, juicy pieces of chicken breast coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic sauce, finished with a zesty kick of lemon and optional heat from Sriracha and red chili flakes. Perfect as a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner served over rice.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb (450g) boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch (optional)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 or 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (we used Sriracha), optional
Garnish
- 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: In a large salad bowl, combine the cubed chicken breast with cornstarch, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix thoroughly until all pieces are evenly coated, which helps to create a light crust when cooking.
- Cook the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the unsalted butter and let it melt completely into the oil. Place the coated chicken cubes into the skillet in a single layer. Cook the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally to ensure all sides are golden brown. To prevent steaming and overcrowding, cook in batches if necessary.
- Add the sauce: After the chicken is fully cooked and golden, pour in the minced garlic, honey, low-sodium chicken stock, lemon juice, and hot sauce if using. Stir to completely coat the chicken in the sauce. Allow it to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens slightly and clings to the chicken bites.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat and sprinkle the chicken bites with fresh chopped parsley and red chili pepper flakes. Serve immediately over steamed rice or your preferred side dish. Enjoy your flavorful honey garlic chicken bites!
Notes
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can add a slurry of cornstarch and water to the sauce and let it cook for an additional minute until thickened.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red chili flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Cooking in batches helps keep the chicken crispy and prevents it from steaming and becoming soggy.
- These chicken bites pair well with steamed vegetables or a fresh green salad for a balanced meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
