Description
Honey Garlic Chicken and Rice is a quick and comforting chicken dinner made with tender chicken, fluffy rice, garlic, honey, and savory sauce for an easy family meal that is perfect for busy weeknights, meal prep, and cozy homemade dinners.
Ingredients
1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or chicken breasts
1 cup long grain white rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons green onions, sliced
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
1. Pat the chicken dry and season it with salt, black pepper, and paprika on both sides.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Sear the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden, then transfer it to a plate.
3. Add the butter to the same pan, then cook the chopped onion for 2 to 3 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add the uncooked rice and stir for 1 minute so it gets lightly toasted in the butter and aromatics.
5. In a bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Pour it into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
6. Return the chicken to the skillet, nestling it into the rice mixture. Cover and simmer on low heat for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.
7. Stir together the cornstarch and water, then pour it into the pan during the last 2 minutes of cooking if you want a thicker sauce.
8. Let the dish rest for 5 minutes, then top with green onions and sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
Chicken thighs stay especially juicy, but chicken breasts work well too if you watch the cooking time carefully.
Use low sodium soy sauce if you want better control over the salt level in the finished dish.
A small splash of broth when reheating helps bring the rice back to life and keeps the sauce from tightening too much.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 33g
- Cholesterol: 105mg