Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken is one of those easy dinners that tastes like you spent way more time on it than you actually did. It’s sweet, savory, buttery, and garlicky—all the good things—wrapped in a simple, no-fuss recipe. Just mix up a quick sauce, slather it on some chicken, pop it in the oven, and let the magic happen.
The secret to this dish? A ridiculously easy four-ingredient sauce made with honey, butter, Dijon mustard, and plenty of garlic. The honey caramelizes as it bakes, giving the chicken a beautiful golden glaze, while the butter keeps everything juicy and tender. And that little kick from the Dijon? It’s the perfect balance to the sweetness.
Pair this dish with some roasted veggies, a side of fluffy rice, or even a crisp salad for a meal that feels fancy but couldn’t be easier to make. Whether you’re cooking for the family, meal prepping for the week, or just craving something delicious, Honey Garlic Chicken is a winner every time.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Super Simple: Just a handful of ingredients and minimal prep work make this a stress-free meal.
- Incredible Flavor: The combination of honey, garlic, butter, and Dijon creates the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
- Juicy & Tender: The butter keeps the chicken moist, while the honey caramelizes for a deliciously sticky glaze.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Even picky eaters will love the rich, slightly sweet flavor.
- Great for Meal Prep: Make a batch and enjoy leftovers throughout the week. It reheats beautifully!
- Pairs with Anything: Serve it with rice, roasted veggies, salad, or even mashed potatoes.
- One Pan, Less Cleanup: Everything bakes together in one dish, making cleanup a breeze.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- Butter: Adds richness and keeps the chicken moist while baking.
- Honey: Gives the dish a touch of sweetness and helps create a caramelized glaze.
- Garlic: Brings bold, savory flavor that pairs perfectly with the honey.
- Dijon Mustard: Adds a little tang and depth to balance the sweetness.
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken soaks up all the delicious flavors.
- Salt & Pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance the overall taste.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken
Follow along to learn how to make honey garlic chicken!
- Step One: Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine honey, butter, garlic, and mustard in a bowl. You might need to mash the butter with a spoon to blend in with the other ingredients.
- Step Two: Place chicken in a shallow baking pan and spread the honey garlic mixture all over the chicken breasts—season with salt and pepper.
- Step Three: Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly. Remove from oven and serve hot.
What to Serve With It
- Rice: A simple side of white, brown, or jasmine rice soaks up all that flavorful honey garlic sauce.
- Roasted Vegetables: Try roasted broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts for a healthy and colorful addition.
- Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes make the perfect comfort-food pairing.
- Steamed Green Beans: A light and fresh side to balance out the rich, buttery sauce.
- Side Salad: A crisp green salad with a tangy vinaigrette cuts through the sweetness beautifully.
- Crusty Bread: Perfect for mopping up every last drop of that delicious sauce.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use Chicken Thighs: Prefer dark meat? Swap chicken breasts for boneless, skinless thighs for extra juiciness. Adjust cooking time as needed.
- Swap the Mustard: No Dijon? Try yellow mustard for a milder taste or whole-grain mustard for a bit of texture.
- Make it Spicy: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha for a little heat.
- Try Maple Syrup: Swap honey for maple syrup for a deeper, slightly smoky sweetness.
- Add Herbs: Fresh thyme, rosemary, or parsley can add an extra layer of flavor.
- Make it a One-Pan Meal: Toss in some baby potatoes, carrots, or green beans before baking for a complete dinner in one dish.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigeration: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: Let the chicken cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag. It will keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm leftovers in the oven at 350°F for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat it in the microwave at 30-second intervals, but the oven helps keep the texture best.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use Softened Butter: If your butter is too cold, it won’t mix well with the honey and mustard. Let it sit at room temperature for easier blending.
- Pat the Chicken Dry: Before adding the sauce, pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. This helps the seasoning stick better and prevents excess moisture in the baking dish.
- Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Give the chicken some space in the baking dish so it cooks evenly and gets that nice caramelized glaze.
- Check for Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F for perfectly cooked chicken.
- Baste for Extra Flavor: Halfway through baking, spoon some of the sauce from the pan over the chicken to make it even more flavorful and juicy.
- Let it Rest: After baking, let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing. This helps keep it tender and juicy.
- Make Extra Sauce: Love extra sauce for drizzling? Double the honey garlic mixture and serve it on the side!
Easy Dinner Ideas
- Mushroom Swiss Steaks
- Chicken Fajita Foil Packets
- Hamburger Quiche
- No Peek Chicken
- Grilled Honey Dijon Chicken
- Honey Curried Chicken
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Orange Chicken
- Hawaiian Chicken
- Spicy Pepper Chicken
- Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
- Slow Cooker 40 Clove Garlic Chicken
- Sticky Chicken
- Grilled Herb Chicken
- Hurry Chicken
- Honey Garlic Salmon
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Honey Garlic Chicken
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Ingredients
- 3 tbsp salted butter softened
- 3 tbsp honey
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tsp Dijon mustard
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Combine honey, butter, garlic and mustard in a bowl. You might need to mash the butter with a spoon to blend in with the other ingredients.
- Place chicken in a shallow baking pan and spread the honey garlic mixture all over the chicken breasts. Season with salt and pepper.
- Bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked thoroughly. Remove from oven and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
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Favourite way of dressing up our chicken is with lots of pesto and mozzarella cheese!
Looks so good! Going to have to try soon!
I really have to try this. I live honey and garlic anything.
this sounds great! I love chicken and would love to try the honey garlic combo
This looks delicious, honey and garlic is an interesting mix, I can’t wait to try this. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
I can smell this delicious recipe cooking in the oven.I can’t wait to taste the sublime flavor of it.Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe with us.
Tonight’s dinner.
Delicious!
😀
Looks good. We will give it a try. Thanks for the info
What a quick, easy and delicious way to cook chicken. I have to try it. I wanna glaze a whole roasted chicken in the honey mustard sauce.
So going to try this
Nothing better than a simple easy recipe like this one and everyone loves honey garlic chicken!!
We love chicken and this looks so good. Thank you for sharing, I’ll have to try this next time I fix chicken. YUM
This looks absolutely delicious.
I do indeed love garlic! I love also that there are so few ingredients in this recipe. Easy peasy. I have frozen chicken breasts in my freezer and now I know what I am going to do with them. Thank you!
I too love garlic. This recipe looks very easy to make and sounds so tastety.
Yum! I can sometimes get chicken breasts on sale for $1.99/lb here. I’ll be sure to try this recipe next time I buy some. Thanks for all the recipe ideas. (for me, the most difficult part of making a meal is deciding what to cook)
Looks tasty, quick and easy..all the things I like about making dinner!
Y favourite recipe so far! Ty!
This seems easy and absolutely delish. I have got to try this out. Thanks for posting recipe!!
This looks so yummy I’m gonna give it the old college try only I use clarified butter I make myself its much healthier than regular butter and simple to make