Description
Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Bites are tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. Bite-sized chicken pieces are seasoned, coated with cornstarch, and pan-seared to perfection before being tossed in a deliciously sweet and sticky honey garlic sauce with a hint of heat. This quick and easy recipe is ready in just 20 minutes and makes for a perfect weeknight dinner served over rice, pasta, or with your favorite vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1.5 pounds chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1/4 cup corn starch
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 5-6 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce or sriracha
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chopped chicken pieces dry with a paper towel. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, cornstarch, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to evenly coat the chicken pieces with the seasoning mixture.
- Cook the chicken: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large heavy-duty pan over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces to the pan in a single layer. Cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the crushed garlic, olive oil, honey, lemon juice, soy sauce, and hot sauce until well combined.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Pour the prepared sauce over the cooked chicken in the pan. Stir to coat the chicken evenly. Continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky. The longer you cook, the thicker and stickier the sauce will be.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve the sticky honey garlic chicken bites over steamed rice, pasta, or alongside your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken pieces are evenly coated in cornstarch for a crispy exterior.
- Cooking the chicken in butter adds richness and helps develop a golden crust.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce to taste for more or less heat.
- The sauce thickens as it simmers; cook longer for a stickier glaze.
- This dish pairs perfectly with steamed rice, noodles, or sautéed vegetables.
- Use fresh garlic for the most vibrant flavor in the sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 383 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 833 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 124 mg
