Description
Succulent honey butter chicken brings together sweet and savory flavors from Southern cuisine. Golden-brown chicken pieces drizzled with a luxurious honey butter sauce promise a delightful meal you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts or thighs
Sweeteners and Fats:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup butter
Flavor Enhancers:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Generously coat chicken pieces with salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring even seasoning across all surfaces.
- Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat and melt butter until it starts to foam and shimmer.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the skillet, allowing each piece to develop a rich, golden-brown crust without overcrowding the pan.
- Crush fresh garlic cloves and sprinkle them around the chicken, releasing their aromatic oils and enhancing the flavor profile for approximately 60 seconds.
- Pour honey, soy sauce, and freshly squeezed lemon juice into the skillet, creating a glossy, caramelizing sauce that will envelop the chicken.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and allow the sauce to gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until it thickens and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove chicken from the skillet, letting it rest for 3-4 minutes to redistribute internal juices and maintain maximum tenderness.
- Drizzle remaining pan sauce over the chicken and transfer to a serving platter, accompanied by your preferred complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Select bone-in chicken thighs for extra juiciness and richer flavor profile.
- Ensure chicken reaches internal temperature of 165°F to guarantee safe cooking without drying out meat.
- Adjust honey quantity based on preferred sweetness level, using less for a more savory result or more for intense caramelization.
- For gluten-free option, replace traditional soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to maintain similar umami depth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg