Why You’ll Love this Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken
This Asian Honey Chicken is about to become your new weeknight favorite. The perfect balance of sweet honey and savory soy sauce creates that irresistible sticky glaze that coats every piece of tender chicken.
Trust me, the aroma alone will have everyone hanging around the kitchen. What’s not to love? It’s incredibly simple to prepare, with just a quick marinade that does all the flavor work for you.
The chunks of onion and red pepper add color and nutrition, turning this into a complete meal. Serve it over rice to soak up that delicious sauce. Dinner perfection, right?
What Ingredients are in Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken?
This Asian Honey Chicken calls for a simple set of ingredients that combine to create an amazing depth of flavor. The marinade is where all the magic happens, with that perfect balance of sweet honey and savory soy sauce working together to create the sticky, glossy coating that makes this dish so irresistible.
The best part? You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry already.
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 skinless chicken breasts, cut into cubes
- 2 garlic cloves, whole
- 1 onion, cut into large chunks
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
For the best results, use good-quality honey with a flavor you enjoy, as it’s a prominent taste in the final dish. Low-sodium soy sauce works well if you’re watching your salt intake, and you can also substitute chicken thighs for breasts if you prefer juicier meat.
The red bell pepper adds a lovely pop of color, but feel free to include other veggies like broccoli or snap peas if you want to bulk up the nutritional content. Just remember, the longer you marinate, the more flavor will infuse into that chicken!
How to Make this Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken
Making this Asian Honey Chicken couldn’t be simpler, and the results are absolutely worth the minimal effort. Start by creating your marinade – this flavor-packed liquid gold is a combination of 1/4 cup canola oil, 1/3 cup honey, 1/3 cup soy sauce, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Just whisk these ingredients together until they’re well combined and the honey has fully incorporated with the other liquids. This sweet-savory mixture is what transforms ordinary chicken into something spectacular.
Next, take your 4 skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized cubes) and place them in a large ziplock bag along with 2 whole garlic cloves, 1 onion cut into chunks, and 1 sliced red bell pepper. Pour your marinade over everything, seal the bag, and give it a good massage to guarantee all the chicken pieces are coated. Having a premium chef knife makes the prep work of cutting chicken and vegetables into uniform pieces much easier and more efficient.
Now comes the waiting game—let this marinate for at least 2 hours, though honestly, the longer the better. I sometimes prep this in the morning for an evening meal, allowing those flavors to really penetrate the meat.
When you’re ready to cook, preheat your oven to 350°F, drain off the marinade (saying goodbye is hard, I know), and transfer everything to a baking dish. For perfect results every time, use a high end meat thermometer to ensure your chicken reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F. Pop it in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked with no pink remaining. The vegetable chunks will have softened, the edges may have caramelized slightly, and that honey-soy glaze will have worked its magic on every piece of chicken.
Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken Substitutions and Variations
While the classic Asian Honey Chicken recipe is already delicious, you can easily customize it to suit your taste preferences or accommodate what’s in your pantry.
Try swapping the canola oil for sesame oil to add nutty depth, or replace honey with maple syrup or brown sugar for different sweetness profiles.
Not a fan of bell peppers? Broccoli, snap peas, or water chestnuts work beautifully here. For spice lovers, add sriracha or red pepper flakes to the marinade.
You can even substitute chicken thighs for breasts—they’re more forgiving and often juicier.
For a complete meal, serve over jasmine rice or toss with cooked noodles.
What to Serve with Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken
When pairing dishes with Sweet & Sticky Asian Honey Chicken, your sides can truly elevate the entire meal experience. I love serving it with fluffy jasmine rice to soak up that irresistible sauce—trust me, you don’t want to waste a drop!
Steamed broccoli or bok choy adds a perfect green element, while simple cucumber salad with rice vinegar offers a revitalizing contrast.
Want something more substantial? Try vegetable fried rice or chow mein noodles.
And don’t forget the garnishes, a sprinkle of sesame seeds and sliced green onions adds that restaurant-quality finish.
Isn’t it amazing how the right sides can transform a simple chicken dish?
Final Thoughts
After trying this Asian Honey Chicken recipe, I’m convinced it deserves a permanent spot in your weeknight dinner rotation.
The perfect balance of sweet honey and savory soy sauce creates that irresistible sticky glaze we all crave.
What makes this dish special is its versatility. You can adjust the sweetness, add some chili flakes for heat, or toss in extra veggies you need to use up.
And the marinade? It does all the heavy lifting, infusing the chicken with flavor while you’re busy with other things.
For an extra juicy result, consider preparing a buttermilk brine for your chicken pieces before coating them in the honey glaze.
Trust me, your family will request this one again and again.
If you enjoy this dish, you might also love preparing a creamy Chicken Alfredo using simple ingredients like cream of mushroom soup and Parmesan cheese.
