Description
Savory honey pepper chicken delivers a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors that dance across your palate. Crispy golden chicken pieces glazed with a rich honey-pepper sauce promise a quick, delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 lb chicken thighs
Seasonings and Sauce:
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tbsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
Cooking and Garnish:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 2 green onions
- 1/2 lemon (for juice)
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken by patting dry with paper towels and slicing both chicken breasts and thighs into uniform bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
- Create a robust marinade by whisking together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, freshly ground black pepper, and salt in a mixing bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Immerse chicken pieces in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage, and let sit at room temperature for 20-25 minutes to absorb flavors deeply.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and nearly smoking, which helps achieve a perfect golden-brown sear.
- Carefully transfer marinated chicken pieces into the hot skillet, arranging in a single layer to prevent overcrowding and promote caramelization.
- Cook chicken for 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally to develop a rich, glazed exterior and ensure internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the chicken during the final minute of cooking to brighten the flavor profile.
- Remove skillet from heat and let chicken rest for 2-3 minutes to redistribute internal juices and maintain tenderness.
- Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for added texture and visual appeal.
- Serve immediately while warm, drizzling any remaining pan juices over the chicken for extra flavor intensity.
Notes
- Maximize flavor absorption by piercing chicken with a fork before marinating, allowing seasoning to penetrate deeper into the meat.
- For a low-carb option, replace honey with sugar-free maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener to maintain the glaze without added sugars.
- Prevent tough chicken by avoiding overcooking; use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature precisely at 165°F for juicy results.
- Create a crispy exterior by patting chicken completely dry before searing, which helps achieve that perfect golden-brown caramelization without steaming the meat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg