Oh, the classic weeknight panic! You walk in after a ridiculously long day, the kids are already hangry, and the thought of spending an hour over the stove just makes you want to order takeout. I totally get it. That’s why I have recipes in my back pocket that are pure magic, and this Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute is my absolute lifeline on those evenings.
Seriously, this recipe is a dream. We’re talking fully plated and eaten in under twenty minutes, start to finish! I swear by meals like this; they allow me to actually sit down before 8 PM. I’ve found that having fantastic, quick options like this helps keep me out of that takeout rut. You can check out some other favorites over at easy dinner recipes in 20 minutes if you need more speed in your life! It’s rich, sticky, savory, and so easy you’ll be making it once a week. Trust me, you need these chicken bites ready to go for your next crazy Tuesday.
Why You Need This Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute Recipe
If you’re anything like me, you need dinner to be fast and effective. This recipe absolutely nails that brief. It’s become a staple for me on busy nights, and here’s exactly why I push it on everyone I know:
- Speed Demon: We are talking twenty minutes total! Prep is just five, cook is fifteen. Dinner on the table before anyone can complain.
- One-Pan Wonder: Because we’re using just one skillet, cleanup is a total breeze. You just need a quick wash when you’re done.
- Flavor Party: The sauce—oh, that honey garlic sauce—is that perfect sweet and savory sticky coating. It tastes like you spent way more time cooking than you actually did.
- Protein Punch: It’s incredibly filling because it’s packed with lean chicken. A great high-protein meal for anyone who needs staying power.
If you want even more speedy options, check out my list of dinner recipes in 20 minutes—but trust me, start here!
Essential Ingredients for Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Look, the absolute best part about this recipe is that it doesn’t require a million fancy things from the specialty aisle. We’re using everyday pantry staples that probably already live in your kitchen. Having everything ready upfront means we hit that 20-minute goal easily. I always lay mine out on the counter like a little assembly line—it saves so much rushing later! You can see a few of my other favorite simple swaps over at my guide to 5 ingredient chicken recipes, but for this honey garlic magic, these are what you need.
For the Chicken and Sauce
This is the core of our flavor explosion, so make sure you’ve got your chicken cut uniformly—it cooks so much faster that way!
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces (This size gets perfectly coated!)
- 1 tbsp olive oil (Just enough to get things started in the pan.)
- 1/4 cup honey (This is what makes it sticky and sweet.)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (I always opt for low sodium preferred so the sauce isn’t too aggressive.)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (Don’t even *think* about using the jarred stuff here; fresh garlic is crucial for the aroma!)
- 1 tsp cornstarch, mixed with 1 tbsp cold water to make a slurry (This is our secret thickener!)
For Garnish (Optional)
These are totally optional, but they add that beautiful restaurant look, so I rarely skip them!
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, for garnish
- 2 tbsp green onions, sliced, for garnish
Equipment Needed for Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Part of the reason we hit that 20-minute mark is because we aren’t hauling out every gadget we own! This recipe keeps things super simple on the cleanup front, too. A great way to minimize mess is to use nothing but one pan for the cooking, which you can see why I love so much over here at my guide to one-pan chicken meals.
You only need three things, really. Make sure they are ready and waiting on your counter before you even start chopping your chicken. If you’re organized, you’re halfway to dinner heaven!
- Large skillet (This needs to be big enough to hold all the chicken and still have room to toss it around later in the sauce.)
- Cutting board (Obviously, for chopping those beautiful chicken pieces.)
- Knife (Make sure it’s sharp so you get nice 1-inch cubes quickly!)
Step-by-Step Instructions for Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
This is where the speed really comes into play! Because we are using high heat for the initial sear, you need to have everything chopped and ready to go before the oil even hits the pan. If you watch closely, you’ll see how fast these cook up. If you need a refresher on getting your chicken perfectly cooked the first time around, take a peek at my foolproof guide on how to make chicken foolproof before you start!
Preparing the Chicken and Initial Sear
First things first, chop up all 1.5 lbs of your chicken breasts into nice, even 1-inch pieces. This keeps the cooking time tight and reliable. Next, get that large skillet going over medium-high heat and add your olive oil. **Pro tip:** Make sure that oil is shimmering a little before you drop the chicken in—that initial sizzle is what gives you that gorgeous brown color!
Toss the chicken in and let it cook, undisturbed for a minute or two, then stir until it’s browned on all sides and cooked all the way through. That should take about 5 to 7 minutes. Once it looks perfect, scoop the chicken out and set it on a clean plate for a minute—we need that pan back!
Creating the Honey Garlic Sauce
Now, wipe out any loose bits if your pan is too dark, but leave all those tasty browned bits (that’s flavor, honey!). Reduce the heat down to medium. Pour in your honey, soy sauce, and that minced garlic. Stir this constantly for about 60 seconds until the garlic starts smelling absolutely incredible.
Time for the slurry! Take that cornstarch mixed with cold water and whisk it right into your hot sauce mixture. Keep whisking constantly; it thickens up shockingly fast, usually in just a minute or two. You want it nice and glossy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Coating and Finishing Your Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Okay, the moment of truth! Slide that cooked chicken right back into the skillet with the thick, glorious sauce. Use a rubber spatula or spoon to gently toss everything together. You want every single chicken bite totally drenched and coated in that sweet, savory glaze. This usually only takes 30 seconds to a minute.
Take the skillet off the heat immediately! You can serve these right out of the pan, but I always plate mine up and then garnish with those toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions. Dinner is served!
Tips for Perfect Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Even though this recipe is lightning fast, there are a few little tricks I’ve learned over making it dozens of times that guarantee you get that perfect, sticky glaze every single time. I always tell people that speed doesn’t mean sacrificing quality, and these small steps make all the difference!
If you’re looking for the secrets to getting your chicken just right every time, I have a whole breakdown on what makes perfect chicken, but for these bites, focus on these three things:
First, don’t overcrowd the pan when you sear the chicken initially. I know it’s tempting to dump it all in at once because you’re in a rush, but if you stack it up, the chicken steams instead of browns. You want that gorgeous color and nice texture before it starts soaking up sauce. Do it in two batches if you have to; trust me, you’ll thank me later!
Second, be good about the low-sodium soy sauce. Because this sauce relies so heavily on just three main flavorings—honey, soy, and garlic—if you use full-sodium soy sauce, you risk the whole thing tasting overwhelmingly salty once the honey gets mixed in. It gives you much better control over the final flavor balance.
And finally, before you ever introduce that cornstarch slurry to the hot pan, give it an aggressive whisk! Cornstarch loves to settle at the bottom of that little cup in about three seconds flat. If you add it without mixing, you end up with pockets of thick goo in your sauce instead of a smooth, even glaze coating your chicken bites. Happy cooking!
Serving Suggestions for This Quick Dinner
Okay, so you’ve got your beautiful, sticky honey garlic chicken bites—yum! They are fantastic all on their own if you just need a quick protein snack, but usually, I want something to soak up all that extra sauce that pools at the bottom of the serving bowl. Seriously, leaving sauce behind feels like a crime, right?
The original notes mentioned serving these over rice, and honestly, that’s a winner. Steamed white rice, brown rice, even some plain cauliflower rice if you’re keeping it low-carb—it’s the perfect neutral base for that big flavor punch. I find that if I cook the rice while the chicken is searing, I’m still under that 20-minute mark!
If rice isn’t your thing, simple steamed vegetables are another fantastic option. Broccoli or green beans just tossed with a tiny bit of salt and pepper work perfectly because they absorb the sauce beautifully without competing with the flavor. If you need more ideas for quick weeknight pairings, I’ve got a whole post on dinner recipes for busy weeknights that could give you some easy veggie inspiration!
My personal favorite addition, though? A really crisp, simple side salad dressed with maybe just some rice vinegar and a drizzle of sesame oil. The cool crunch is the best contrast to the hot, sticky chicken. It makes the whole thing feel like a fully balanced, way fancier meal!
Storage and Reheating Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Here’s the great news: these honey garlic chicken bites are perfect for making ahead! If you have any leftovers—which I doubt you will, but we can hope—pop them into an airtight container right away. They keep beautifully in the fridge for about three or four days. I often use these for quick desk lunches later in the week.
When it comes time to reheat, skip the microwave if you can! The microwave tends to make the coating all sweaty and soft. Instead, toss them back into that same large skillet over medium heat for just a couple of minutes. A tiny splash of water or a teaspoon of extra soy sauce helps reintroduce moisture and gets that glaze nice and shiny again. This quick skillet reheat keeps the texture amazing. If you’re batch cooking for the week, you might want to check out my tips for meal prep friendly recipes!
Frequently Asked Questions About This Quick Dinner
Because this Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute recipe is so simple, people often ask about making quick tweaks to suit their needs. It’s great that everyone wants to make it their own! Here are the three questions I get asked the most whenever I share this one:
Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Oh, absolutely! Chicken thighs are actually my favorite substitute, especially since they stay incredibly juicy because of the higher fat content. If you decide to swap them in, just know they might take just a tiny bit longer to cook through completely during that initial sear—maybe an extra minute or two. You’re still going to be totally fine and well under that amazing 20-minute total time, though. It’s a fantastic way to keep this quick dinner exciting!
How can I bump up the spice level in the sauce?
If sweet and savory isn’t quite enough heat for your house, making this Honey Garlic Chicken spicier is super easy! The easiest boost is adding a good pinch of red pepper flakes right when you add the minced garlic to the pan for that minute of cooking. Another trick I love is using Sriracha instead of, or alongside, a tiny bit of the soy sauce. Just start small—maybe half a teaspoon—and taste test as you go before you return the chicken. If you want more low-carb options that pack a punch, check out some ideas over at my post on quick low-carb lunches!
Can I prep the cornstarch slurry ahead of time?
Yes, you definitely can, and honestly, I often do! Since this is such a fast recipe, having that slurry pre-mixed is a huge time-saver. You can mix the cornstarch and water right into a tiny jar the night before and just pop it in the fridge. Remember, though, cornstarch settles really quickly, so even if it’s pre-mixed, give that jar a really serious shake or whisk right before you pour it into the hot sauce. If you forget that quick whisk, you risk dumping all the powder in one spot!
Nutritional Estimate for Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites – Dinner in 20 Minute
Now, I’m not a nutritionist, so please take these numbers with a giant grain of salt—cooking is an art, not an exact science, right? These estimates are based purely on the core ingredients listed above, assuming we’re dividing the recipe exactly by 4 servings. Things like the brand of chicken or whether you use low-sodium soy sauce can always change the final tally.
If you’re tracking macros or counting calories, this is a really solid, high-protein dinner that keeps the carbs relatively low unless you load it up with rice! For those tracking, you can check out some of my minimal calorie recipes for other comparisons. But based on the chicken, honey, and soy sauce amounts, here’s a rough idea of what each serving of these Chicken Bites looks like before sides:
- Calories: Approximately 350-380 kcal
- Protein: Roughly 45 grams (Wow, that’s a lot of power!)
- Fat: Around 11 grams
- Carbohydrates: About 18 grams (Mostly from the honey, naturally.)
This is just for the chicken bites coated in the sauce, remember! If you skip the sesame seeds and green onions, those numbers stay pretty stable. If you serve this over a big bed of plain white rice, you’ll see the carb count jump quite a bit, but that’s okay, because sometimes you just need that fluffy base to soak up all that delicious sauce!
Simple Honey Garlic Chicken Bites
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch each.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook until browned on all sides and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium. Add the honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic to the same skillet. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly until the garlic is fragrant.
- Whisk the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) into the sauce. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens, about 1 to 2 minutes.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Toss the chicken until it is fully coated with the honey garlic sauce.
- Serve the chicken bites immediately. Garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions if desired.
