This Honey Butter Chicken is EPIC!!! Crazy quick and easy to make in less than 30 minutes, I like making this with bite-size pieces to maximize the surface area that is caramelized in the stunning sauce!
Honey Butter Chicken is our favorite weeknight dinner! This easy chicken can be on the table in 15 minutes! Need more easy chicken recipes to keep on hand for busy nights? I love this baked chicken recipe and or this amazing sheet pan chicken! These chicken dinners are some of my go-to comfort food!
I am completely and utterly addicted to this chicken. Actually, I’m addicted to this insanely delicious honey butter sauce. I make this with salmon, pork, other cuts of chicken like chicken breast. But hands down, my favorite is using bite sizes pieces of chicken thighs. It’s juicier than breast, you get a much better caramelization and by cutting the chicken into bite size pieces, you get maximum surface area caramelization.
HONEY BUTTER CHICKEN
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The sauce is crazy simple to make. Just butter, honey, garlic, and vinegar – you really need the vinegar to cut through the sweetness of the sauce.
This recipe doesn’t make much sauce, because you don’t need it. The idea behind this recipe is that the chicken is cooked in the sauce so it caramelizes on the chicken, so you just need a little drizzle of residual sauce in the skillet over the chicken when you serve it.
I really can’t think of a better way to serve this than over mashed potatoes. It is the perfect pairing – juicy sticky, savory chicken piled over clouds of soft mashed potato.
Heaven on a plate, right there. My family loved it the first time I made it and they ask for it all the time now!
You’re just 10 minutes away from this. Start to finish. All you need to do is chop the chicken, then while the chicken is browning in the skillet, measure out the rest of the ingredients then add them in.
And in all honesty, if the chicken is in the skillet for more than 7 minutes, you’ve overcooked the chicken. So you see, it MUST be quick to make in order to ensure the chicken is gorgeously juicy, just like a stir fry!!
Hope you enjoy!
Want more chicken recipes?
- Cheesy Chicken Meatballs
- Chicken Piccata
- Brown Sugar Pineapple Chicken
- Southern Oven Fried Chicken
- Slow Cooker Thai Sweet Chili Chicken
- More dinner recipes…
Tools used to make this Honey Butter Chicken recipe
Large Skillet: This skillet is my go-to kitchen tool. It’s large circumference and high sides make it perfect for cooking anything from one pan meals to soups and sauces.
Tongs: A good pair of tongs is a kitchen essential. I like having a couple sizes – a longer set for grilling and a shorter set for stovetop cooking.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter divided
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and pepper
- 2 ½ tablespoons honey
- 1 large clove garlic minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- Fresh parsley finely chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large non-stick skillet over high heat.
- When the butter is melted, add the chicken. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then cook until it changes from pink to white and starts to brown.
- Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, honey, garlic, and vinegar. Bring to a simmer. Turn the chicken to coat in the sauce until it is golden and caramelized.
- Once the chicken is browned all over, remove it from the heat. Pile chicken onto mashed potatoes, and drizzle with the sauce in the pan. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Glenn says
Yummy! Great easy recipe. Being Italian I couldn’t. just use one clove of garlic and I only had peanut oil which added an Asian flair! I also had some special dark honey that totally went well with the apple cider vinegar. The mashed potatoes were a great call and soaked up that delicious sauce. I only had chicken breasts which were a little dry and can’t wait to try it again with dark meat as you recommended. Thank you for helping our family avoid another night of boring grilled chicken and my wife thanks you for exciting me enough to pull it all together by myself!
Aubrey Cota says
So awesome!! I’m so glad you all like it and it pulled together so nicely for you.
Cait says
Loved it!
Anyone know appx calories per serving (without mashed potatoes)?
Aubrey Cota says
Thank you! The recipe has been update to reflect the nutritional facts.
Lindsey says
This was so easy and really good! I added some red pepper flakes bc I like a hint of heat. This will be my new go to easy dinner meal. we have 2 adults and 4 kids so I tripled everything. Wish I knew about this recipe sooner! Do you have more quick and easy ones?!
Aubrey Cota says
So glad everyone liked it!! I love the addition of red pepper flakes. Absolutely check out some of our roundups here: https://realhousemoms.com/category/roundup/
Kassandra says
I made this and I didn’t have some ingredients but still turned out so freaking good
Aubrey Cota says
Awesome!!
Arielle says
Pardon my language but this simple recipe was f’ing delicious. Will make it twice a month for the rest of my life. Thank you for this blessing!
Aubrey Cota says
So glad it was such a hit!! The comment had to be censored a bit but I love the enthusiasm!
Denise M says
I made this yesterday and loved it! It was a bit watery so I simmered and simmered it down to a nice glaze, so good… can’t wait to make it again – thanks!
Aubrey Cota says
Thanks so much!
Dorothy McClester says
Love this recipe! Gave it to my brother and to my daughter-in-law. I served it on medium noodles with soy sauce and teriyaki sauce available for my sons. It was so good! I am making it again tonight and I got some Bangkok Peanut Sauce to pour over mine. Can’t wait!
Aubrey Cota says
A major staple meal in our household!! Thank you so much and I’m glad to hear everyone enjoyed.
Dorothy McClester says
Love this recipe still! Making it right now! Perfection!
Aubrey Cota says
So happy to hear. Thank you, Dorothy!
Dylan says
Tried this with some rice. Absolutely delish and not too complicated for busy folks like me.
Aubrey Cota says
It’s one of my absolute favs because of that!! So glad you enjoyed it, thank you so much.
Sherri Hamilton says
This was so good and so EASY!!!! I was out of apple cider and used champagne Vinegar instead and it was still fabulous! Thanks for the wonderful idea! Will definitely put this in as a regular meal in our house.
Aubrey Cota says
So glad it worked out nicely for you! Thank you.
Rachael says
Not sure what I did wrong but mine never carmelized and was watery?
Aubrey Cota says
Sounds like you may not have let it simmer for long enough.
Allison says
Nevermind- made a second batch and carmelized sauce took exactly as long as the author said it would! You need the skillet to be medium-high heat. Its so good, exactly as written. Next time I’ll add some stir-fry veggies!
Ya boi, Space says
You used chicken breast, youre supposed to use chicken leg/thigh meat
Vũ Diệu Linh says
I love eating this honey butter chicken dish but with pickles. It tastes so good.
Aubrey Cota says
That’s an interesting combination!! I’ll have to try it 🙂
Michelle says
Could you use rice vinegar or red wine vinegar or just white vinegar instead? Just don’t have apple cider vinegar at the moment
Aubrey Cota says
Yes, those 2 options just offer a bit of a different “vinegar” flavor but it should still work out just fine.
Kim says
This was super good, but I like a little spice so next time I make it I may add some red chili flakes to it to give it a lil kick.
Aubrey Cota says
Sounds great, I think that would make a perfect addition!
Kimberly Moline says
I loved this! Added about 1 tsp of cayenne and a couple of tablespoons is real bacon bits. It was so good!
Aubrey Cota says
Sounds good!! Thanks for sharing the additions.
Christine Benedicta says
Made it for dinner last night, served on mashed broccoli and potatoes. My son does not take veggie however he loves this dish and rated it as 7. Thank you for sharing this wonderful Honey Butter Chicken recipe. ??
Aubrey Cota says
Check one or the win column!! Thank you for sharing, hope you find tons more recipes here that work out that way.
Johnny Bags says
Ok this was a very simple and easy recipe. It tasted fab… I also would recommend the bed of rice for a lighter meal and a side of brussel sprouts paired well with the meal.
Aubrey Cota says
We love brussel sprouts!!! They are never a bad idea. You could also try this over zoodles, that’s an even lighter choice and the sauce really does something to the zoodles!. Thank you Johnny.
Delane says
Wow! Great chicken!
Aubrey Cota says
Thank you! So glad you liked it.
Kaula says
I made this just now and it was really good!! Would also be good to add some soy sauce and serve over rice. It would probably be really delicious to add some spices, like five spice or something else. Will be making again, very simple and can easily make it your own
Aubrey Cota says
Great to hear!
Pauline says
This chicken sounds delish. I have a question though? Could you use lemon juice instead of the Vinegar to cut through the sweetness? Do you thonk this combo would work? My boyfriend isnt crazy about vinegar.
Julie Kotzbach says
Hi Pauline! Lemon juice is a very different flavor profile from cider vinegar. You could do a test run with the sauce and see if you like it, but I really recommend making the recipe as written. It doesn’t taste vinegar-y. It acts as more of a layer of flavor in the sauce. Hope this helps!
Pauline says
Thank you for the clarification, I’m going to try it and let you know how we like it!!!
NISHANTH Kadukkundil says
Yes it’s amazing very good tasty,
Sharon M says
I will definitely make this recipe again. Fast, easy, simple. Next time I will try to have boneless chicken on hand, even though it worked great with chicken breast. The cooked, glazed chicken was spooned over a bed of Jasmine rice, and grilled asparagus rounded out the plate. Trying to save some for lunch tomorrow . . . I only prepared 1/2 of the recipe . . . but it’s so delicious!
Pauline, your boyfriend shouldn’t be bothered by the apple cider vinegar. As another commenter stated, it just adds a subtle layer of flavor. PS Never tattle on yourself when you boldly use ingredients some people don’t “like”.
Paulinr says
Sharon,
Hahaha thanks, turns out it was a huge success, I loved it, he loved it and we shall never fear Apple Cider Vinegar again!
Britni Navratil says
I’m so excited trying to make this but, mine won’t caramelize either??
Amie says
My first guess would be an overcrowded skillet. But I am no expert chef for sure😬
Jacqui says
I made this for dinner. It was AWESOME! Served it over mashed potatoes! So yummy! My husband loved it!
Aubrey Cota says
YAY! Glad you liked it.
NISHANTH Kadukkundil says
Yes it’s amazing
Britni Navratil says
Bragg’s apple cider vinegar is ok??
Jennifer Kimmel says
Hey Britni! Apple Cider vinegar is perfect!
Danielle says
How would I be able to make more of the sauce? I made it for dinner and it was awesome! The whole family loved it, 2 kids and my hubby and myself.
NISHANTH Kadukkundil says
Yes it’s amazing
Sean says
Mine didn’t come out carmelized like yours, but more dry. Why is that?
Britni Navratil says
I’m so excited trying to make this but, mine won’t caramelize either??
Jay says
You cooked it too low and too long
Chelsea says
Good favor, but I eventually had to add flour to make the sauce thicken, by then the chicken was dried out and rubbery.
Nancy says
I’m making it and it’s not carmelizing 😩🤷♀️
Jen says
Mine didn’t either. Super gross mess and nothing for dinner.
Ashley says
To caramelize you Must keep skillet on HIGH