Why You’ll Love this Honey Glazed Chicken
If you’re looking for a dinner that combines sweet, tangy flavors with juicy chicken, this honey glazed chicken will become your new go-to recipe. Trust me on this one.
I love how the honey, lemon juice, and soy sauce create this perfect balance of sweet and savory. The chicken turns out incredibly tender inside with a slightly crispy exterior from that flour coating.
What really sells me? It’s fancy enough for company but simple enough for weeknights.
The hands-off baking time lets me prepare sides or, honestly, just relax with a glass of wine. That extra glaze over rice? Game-changer.
What Ingredients are in Honey Glazed Chicken?
This honey glazed chicken recipe relies on a beautiful combination of pantry staples that create magic when they come together. The honey provides sweetness, the lemon juice brings tanginess, and the soy sauce adds that umami depth that makes you wonder, “What is that wonderful flavor?” The flour coating creates a subtle crust that helps the glaze cling to each piece of chicken, making every bite absolutely delicious.
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
When shopping for these ingredients, quality matters with the honey especially—I recommend using a good local honey if you can find it, as the flavor really comes through in the final dish. And while the recipe doesn’t specify, freshly squeezed lemon juice makes a noticeable difference compared to the bottled stuff. For a little variation, you might consider adding a pinch of garlic powder or a dash of red pepper flakes to the flour mixture if you want to add some complexity or heat to the dish.
How to Make this Honey Glazed Chicken
Making this honey glazed chicken couldn’t be easier, and the results are absolutely mouthwatering. To begin, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F—this moderate temperature guarantees the chicken cooks through while still allowing that gorgeous honey glaze to caramelize without burning.
While the oven heats up, slice your 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts into roughly 2-inch pieces. These smaller pieces cook more evenly and give you more surface area for that delicious glaze to cling to, which is really what we’re after here, right?
Next comes the prep work that makes all the difference. In a bowl, combine 1 cup flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper—this seasoned flour mixture will create a light coating that helps the glaze adhere to the chicken.
Now here’s a clever trick from the recipe: pour 1/2 cup melted butter on one end of a 9×12 baking dish. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture first, then dip it in the melted butter before arranging the pieces at the opposite end of the dish. This two-step process creates the perfect foundation for our glaze.
In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and 1/2 cup honey until well combined—this is our star player, the glaze that transforms ordinary chicken into something special.
The baking process requires a bit of attention, but it’s worth every minute. Bake the chicken for 30 minutes initially, then pull it out and baste it with the honey mixture.
Return it to the oven for 10 minutes, then baste again with more glaze. After another 10 minutes of baking, you’ll have perfectly cooked chicken that’s tender inside with a sticky, sweet-tangy coating that’s practically irresistible.
The total cooking time is one hour, which might seem long, but trust me, that slow baking is what allows the flavors to develop and the glaze to work its magic.
A little tip from the recipe creator that I wholeheartedly endorse: make some extra glaze to serve over baked rice—it soaks up all those wonderful flavors and completes the meal beautifully.
Honey Glazed Chicken Substitutions and Variations
While the classic honey glazed chicken recipe is absolutely delicious as written, the beauty of home cooking lies in making recipes your own.
Don’t have soy sauce? Try Worcestershire or coconut aminos instead. Maple syrup or agave nectar can replace honey for a different sweetness profile.
I’ve used orange juice instead of lemon when my citrus drawer was lacking, and it was surprisingly wonderful.
For heat lovers, add a teaspoon of sriracha or red pepper flakes to the glaze. Chicken thighs work beautifully if you prefer darker meat—just adjust cooking time accordingly.
My family loves when I toss in garlic powder and rosemary for an herbal twist.
What to Serve with Honey Glazed Chicken
Pairing the right side dishes with honey glazed chicken elevates this sweet and savory main course to a complete, satisfying meal.
I love serving this with fluffy basmati rice that soaks up all that extra glaze—trust me, you don’t want to waste a drop of that sticky goodness.
Steamed broccoli or green beans provide the perfect color contrast and balance the sweetness.
Want something starchy? Roasted potatoes or a simple mac and cheese work beautifully.
On hot summer nights, I’ll add a crisp cucumber salad with rice vinegar dressing. So simple, so good.
Final Thoughts
After trying this honey glazed chicken recipe, you’ll understand why it’s become a staple in my weekly dinner rotation. The sweet-savory balance is simply irresistible, and I’ve yet to meet a dinner guest who hasn’t asked for seconds.
I love how versatile this dish is—perfect for busy weeknights or weekend dinner parties. The extra glaze drizzled over rice? Game-changer. Trust me on this.
What I appreciate most is how forgiving the recipe is. Chicken a bit overdone? The glaze rescues it.
Want more tang? Add extra lemon juice. It’s your kitchen, your rules.
Honey Glazed Chicken
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Cut chicken breasts into 2-inch pieces.
- In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and pepper to create a seasoned coating.
- Pour melted butter on one end of a 9×12 baking dish.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, then dip in the melted butter. Arrange the coated pieces at the opposite end of the baking dish from the butter.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, and honey until well combined.
- Bake the chicken for 30 minutes.
- Remove from oven and baste the chicken with the honey mixture.
- Return to the oven for 10 minutes, then baste again with more glaze.
- Bake for a final 10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the glaze has caramelized.
- Serve hot, preferably over rice with extra glaze drizzled on top.
