Weeknights can be hectic, especially when you’re juggling work, school, and family activities. Finding time to prepare a delicious and satisfying meal that everyone will love can feel like a challenge. If you’re searching for Family Food Ideas that are both quick and flavorful, look no further! This 5-ingredient, 15-minute honey garlic chicken recipe is a game-changer for busy families. With its addictively delicious sauce and minimal prep time, it’s guaranteed to become a new family favorite.
Close-up of honey garlic chicken in a skillet with rice in the background, showcasing a quick and easy family dinner idea.
We all know the feeling of Monday rolling around again, signaling the start of another busy week. Whether it’s school runs, after-school activities, or just the general demands of daily life, weeknights often require dinner solutions that are both fast and fuss-free. This honey garlic chicken recipe perfectly fits the bill, offering a stress-free way to put a tasty meal on the table in just minutes.
What makes this recipe a winner for family food ideas? Firstly, it’s incredibly quick and easy. With only 5 main ingredients and a cooking time of just 15 minutes, it’s faster than ordering takeout and healthier too! Secondly, the flavor is undeniably delicious. The honey garlic sauce is the star of the show – a perfect blend of sweet and savory that appeals to both kids and adults. Imagine sticky, sweet honey combined with salty soy sauce, a hint of garlic, and a gentle kick of red pepper flakes. This sauce coats the chicken beautifully, creating a glazed and flavorful dish that’s simply irresistible.
I often find myself spooning the extra sauce straight from the pan! It’s also fantastic drizzled over everything on the plate – the chicken, rice, and any accompanying vegetables. Encourage your family to get every last drop of this delectable sauce; it truly elevates the entire meal.
If you’re a fan of this flavor profile and looking for more family food ideas, you might also enjoy my slow cooker honey garlic chicken recipe for a hands-off approach, or the Instant Pot honey garlic chicken version for another quick cooking method. For a more veggie-packed family meal, the honey garlic chicken stir fry is loaded with vegetables and ready in just 25 minutes. And if your family enjoys pork, the 15-minute honey garlic pork chops are another fantastic option for a speedy weeknight dinner.
But let’s get back to today’s star: this simple honey garlic chicken recipe. To ensure your family meal is a success, here are a few helpful recipe notes and tips.
Honey garlic chicken in a dark skillet, ready to be served as a quick family dinner idea.
Recipe Notes for Perfect Family Meals
- Don’t Overcook the Chicken: Since the chicken is cut into small cubes, it cooks very quickly. This is ideal for a fast family dinner, but be mindful not to overcook it, as it can become dry. However, the flavorful honey garlic sauce is quite forgiving and will help keep the chicken moist even if it’s slightly overdone.
- Chicken Thighs Option: For a richer flavor, you can substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs for chicken breasts. Keep in mind that chicken thighs will require a slightly longer cooking time.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: Using low-sodium soy sauce is recommended as it allows you to control the saltiness of the dish. For a gluten-free family member, you can easily substitute with gluten-free tamari.
- Complete Family Meal: To make this a well-rounded family meal, simply serve the honey garlic chicken with steamed rice and a side of your family’s favorite vegetable. Brown rice is a great nutritious option, but you can choose any rice your family prefers. Start the rice cooking first, then prepare the chicken while the rice is cooking. Steamed broccoli, green beans, or snow peas are quick and easy vegetable sides that complement the chicken perfectly. You can also use steam-in-the-bag veggies for extra convenience on busy weeknights.
- Low-Carb Family Option: For families following a lower-carb diet, serve this honey garlic chicken with cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice. Quinoa or rice noodles are other great alternatives to pair with the flavorful sauce.
Family-Friendly Topping Ideas
To make this honey garlic chicken even more appealing to different family members, offer a variety of toppings that everyone can choose from. Toppings are a fantastic way to customize the dish and add extra flavor and texture.
- Sliced green onions
- Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped
- Chopped peanuts for a nutty crunch
- Lime wedges to squeeze over the chicken for a touch of brightness
- Extra red pepper flakes for those who like a bit more spice
- A drizzle of sriracha for a spicy kick
Let everyone in the family pick their favorite toppings to create their perfect honey garlic chicken bowl!
Leftover Tips for Busy Families
Leftovers are a lifesaver for busy families! Honey garlic chicken leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Make sure to store the chicken with the sauce, as this will prevent it from drying out during reheating. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for a quick and easy lunch the next day. Leftover honey garlic chicken is also delicious served cold over a salad for a lighter meal.
This 15-minute honey garlic chicken recipe is truly a fantastic addition to your repertoire of family food ideas. It’s quick, easy, delicious, and customizable to suit everyone’s tastes. Give it a try this week and enjoy a stress-free and flavorful family dinner!
XO,
Kathryn
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil (or canola oil)
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small cubes (about ½ inch)
- Salt and black pepper
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, adjust for heat)
For serving (optional):
- Brown rice, sliced green onions, sesame seeds, chopped peanuts, lime wedges to squeeze over chicken
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Lightly season the cubed chicken with salt and pepper. (Go easy because the soy sauce has plenty of sodium.)
- Add the chicken to the skillet and brown on one side, about 3-4 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the glaze. Whisk the honey, soy sauce, garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, in a small bowl until well combined.
- Add the sauce to the pan and toss to coat the chicken pieces. Cook until chicken is cooked through, 4-5 more minutes.
- Serve with steamed rice and top with green onions, sesame seeds and a squeeze of lime juice, if desired.
Notes
Tip: Be careful not to overcook the chicken. The pieces are small so they cook fast, which is kinda the point with this dinner. But you don’t want them to go too far and be overdone. On the other hand, that sauce is seriously so good, it’ll disguise your chicken if it gets a little overdone.
You could substitute boneless, skinless chicken thighs in place of the chicken breasts if you prefer, but the cooking time might be a little longer.
I do use and recommend low-sodium soy sauce so you can control the amount of sodium in this recipe. You could also substitute a gluten-free tamari if you need this recipe to be gluten-free.
For serving: To make a complete meal, just add some steamed rice and a veggie. Or serve this over quinoa, cauliflower rice or a thin noodle.
Leftovers, once cooled, can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a skillet on the stove until warmed through. (Make sure to store and reheat with the sauce!)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4
Serving Size:
1 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 360Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 145mgSodium: 665mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 54g
