Honey Garlic Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Tender honey garlic chicken over fluffy rice with crisp vegetables

# Required Ingredients:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
03 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
04 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Honey Garlic Sauce

05 - 4 tablespoons honey
06 - 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
10 - 1 teaspoon sesame oil

→ Rice

11 - 1.25 cups jasmine or short-grain white rice
12 - 2 cups water
13 - Pinch of salt

→ Vegetables

14 - 1.5 cups broccoli florets
15 - 1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
16 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced

→ Garnishes

17 - 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
18 - 2 spring onions, sliced

# Directions:

01 - Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Combine rice, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat, let stand covered for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, rice vinegar, ginger, and sesame oil until combined. Set aside.
03 - Toss chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
04 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden and cooked through.
05 - Pour honey garlic sauce over cooked chicken. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken evenly.
06 - Steam broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper until just tender, approximately 4-5 minutes, or sauté in a separate pan with a splash of oil for enhanced flavor.
07 - Divide cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top with glazed chicken and steamed vegetables. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onions.
08 - Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Dinner comes together in 35 minutes, which means you can make this on a weeknight without stress or takeout guilt.
  • The honey garlic sauce is addictive enough that you'll find yourself licking your bowl, and nobody will judge you.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and versatile, so it works for almost any dietary preference without feeling like a compromise.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or unexpected lunch situations.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice or you'll end up with a gluey mess instead of fluffy individual grains.
  • The cornstarch coating on the chicken is what gives you that restaurant-style glaze—undercoating it is the most common mistake home cooks make.
  • If your sauce seems thin after cooking, you either used too much liquid or didn't let it simmer long enough to reduce and concentrate.
  • Overcrowding the pan when cooking chicken causes steam instead of a proper sear, so give each piece space even if it means cooking in batches.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of sauce and keep it in the fridge for up to a week—it's incredible on roasted vegetables, tofu, or even drizzled over scrambled eggs.
  • If you're cooking for a crowd, prep all your ingredients ahead and do the actual cooking right before serving, which takes the stress out of timing.
  • Leftover chicken and vegetables reheat beautifully in a low oven or even in the microwave, though fresh vegetables added after reheating taste better than vegetables that sat in sauce overnight.
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