This quick and easy honey lemon chicken recipe can be prepared in under 20 minutes but is packed with flavor, which makes it great for a busy weeknight. The combination of citrusy lemon and rich honey creates a perfect balance of flavors. Serve it with rice or steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
There are many people out there that find chicken boring to make/eat, but I am not one of them. To me chicken is so versatile. From chicken paprikash to chicken tikka masala to salt and pepper chicken to chicken pizzaiola.
It's all about the additional ingredients in determining the flavor of the dish. And this specific chicken recipe is no different. It is actually quite simple to make, but the star of course is the honey lemon sauce that gives the chicken a nice sweet/sour taste.
One thing to note - I always try to get real quality honey as it not only tastes better but has better health benefits for you. If you can get something local even better, but here are quite a few options you can find online.
So if you are short on time or feeling just a little bit lazy, this chicken with a honey lemon sauce is the perfect option.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy - You can have this chicken done and ready for the dinner table in 20 minutes.
- Flavorful - Just a few ingredients but a huge pop of flavor.
- Versatile - Pairs well with a variety of sides including rice, pasta and vegetables.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken - I like to use tenderloins as it cooks quickly and comes in smaller portion sizes.
- All-purpose flour - Helps create a light coating on the chicken, giving it a golden, slightly crisp texture.
- Salt and pepper - Enhances the flavors.
- Butter and olive oil - The combination of butter and olive oil allows you to get the flavor of the butter but not burn by adding the oil.
- Garlic - Infuses the sauce with aromatic depth and savory notes.
- Chicken stock - Forms the base of the sauce, adding savory note.
- Honey - Adds sweetness which complements the acidity of the lemons.
- Lemons - When using lemon juice, you want fresh lemon juice as it adds the necessary acidity and just tastes better.
- Soy sauce - Gives some needed saltiness to the sauce.
Ingredient Swaps
Like any recipe, you can mix up some of the ingredients. Some variations include:
- While I like chicken tenderloins because they cook quickly, you can use chicken breasts or chicken thighs as well.
- I like to use flour to panfry the chicken but cornstarch is a good substitute and is gluten-free as well.
- It is called honey lemon chicken for a reason, but maple syrup can be used in replace of honey.
- If gluten-free is important to you, tamari sauce can be substituted for soy sauce.
How to Make Honey Lemon Chicken
Please note full ingredient list and instructions can be found in recipe card below.
Step 1: Toss the chicken in a bowl with flour, salt and pepper.
Step 2: Cook the chicken for 3 minutes per side in a skillet before removing from heat.
Step 3: Add the garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds before deglazing with stock, scraping up the brown bits. Simmer and reduce by half before adding the honey/lemon mixture.
Step 4: Add the chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Side Dish Options
You can never go wrong rice, pasta or brown butter mashed potatoes and a side of roasted vegetables. I almost always have roasted broccoli but roasted parmesan brussels sprouts or asparagus work great as well.
Recipe FAQs
Of course. I just happened to like the chicken tenderloins for this recipe, but you can use chicken breasts or thighs as well. The cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the chicken.
Fresh lemon juice is recommended for the best flavor, but bottled can be used in a pinch.
Absolutely! Broccoli, bell peppers or snap peas work great and complement the flavors.
It can be if you use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and a gluten-free flour or cornstrach.
Leftovers will store well in the fridge for 2-3 days in an air-tight container or be frozen for 3 months.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor compared to bottled juice.
- If you really like lemon, add zest from half a lemon to the sauce.
- Use quality local honey as it is healthier for you and tastes better.
- If you love extra sauce, double it. It is great drizzled over rice or veggies!
Other Recommended Chicken Recipes
If you’ve tried this honey lemon chicken recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.
Honey Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken stock
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat. In shallow bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper. Coat the chicken in the flour, shaking off excess. (Save 1 tablespoon flour)
- Add chicken to skillet and cook for 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Deglaze the pan with chicken stock, scraping up brown bits. Bring to simmer and let it reduce by half.
- In small bowl or liquid measuring cup, add honey, lemon juice, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon leftover flour and 2 tablespoon water. Whisk until combined.
- Add honey/lemon mixture to skillet. Bring to simmer. Add chicken back to skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until sauce has thickened. Pour sauce over chicken to make sure it's coated. Serve immediately. Can top with some fresh lemon slices and parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice. Freshly squeezed lemon juice provides the best flavor compared to bottled juice.
- If you really like lemon, add zest from half a lemon to the sauce.
- Use quality local honey as it is healthier for you and tastes better.
- If you love extra sauce, double it. It is great drizzled over rice or veggies!
Chris says
Looks delicious!
tina says
I'll try it, seems so good and easy. tk
Ryan says
It is one of our go-tos for a quick weeknight dinner!