Honey Garlic Chicken Bowl (Printable version)

Tender chicken in honey garlic glaze with steamed vegetables and jasmine rice, topped with sesame seeds.

# Needed 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

# How to make it:

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

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The sauce caramelizes just enough to cling to the chicken without turning bitter or overly thick.
  • You can have dinner on the table in 35 minutes flat, which means stressed evenings suddenly become manageable.
  • Leftover bowls taste somehow better the next day as the flavors settle into the rice.
02 -
  • Don't move the chicken around constantly while it sears; let it sit for at least two minutes on each side so it develops color and flavor through browning instead of steaming.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, it's usually because the heat was too high; lower the temperature and stir constantly for a minute and it will come back together.
03 -
  • Prep all your ingredients before you start cooking; this isn't a dump-and-go recipe, but having everything ready means the cooking process itself takes exactly as long as advertised.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, you can marinate the chicken in the cornstarch mixture for up to two hours before cooking, which makes it even more flavorful.
Go back