Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

Why Make This Recipe

Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls are a fantastic meal option for busy weeknights. They are quick to prepare, healthy, and packed with flavor. The combination of sweet honey, savory soy sauce, and tender chicken makes for a delicious dish that everyone will enjoy. Plus, you can customize the bowls with your favorite vegetables, making them perfect for picky eaters or those looking to add more nutrition to their meals.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

Ingredients:

• Chicken breast or chicken thighs boneless, skinless
• Honey
• Garlic cloves (fresh is best)
• Soy sauce
• Olive oil or vegetable oil
• Cooked rice (white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice)
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cornstarch (optional, for thickening the sauce)
• Water
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Bell peppers
• Green onions
• Sesame seeds

Directions:

First, start by cooking your rice according to the package instructions. Rice usually takes about 15–20 minutes, so it’s a good idea to start it first. Once it’s cooked, fluff it with a fork and set it aside to stay warm.

Next, cut the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces. Season the chicken lightly with salt and black pepper. Heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat and add the oil. When the oil is warm, add the chicken pieces in a single layer. Let them cook for a few minutes without moving them too much so they get a nice golden color. Flip the chicken and cook until it’s fully done and no longer pink inside.

While the chicken is cooking, mix the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and a little water in a small bowl. If you want a thicker sauce, stir in a small amount of cornstarch. Once the chicken is cooked, pour the honey garlic sauce into the pan. Stir gently so all the chicken is coated. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and becomes shiny and sticky. If you are adding vegetables, you can toss them into the pan during the last few minutes of cooking. This helps them stay bright and a little crunchy.

Turn off the heat once everything is coated in sauce. To serve, scoop rice into bowls and top with the honey garlic chicken. Add extra sauce from the pan over the rice for more flavor. Finish with green onions or sesame seeds if you like.

How to Serve Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls can be served hot right from the stove. They can be enjoyed as a complete meal on their own, but you may also want to serve them with a side salad or some egg rolls for a more filling dinner.

How to Store Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

To store leftover Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls, place them in an airtight container. They can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat again, simply reheat in the microwave until warmed through.

Tips to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

• For added flavor, marinate the chicken in the honey and soy sauce mixture for 30 minutes before cooking.
• If you like a bit of heat, add some red pepper flakes to the sauce.
• Feel free to substitute any of the vegetables with ones you prefer or have on hand.

Variation

You can easily make this recipe vegetarian by using tofu or tempeh instead of chicken. Just be sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly.

FAQs

1. Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Yes! You can prep the chicken and sauce in advance and store them separately in the fridge. Just cook the rice fresh before serving.

2. What if I don’t have fresh garlic?
You can use garlic powder in a pinch. One clove of garlic is about 1/8 teaspoon of garlic powder.

3. Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, you can freeze the Honey Garlic Chicken. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container, and it will last for up to 2 months. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop before serving.

Honey Garlic Chicken Rice Bowls

A quick, healthy meal packed with flavor, featuring tender chicken in a sweet and savory sauce served over rice and customizable with your favorite vegetables.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Healthy

Calories: 450

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the Chicken

• 1 lb Chicken breast or chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
• 1/4 cup Honey
• 3 cloves Garlic cloves, minced Fresh is best
• 1/4 cup Soy sauce
• 2 tbsp Olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1 cup Cooked rice (white rice, brown rice, or jasmine rice)
• to taste Salt
• to taste Black pepper
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch (optional) For thickening the sauce
• 2 tbsp Water

For the Vegetables

• 1 cup Broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup Carrots, sliced
• 1 cup Bell peppers, sliced
• 1/4 cup Green onions, chopped For garnish
• 1 tbsp Sesame seeds For garnish

Method

 

Preparation

1. Cook the rice according to package instructions, typically 15–20 minutes.
2. Cut the chicken into small, bite-sized pieces and season with salt and black pepper.

Cooking

1. Heat a large pan or skillet over medium heat and add the oil.
2. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook without moving for a few minutes until golden.
3. Flip the chicken and cook until fully done and no longer pink inside.
4. Meanwhile, mix honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and water in a bowl. For a thicker sauce, stir in cornstarch.
5. Once chicken is cooked, pour honey garlic sauce into the pan and stir to coat. Let it simmer until it thickens slightly.
6. If adding vegetables, toss them into the pan during the last few minutes of cooking.

Serving

1. Scoop rice into bowls and top with honey garlic chicken. Add extra sauce from the pan and garnish with green onions or sesame seeds.

Notes

Marinate chicken in honey and soy sauce for 30 minutes for added flavor. Red pepper flakes can be added for heat. Substitute vegetables as desired.