Description
Honey Lemon Chicken is a quick and delicious Western-style dinner featuring succulent chicken breasts coated in a slightly crispy flour dusting and glazed with a lip-smacking honey-lemon sauce. Ready in just 12 minutes, this dish combines savory and sweet flavors with a hint of garlic and soy, making it perfect for an effortless weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 lb / 500g chicken breast (2 pieces)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup / 35 g flour (any)
Sauce
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 3/4 cup / 185 ml chicken broth / stock
- 1/4 cup / 85 g honey
- 1/4 cup / 60 ml lemon juice (fresh)
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp water
- 1 tsp flour (reserved from chicken coating)
To Serve (Optional)
- Lemon slices
- Finely chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Slice each chicken breast horizontally to form 4 thin steaks in total. Optionally, pound each piece to an even thickness of about 1 cm (2/5 inch) to ensure uniform cooking. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Coat with Flour: Place flour in a shallow dish. Coat each chicken piece thoroughly with the flour, shaking off any excess. Reserve 1 teaspoon of this flour for the sauce preparation.
- Mix Flour and Water: In a small bowl, mix the reserved 1 teaspoon of flour with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth. Set aside to add later to the sauce.
- Cook Chicken: Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until melted and hot. Add the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and stir for about 20 seconds until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Pour in 3/4 cup chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Use a spatula to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to infuse the sauce with flavor.
- Make the Sauce: Stir in 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon soy sauce, and the flour-water mixture. Mix well and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens into a syrupy consistency. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve: Pour the honey lemon sauce over the rested chicken. Optionally, garnish with finely chopped parsley and lemon slices. Alternatively, return the chicken to the skillet for 30 seconds to reheat and coat evenly with the sauce before serving.
Notes
- For even cooking, pounding chicken to uniform thickness is recommended but optional.
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavor in the sauce.
- Adjust the amount of honey and lemon juice according to your taste preference for sweetness or tanginess.
- Make sure to scrape up the brown bits in the pan for a more flavorful sauce.
- You can substitute chicken breast for thigh meat if preferred, adjusting cooking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Western
