Honey Garlic Chicken Bowl (Printable Version)

Tender chicken glazed in honey garlic sauce over fluffy rice with crisp vegetables and sesame seeds.

# What You Need:

→ 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 salt in a 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 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 chicken. Stir to coat evenly and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken completely.
06 - While the chicken cooks, 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 evenly among 4 bowls. Top each portion with glazed chicken and steamed vegetables. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and fresh spring onions.
08 - Serve immediately while hot and enjoy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The honey garlic sauce is genuinely addictive—it clings to every piece of chicken like it was made for each other.
  • Everything comes together in about 35 minutes, which means you can have a restaurant-quality dinner on a random weeknight.
  • It's naturally dairy-free and feels elegant enough to serve when people are coming over, but easy enough that you won't feel stressed about it.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—I learned this the hard way when I made sticky, gluey rice my first time and didn't understand why.
  • The sauce will thicken as it simmers and cools slightly, so if it looks a bit thin when you first pour it in, trust the process—it's going to be perfect in a few minutes.
  • Taste the sauce before you commit to the full batch; honey levels vary between brands, and you might want a touch more vinegar for balance.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes before garnishing—they'll smell nutty and taste exponentially better than untoasted.
  • Mince your garlic right before making the sauce so it's fresh and sharp, not oxidized and bitter.
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