Description
How to make sticky honey garlic butter chicken rice with tender chicken thighs and aromatic jasmine rice that creates the perfect weeknight comfort meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Rice Base
- 2 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1½ cups jasmine rice, rinsed until water runs clear
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil for cooking
Sticky Honey Garlic Sauce
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp cold water
Butter and Seasonings
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 3 green onions, sliced thin for garnish
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking.
- Sear Chicken: Cook chicken pieces for 5-6 minutes until golden brown on all sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan or they’ll steam instead of searing properly.
- Cook Rice: Meanwhile, combine rice and chicken broth in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 18 minutes.
- Make Sauce: Whisk together honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger in a bowl. Mix cornstarch with cold water separately to create a slurry.
- Combine Everything: Add sauce mixture to the cooked chicken and simmer for 2-3 minutes. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until sauce thickens and coats chicken.
- Finish Dish: Remove from heat and stir in butter until melted and glossy. Serve over fluffy rice and garnish with sliced green onions for fresh color.
Notes
- Don’t skip searing the chicken properly; pale chicken lacks flavor depth.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
- Brown rice can be substituted but will need longer cooking time and more liquid.
- Serve immediately for the best sauce consistency and temperature.
- Double the sauce recipe if you love extra sticky coating on everything.
Allergy Information: Soy
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 52g
- Protein: 32g