Craving something savory, sweet, and utterly comforting all at once? Imagine tender, juicy chicken glistening with a honey butter garlic glaze, nestled on a bed of fluffy, perfectly cooked rice. This Honey Butter Garlic Chicken And Rice recipe is your one-way ticket to flavor town – and trust me, it’s easier to make than you think!
The Dream Team: Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Chicken:
- Chicken Thighs: 1.5 lbs, boneless, skinless (or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces)
- Olive Oil: 1 tablespoon
- Garlic: 4 cloves, minced
- Honey: 1/4 cup
- Butter: 2 tablespoons, unsalted
- Soy Sauce: 2 tablespoons (low sodium preferred)
- Rice Vinegar: 1 tablespoon
- Red Pepper Flakes: 1/4 teaspoon (optional, for a little kick)
- Salt and Pepper: To taste
For the Rice:
- Rice: 1.5 cups, long-grain white rice (Jasmine or Basmati work great!)
- Water: 3 cups
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
Optional Garnishes:
- Green Onions: Chopped, for garnish
- Sesame Seeds: For garnish
Let’s Get Cooking: Step-by-Step Instructions
Get Started with the Rice:
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. This helps remove excess starch and prevents the rice from becoming sticky.
- Combine in a Pot: In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, water, and salt.
- Bring to a Boil: Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Don’t peek! Lifting the lid releases steam and can mess with the cooking process.
- Fluff and Rest: Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rice to finish steaming and become perfectly fluffy. After resting, fluff it gently with a fork.
Now for the Star: The Chicken!
- Prep the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. This helps them brown nicely. Season them generously with salt and pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken thighs in a single layer (don’t overcrowd the pan – cook in batches if necessary). Sear the chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Make the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce: Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the skillet and let it melt.
- Sauté the Garlic: Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic! Burnt garlic is bitter and will ruin the flavor of the sauce.
- Combine the Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using). Whisk everything together until well combined and the sauce starts to simmer.
- Return the Chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly with the honey butter garlic sauce. Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for a few minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and glaze the chicken beautifully.
Plating Like a Pro: Serving Suggestions
Assemble Your Masterpiece:
- Rice Base: Spoon a generous portion of the fluffy cooked rice onto a plate or bowl.
- Chicken Placement: Place the honey butter garlic chicken on top of the rice.
- Drizzle with Sauce: Drizzle any remaining sauce from the skillet over the chicken and rice. Don’t be shy – that sauce is liquid gold!
- Garnish (Optional): Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for a pop of color and added flavor.
Troubleshooting Tips: Your Questions Answered
Sticky Rice SOS:
Did your rice turn out a bit sticky? Don’t worry, it happens! Next time, be extra thorough when rinsing the rice before cooking. You can also try adding a teaspoon of lemon juice to the cooking water. This helps to break down the starches.
Burnt Garlic Blues:
Burnt garlic is a flavor killer! To avoid this, keep the heat at medium or medium-low when sautéing the garlic. And keep a close eye on it – it can go from fragrant to burnt in seconds. If you do accidentally burn it, sadly, you’ll need to start over with fresh garlic.
Sauce Too Thin?:
If your sauce is too thin, continue to simmer it for a few more minutes, allowing it to reduce and thicken. You can also whisk in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) to thicken it quickly. Add the slurry a little at a time, stirring constantly, until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
Variations to Spice Things Up
Spice It Up!:
Want a spicier kick? Add more red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne pepper, or a dash of sriracha to the sauce.
Veggie Power!:
Add some stir-fried vegetables to the dish for extra nutrients and flavor. Broccoli, bell peppers, snow peas, and carrots all work well. Simply stir-fry them in the skillet after searing the chicken, before adding the honey butter garlic sauce.
Herb It Up!:
Fresh herbs can add a burst of flavor to the dish. Try adding chopped cilantro, parsley, or basil to the chicken and rice before serving.
Storage Savvy: Keeping It Fresh
Leftover Love:
Store any leftover Honey Butter Garlic Chicken and Rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply microwave it until heated through. You may need to add a splash of water or broth to the rice to prevent it from drying out.
Why This Recipe Rocks: The Benefits
One-Pan (Almost!) Wonder:
This recipe is relatively easy to clean up because the chicken and sauce are cooked in the same skillet. This minimizes the number of dishes you have to wash, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
Customizable Delight:
As you’ve seen with the variations, this recipe is highly adaptable to your personal preferences. You can easily adjust the amount of honey, garlic, or red pepper flakes to suit your taste. You can also swap out the chicken thighs for chicken breasts or even shrimp.
Crowd-Pleasing Flavor:
The combination of sweet, savory, and garlicky flavors is simply irresistible. This dish is sure to be a hit with everyone in your family, from picky eaters to adventurous foodies.
Final Thoughts: Enjoy Your Culinary Creation!
There you have it! A delicious and easy Honey Butter Garlic Chicken And Rice recipe that you can whip up any night of the week. I truly hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. Don’t be afraid to experiment with the variations and make it your own! Happy cooking, my friend!
What can I do if my honey butter garlic sauce is too thin?
If your sauce is too thin, continue to simmer it for a few more minutes to allow it to reduce and thicken. Alternatively, you can whisk in a cornstarch slurry (1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water) to thicken it quickly, adding it a little at a time while stirring constantly.
What kind of rice is best to use for this recipe?
Long-grain white rice, such as Jasmine or Basmati, works great for this recipe.
How long can I store leftover honey butter garlic chicken and rice?
You can store leftover Honey Butter Garlic Chicken and Rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply microwave it until heated through, adding a splash of water or broth to the rice if needed to prevent it from drying out.
I accidentally burned the garlic. What should I do?
Burnt garlic is bitter and will ruin the flavor of the sauce. If you accidentally burn it, you’ll need to start over with fresh garlic.
Irresistible Honey Butter Garlic Chicken and Rice
Equipment
- Medium saucepan with lid
- Large skillet
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Whisk
- Fork
- Paper towels
- Meat thermometer
- Knife
- Cutting board
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1.5 cups long-grain white rice Jasmine or Basmati
- 3 cups water
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Chopped green onions for garnish
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- In a medium saucepan, combine the rinsed rice, water, and salt.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until all the water is absorbed and the rice is tender.
- Remove the pot from the heat and let it sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
- Fluff the rice gently with a fork.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken thighs in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F/74°C).
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet to melt.
- Add the minced garlic to the melted butter and sauté for about 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Stir in the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes (if using).
- Whisk everything together until well combined and the sauce starts to simmer.
- Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat it evenly with the honey butter garlic sauce.
- Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for a few minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly and glaze the chicken beautifully.
- Spoon a generous portion of the cooked rice onto a plate or bowl.
- Place the honey butter garlic chicken on top of the rice.
- Drizzle any remaining sauce from the skillet over the chicken and rice.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds (optional).
