Honey Garlic Chicken Bowl (Printable)

Sweet and savory glazed chicken over rice with fresh vegetables, perfect for an easy dinner.

# What You'll 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, 2 cups water, and pinch of salt in a medium 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 mixing 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.
04 - Heat 1 tablespoon 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 the honey garlic sauce over the chicken. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken evenly.
06 - While the chicken cooks, steam broccoli, carrots, and bell pepper in a steamer basket until just tender, approximately 4-5 minutes. Alternatively, sauté in a separate pan with a splash of oil for enhanced flavor.
07 - Divide cooked rice evenly among 4 bowls. Top each bowl with glazed chicken and steamed vegetables. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced spring onions.
08 - Serve immediately while hot and enjoy.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce caramelizes into something sticky and glossy that makes even simple rice feel special.
  • Everything comes together in under 40 minutes, which means weeknight dinner without the stress.
  • Somehow it tastes restaurant-quality but uses ingredients you probably already have hiding in your pantry.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the rice—I learned this the hard way by serving gluey rice to guests and pretending it was intentional.
  • The sauce needs to simmer just long enough to thicken, not so long that it scorches and turns bitter on the bottom of the pan.
  • Minced fresh garlic really does matter here; it blooms in the sauce in a way jarred garlic simply cannot replicate.
03 -
  • Toasting sesame seeds yourself takes three minutes and makes them taste nutty and alive instead of flat and forgettable.
  • If you're cooking for someone with dietary restrictions, this is naturally dairy-free and easily adaptable to gluten-free with the right soy sauce choice.
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