Description
This Honey Pepper Chicken recipe delivers a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors with tender, golden-brown chicken coated in a sticky honey pepper sauce. Quick and easy to prepare on the stovetop, it’s an ideal weeknight dinner served over rice and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (adjust to taste)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (slurry)
For Serving
- Cooked rice
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Season and coat the chicken: Season the chicken pieces with salt and black pepper. Then, toss them thoroughly with cornstarch until they are well coated to ensure a crispy texture when cooked.
- Cook the chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken pieces and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the cooked chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Prepare the sauce: In the same skillet, whisk together honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, water, freshly ground black pepper, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper flakes if using. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) into the simmering sauce. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a sticky consistency.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss it thoroughly to coat with the thickened sauce. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes to let the flavors meld and the chicken warm through.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the honey pepper chicken hot over cooked rice, garnished with chopped green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute the chicken with tofu or shrimp for a different protein option.
- For extra heat, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce to the sauce mixture.
