Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
This Honey Garlic Chicken is a one skillet kind of meal! Five ingredients in the sauce, plus cauliflower rice as a side makes this a healthy dinner or make-ahead lunch.
*This post originally appeared in 2016, but photos have since been updated. It’s still the same great recipe as before!
HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN RECIPE
True story: this honey garlic chicken has become a regular in our household. I’ve probably made it four times in the past month, for instance. It’s easy and Miguel craves it WITH the cauliflower rice, which is an easy way to fit in a vegetable. Likewise, the entire dish is guilt-free and PALEO, if you use tamari instead of soy sauce and gluten free flour.
Speaking of cauliflower rice, why has it taken me so long to try it?! I knew what it was, but I’d never made it. Allow me to let you in on a little secret: cauliflower rice is just cauliflower that’s been broken down in the food processor to form “rice”—THAT’S ALL IT IS. Talk about a sneaky/tricky/genius way to get a vegetable hater to eat their vegetables, especially if it’s paired with this chicken. MMMMmmmmMMMMMM.
Meanwhile, I’m constantly searching for quick weeknight meals. For example, these tofu enchiladas are something I can make ahead and they typically result in leftovers, which are the best because the week can be long and sometimes stressful, so having meals prepped ahead of time is so important.
Along with quick meals, asian-flavored dishes are some of the most popular. This honey soy salmon, for example, is loaded with flavor yet also paired with a vegetable base.
HOW TO MAKE PALEO CHICKEN
First, let’s talk about this chicken. Aside from the cauliflower rice, the chicken is a one pan kind of dish. You cook the chicken, add the sauce and let it simmer so consequently, the whole thing is ready in under 30 minutes! That’s what I’m talking about. The sauce is thick and sticky in the best possible way; however, do NOT add more than 1 tablespoon of flour. I did it once because I was being impatient waiting for the sauce to thicken, and consequently, the flour caused the chicken to absorb some of the sauce—not good! The sauce is made with simple ingredients that you hopefully already have on hand, like garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and honey, for instance.
Meanwhile, the cauliflower rice comes together in the food processor. Then, it goes into a bowl and the chicken goes on top of that, which adds flavor to the “rice” thanks to the chicken marinade. Above all, this is a good-for-you meal that you’ll want to make again and again.
To sum it up, say hello to this honey garlic chicken, aka your new favorite dinner or make-ahead lunch!
OTHER FAVORITE PALEO DINNERS
Honey Garlic Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients
- 1/2 head of cauliflower or 4 cups cauliflower rice
- 2 chicken breasts
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tbsp soy sauce*
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 4 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp flour**
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Break cauliflower up into bite-size pieces; place in a saucepan on the stovetop and cook until soft.
- Cut up chicken into bite-size pieces and place in skillet with olive oil, cooking on medium-high heat and stirring occasionally so chicken cooks thoroughly.
- While chicken is cooking, mince garlic and set aside.
- Once chicken is cooked, add garlic to the skillet and stir, flavoring the chicken.
- Once garlic starts turning golden in color, pour the soy sauce, sesame oil and honey overtop of the chicken, stirring to evenly coat the chicken.
- Add flour to thicken up the sauce and simmer chicken on low for 3-5 minutes, ideally placing a lid overtop of skillet.
- By now, the cauliflower should be done, so drain cauliflower and place it in a food processor; pulse for 5-10 seconds, until it resembles "rice" in size. Pour cauliflower rice into a bowl.
- Once chicken has absorbed most of the sauce, pour it overtop of rice; drizzling any additional sauce from the skillet overtop.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!
Notes
Great idea. I love that it’s so much healthier than using regular white rice. Thanks for sharing,
Substituted coconut amino for soy sauce since I have soy allergies and my hubby couldn’t tell a difference! This nite weekly dinner! Thanks third recipe!!
This makes me so happy–I’m glad the coconut aminos worked and that you and your husband loved it!
We add shredded carrots and fresh chopped green onions for crunch. Fave with my 3 (4 if you count the hubby) boys!
I’m so glad your family enjoys it! Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Made this tonight and added a chopped bell pepper. It was so delicious! Bought the pre-prepared cauliflower “rice” from Trader Joes. Super easy and seriously tasty! Thanks for the great recipe. 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it!
I’ve totally gotten on the cauliflower rice train and I’m obsessed with it! This looks so yummy!
This honey garlic chicken looks like the dinner I didn’t even know I’ve been needing! I’m looking forward to trying this, and SOON! The sauce looks downright irresistible.
It IS irresistible 😉 I hope you try it!
I made this tonight. Chicken was excellent and very easy. My hubby was not a big fan of the cauliflower rice. Maybe I let it get too soft. You didn’t specify how long to cook cauliflower for, so I sorta tested it and guessed. Will try it again another time. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Tracy, I’m so glad you and your husband liked the chicken! As for the cauliflower, I typically just cook it until it’s soft–slightly softer than I’d make it if I were just eating cauliflower as a side. I hope that helps, and thanks for the feedback!
I wish I could get myself to wake up earlier but I hate getting up when it’s dark outside, waaaah. I would probably be so much more productive too. Especially if I could get my workout in before I start shooting recipes, that way I’m not rushing, trying to beat the sunlight.
Anyways, this sounds like a delicious meal. I can see why Miguel craves it. I bet it would be great with tofu too!
Waking up early sucks if you don’t go to bed early…which I learned this morning when I slept in until 6:30 because I didn’t go to bed until late. Whooooops! Hey, it’s a work in progress 😉 And Yes it would definitely be good with tofu!
Okay, wow. That sauce? So easy and amazing. I actually just had Drewbert buy some cauliflower so maybe we will have this one night this week!
hehe Yes! Miguel liked the cauli rice so I bet Drew would too.
Cauliflower rice is the BEST! I dont make it much and I dont know why. Its so great!
This looks like such an easy, delicious week night meal. I don’t know if you have a Trader Joe’s near you but they sell bags of “cauliflower rice” now.
Yes I’ve seen them! Next time I think I’ll buy it because I can’t imagine it NOT being good.
girl you know i love me some garlic and asian goodness! that sauce, divine!
As of right now, I LOVE watching “Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce”…It is like the new version of “Sex and the City”. I love the characters, the fashion, and that the women are real and totally kookie…
Ohhhh I think I’ve heard of that show? I love SITC, so I bet I’d like it.
I discovered recently that you can get cauliflower rice in the produce section now. I found mine at Target. Total game changer!
WHAT. I’ve seen the frozen kind at Trader Joe’s before but I’ll have to check target for those days when I don’t feel like busting out my food processor.
That’s perfect <3 This should be a twice a week dinner 😉
I've cooked chicken every which way, except in an open skillet on the stove….I'm scared it won't cook though! I need to get over that fear and actually try doing it! Haha!
It’s starting to be a twice a week dinner! And that’s crazy! Only because that’s how I usually cook my chicken because it’s fastest, though lately I’ve been baking my chicken a little more frequently. So basically both ways work 🙂
Most of the time when I make cauliflower its puréed to sub as potatoes. I’ll try the rice one of these days, if I can resist 🙂
Oh my goodness, I need this in my life! It looks amazing!!
These are the kind of dinners that I love , quick, easy and simple! Chicken is always my go-to protein so this is perfect 🙂
YUM I love these flavors, and I love that you used cauli rice. This look so sweet and tangy and I want itttt
It IS sweet and tangy and YES cauli rice ftw. Thanks Christina!