Description
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender boneless chicken thighs marinated in a delicious blend of honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, and spices. Cooked in a skillet to perfection, this dish balances the sweetness of honey with the heat from crushed red pepper flakes, making it an ideal meal for those who love a little kick. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, it’s perfect served over rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Marinade
- ½ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- Salt to taste
Garnish
- Chopped green onions (optional)
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Trim excess fat from the boneless, skinless chicken thighs and cut them into bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and easy eating.
- Make the Marinade: In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, and salt until well combined.
- Marinate the Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and toss them to coat evenly. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator for a deeper flavor infusion.
- Preheat the Pan: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a little oil if necessary to prevent sticking.
- Cook the Chicken: Once the skillet is hot, add the marinated chicken pieces (discard the used marinade) and cook them for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are browned and cooked thoroughly.
- Glaze the Chicken: If you reserved some marinade before cooking, pour it into the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the glaze to thicken and coat the chicken beautifully.
- Check for Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F (75°C), ensuring it’s safe to eat.
- Garnish: Remove the skillet from heat and garnish the chicken with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and crunch.
- Serve Immediately: Serve the sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken hot with steamed rice, noodles, or your choice of vegetables for a complete and delicious meal.
Notes
- Marinating the chicken longer enhances the flavor and tenderness.
- Adjust the crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level according to your preference.
- Reserving a portion of the marinade before adding raw chicken is important if you want to glaze the chicken later without contamination.
- Use a meat thermometer to accurately check doneness.
- Serve with rice or noodles to absorb the delicious glaze.
- For a gluten-free option, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos.
