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sliced chicken on wood cutting board with spoon drizzling honey garlic chicken marinade over it
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5 from 10 votes

Honey garlic chicken marinade

This five-ingredient honey garlic chicken marinade infuses the chicken with delicious sweet and savory flavor, and cooks up with a sticky sauce that is perfect for spooning over rice and vegetables. 
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 4
Calories: 235kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce see note 1
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (roughly 2 average chicken breasts)

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil, soy sauce, honey, garlic and water to a freezer bag or reusable silicone bag. Smoosh the bag with your hands until it is completely combined.
  • Add the chicken and move the bag around to ensure even coverage of the chicken breasts with the marinade.
  • Marinate the chicken in the fridge for 2-24 hours.
  • Heat oven to 425°F. Bake chicken in a shallow baking dish for 10 minutes, flip over, then bake for another 12-17 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Allow chicken to rest at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Freezer

  • After combining the marinade ingredients with the chicken, place the bag in the freezer immediately. Freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw in the fridge overnight, or by immersing the bag in a bowl of cold water for a couple of hours.
  • Cook as directed above.

Notes

1- to make this gluten-free, swap the soy sauce for tamari or coconut aminos
Storage
Marinade may be mixed up 7 days before adding chicken.
Cooked chicken may be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Alternative cooking methods:
  • grill- I recommend pounding the chicken flat before marinating to ensure it cooks through evenly. Cook over high heat 2 minutes per side until it reaches an internal temp of 155°F
  • frying pan- cook in olive oil over medium heat in a nonstick skillet for 5-7 minutes per side
  • air fryer- I recommend pounding the chicken before marinating. Cook at 390°F/ 200°C for 4 minutes + 2 minutes (flipping half way).
Marinating time for other proteins:
  • boneless chicken thighs- 2-24 hours marinating time
  • shrimp or fish- 30 minutes marinating time
  • pork tenderloin- at least 24 hours to marinate
  • tofu- press first, then marinate for 2-24 hours

Nutrition

Serving: 1/2 chicken breast (3.5 oz) | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 486mg | Sugar: 18g