Chicken coated in a sweet and tangy homemade honey barbecue sauce makes for an easy and delicious weeknight meal. Making your own BBQ sauce at home allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavor profile to your liking. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have restaurant-quality honey BBQ chicken ready in about an hour.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
For the Honey BBQ Sauce:
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Steps
Prepare the Chicken
- Rinse the chicken breasts and pat them dry with paper towels. Pound them to an even thickness, about 1/2 inch.
- In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, coating both sides evenly. Shake off any excess flour.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken breasts and cook for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate.
Make the Honey BBQ Sauce
- In a small saucepan, combine the ketchup, honey, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, smoked paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Remove the pan from the heat and set the BBQ sauce aside.
Finish the Dish
- Place the cooked chicken breasts back into the skillet and pour over 1/2 cup of the honey BBQ sauce. Flip the chicken to coat both sides.
- Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 2-3 minutes until heated through and the sauce thickens and caramelizes slightly.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and serve hot, garnished with extra BBQ sauce. Enjoy!
Tips
- For even quicker cooking, you can pound the chicken breasts thinner to 1/4 inch thickness. Adjust the cooking time per side to 3-4 minutes.
- Let the BBQ sauce cool slightly before pouring over the cooked chicken so the residual heat from the chicken doesn’t cause the sauce to separate.
- For a spicier BBQ sauce, increase the amount of cayenne pepper. For sweeter sauce, add a bit more honey.
- The cooked honey BBQ chicken keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven before serving.
- This recipe works well with chicken thighs too. Just increase the cooking time to about 8 minutes per side.
- Try swapping in boneless pork chops or shrimp instead of chicken. Adjust cooking times accordingly.
- For a crispy coating, dredge the chicken in flour, then dip in egg wash, then roll in panko breadcrumbs before frying.
FAQs
How long does it take to make honey BBQ chicken?
From start to finish, this honey BBQ chicken recipe takes about 1 hour. Most of the time is hands-off cooking. You’ll spend about 20 minutes prepping the chicken and sauce, 15-20 minutes cooking the chicken, 10-15 minutes simmering the sauce, and just a few minutes finishing the dish.
What’s the best way to pound chicken breasts?
The easiest way is to place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper on a cutting board. Use a meat mallet, rolling pin, or even the bottom of a heavy pan to gently but firmly pound the chicken to an even thickness. Take care not to tear the chicken.
Can I use bone-in chicken?
You can, though you’ll want to increase the cooking time. Bone-in chicken pieces take longer to cook through to the proper internal temperature. Also pound the meat gently to flatten for even cooking.
How do I know when the chicken is done?
Check for doneness by cutting into the thickest part of a breast. The interior should be white throughout with no traces of pink. Chicken is fully cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Can I prepare the honey BBQ sauce ahead?
Absolutely! Make the sauce up to 5 days in advance and store refrigerated in an airtight container. Then simply reheat before using. You can also double or triple the sauce recipe and freeze half for later use.
What side dishes go well with honey BBQ chicken?
This chicken pairs excellently with classic barbecue side items like cornbread, coleslaw, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, french fries, rice, or a fresh green salad.
Conclusion
Honey barbecue chicken is a quick and easy dinner option that’s big on flavor. Homemade honey BBQ sauce elevates simple pan-fried chicken breasts into something special. Tailor the sauce to your preferred sweet-tangy taste and enjoy this saucy chicken any night of the week. Served with classic barbecue sides, this is sure to become a new family favorite.