Happy New Year’s, everyone!
Is your 2015 off to a good start? Make any big resolutions?
Well, whatever your plans for the new year may be, I figure we’re all going to need some protein-packed meals to make ’em happen. So as is my tradition here on the blog, we’re kicking off this January with an entire month of healthier recipes on the blog. I have a bunch of quick and easy weeknight dinners ready to share with you, some winning game-day appetizers, a few healthy snacking options, and — yes — even some healthier desserts. So if one of your goals for the new year is to spend more time in the kitchen, let’s do it together!!
To kick off the new year, I thought I would start with a simple sweet and savory meal that’s sure to please a crowd. And since it only requires about 20 minutes of prep and cook time, I’d say it’s sure to please the cook as well. It’s sauteed, not fried. It’s naturally sweetened with honey. And it is crazy good.
I’m calling it Skinny Honey Lemon Chicken.
Actually, this recipe is a follow up to the wildly-popular Skinny Orange Chicken that I posted last New Year’s Day on the blog.
It’s basically a quick chicken stir fry that is tossed in a naturally-sweetened honey lemon sauce. I kept it simple with just chicken, and served it over protein-rice quinoa instead of rice. But this recipe is meant to be more of a “base” recipe, and is perfect for adding in your favorite vegetables, or some cashews, or substituting in any other proteins that might sound good.
To make it, begin by marinating some chicken with some soy sauce and rice vinegar. (If you are making this gluten-free, be sure to use GF soy sauce.) Then saute it up, while whisking together the ingredients for your sauce. Transfer the chicken to a separate plate, and then cook the sauce until it’s nice and thick. And then toss it all together.
And then you can serve it however you’d like! I was craving traditional rice, so opted instead for some protein-rich quinoa. But you could serve it over vegetables, noodles, in a salad, or whatever sounds great.
Feel free to also adjust the sauce to your desired level of sweet-and-sour-ness. Everyone has different preferences with lemon and sweeteners, so once you have made the actual sauce, feel free to add in extra lemon juice or honey to taste.
All in all, it’s a quick, flavorful, easy, and healthier base recipe that I love tinkering around with. So play with it and make it your own, and hopefully can serve as some delicious fuel for the new year.
Cheers to 2015!
Honey Lemon Chicken
Ingredients
Honey Lemon Chicken Ingredients:
- 1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless (raw) chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce (if making this gluten-free, be sure to use GF soy sauce)
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Honey Lemon Sauce (see below)
- optional toppings: toasted sesame seeds, thinly-sliced green onions, extra lemon zest, lemon slices
Honey Lemon Sauce Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons honey (or more/less to taste)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- zest of 1 lemon
- pinch of ground ginger
- (optional: sriracha, for heat)
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, soy sauce and rice wine vinegar to a large ziplock bag, and toss until the chicken is evenly coated. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes, or up to 8 hours.
- When you are ready to cook the chicken, drain and transfer it to a separate plate. Season the chicken on both sides with a few generous pinches of salt and pepper. And in a separate bowl, whisk the honey lemon sauce ingredients together until combined.
- Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and saute for 5-7 minutes or until it is cooked through and no longer pink inside, stirring and turning the chicken occasionally for even cooking. Transfer the chicken to a separate (clean) plate with a slotted spoon.
- Pour the (whisked) honey lemon sauce into the empty saute pan. Cook over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce reaches a low boil and thickens. Add in some sriracha if you would like for extra heat, to taste. (Feel free to also season with extra salt and pepper, or extra honey or lemon.)
- Add the chicken back into the pan and toss until it is evenly coated with the sauce. Remove from heat and serve the chicken immediately, topped with optional toppings if desired.
Did you make this?Let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Could this be made ahead & reheated for a party?
Yes, most definitely! We hope you enjoy!
Hello!
I just wanted to say this is one of my favorite recipes of all times! I’m actually not very good at cooking and not too keen on traditional Brazilian food (this would be a good time to say I’m Brazilian, right? Lol) so I try finding fast and easy recipes. Now, Gimme Some Oven is one of my go to cooking sites. I gotta admit, I had to skip a couple of ingredients that I didn’t have but the chicken turned out delicious! Oh, and I also served it with quinoa which got covered with the amazing sauce! I just subscribed! Thanks for sharing!
Wow, thank you for that amazing compliment Bia! We are so glad you enjoy this recipe! :D
I made this tonight and it was an unmitigated disaster. The lemon sauce turned out awful. I only had 2 chicken breasts so I modified the quantities accordingly. What did I do wrong? It was inedible. I had to throw it out. it was like eating a lemon washing up liquid. Even when I was making the sauce I was thinking “this is not gonna turn out well” and it didn’t. It just seemed all wrong how the sauce is done and the different ingredients involved. Some advice would be most welcome? I want to put it right for future attempts.
Thanks for your comment, Michael. I’m so sorry to hear that this didn’t turn out well. Not quite sure what went wrong — maybe something with the chicken stock you used? Or lemons that had turned? Sorry, we’ve made this one many times and it always seems to turn out well.
I made this just as the recipe suggested. It is very good and super easy!
Thanks for sharing Kim — we’re glad you enjoyed this!
I LOVE this recipe, I make it all the time!!! I’m curious, what do you think this would be like with other citrus? Orange? Grapefruit? Just having fun with it.
Thanks Jesse, we’re glad to hear that! We actually have a recipe for an orange version right here!
Looknig so delicious!! Great recipe. Thanks for sharing Ali
Greetings
Thanks — we hope you enjoy! :)
Lemon chicken and Lime yumm the perfect combination. I will write this in the cooking apps https://mobiwoz.com/ten-top-cooking-apps-for-new-chefs/. Saves a lot of frustration of cooking and reading.
Honey and chicken is a killing combination. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks Lisa — we hope you enjoy! :)
we’ve made this several times now. its one of my favorite weeknight recipes!
i add a couple drops of siracha in my bowl separately and its the best!! a must!
Thanks for sharing April — we’re so happy you enjoy this dish! :)
This was great. A quick and flavorful weeknight meal. Even my finicky 12 YO loved it! Thank you!
We’re so glad to hear that Anne — thanks for letting us know! :)