Honey Balsamic Chicken

For busy parents, there’s nothing better than a quick dinner recipe that requires only a few ingredients. That’s why we love this honey balsamic chicken, it requires just five simple ingredients and takes only 20 minutes from start to finish. Once the chicken gets seared in the pan, the juices create a flavorful fond that can be repurposed into a sweet, tangy and perfectly sticky pan sauce. It’s an easy entree that can be served with salad, rice or steamed vegetables.

Ingredients for Honey Balsamic Chicken

• Chicken breast: Tender and juicy chicken breasts are a super versatile protein to make for a variety of different dishes — just be sure to cook it through to at least 165°F.
• Garlic salt: This flavored salt is much coarser than garlic powder and it’s packed with more savory flavor thanks to the sodium content.
• Balsamic vinegar: Sweet, tangy and rich, this complex vinegar is a bold way to add quick flavor to chicken dishes.
• Honey: Honey is a great way to offset the savory flavor from the garlic salt. When mixed with the juices from the chicken and the balsamic vinegar it reduces to create a thick and sweet pan sauce.
• Dried basil: Earthy and herbal dried basil adds vegetal flavor to the sweet and tangy chicken.

Directions 

Step 1: Season and sear the chicken

Sprinkle the chicken with the garlic salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chicken in oil until the juices run clear, about four to seven minutes on each side. Remove the chicken and keep it warm.

Step 2: Make the pan sauce

Add the vinegar, honey and basil to the pan and cook it while stirring for one minute. Return the chicken to the pan and heat through, turning to coat with the glaze.

Honey Balsamic Chicken Variations

• Use chicken thighs: Chicken breasts are great because they cook quickly and easily and hold a ton of flavor. You can easily swap them in for the breasts in this recipe. Be mindful that the thighs take longer to cook than the breasts. So be sure to cook your chicken until an internal thermometer registers a temperature of at least 165°.
• Add some vegetables: If you want to turn this dish into a quick one-pot-meal, you can throw some quick-cooking vegetables (like spinach and frozen peas) into the pan in step two.

How to Store Honey Balsamic Chicken

If you have any leftovers of this honey balsamic chicken it’s best to store it in the refrigerator. First let the chicken come to room temperature and then transfer it to a refrigerator-safe container with a tight-fitting lid. Affix the lid and place the leftovers in the refrigerator and store for about three to five days.

How do you reheat honey balsamic chicken?

The best way to reheat this chicken without drying it out is in the oven. Start by preheating your oven to 350° and  then place the leftover chicken in an oven-safe dish. Let the leftovers come to room temperature then place in the oven for about 15 to 20 minutes or until fully warmed through.

Honey Balsamic Chicken Tips

What can I serve with this honey balsamic chicken?

This is a really flavorful dish. It’s a good idea to serve it was something that can soak up the flavors of the dish. White rice, mashed potatoes or buttered egg noodles are all great options. Alternatively, you could also serve it with a light salad or some steamed vegetables.

What type of pan works best for this dish?

Any heavy-bottomed pan would work great for this dish, including cast iron, Dutch oven or stainless steel. We like to use a stainless steel or cast iron pan because when the chicken is seared, it develops a nice fond on the bottom of the pan. When fond is deglazed properly, it helps yield a flavorful pan sauce.

How do you know that chicken breasts are done cooking?

The best way to determine if chicken breasts are done cooking is to use an internal thermometer. Stick the end of the thermometer into the middle thickest part of the breast and read the temperature. Cooked chicken should reach a temperature of at least 165° before consuming.