Description
Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is a quick and flavorful one-pan meal featuring tender chicken pieces coated in a sticky, sweet honey barbecue sauce, served over fluffy white rice. This easy recipe balances smoky, sweet, and a hint of spice, making it perfect for a weeknight dinner that pleases the whole family.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (optional)
To Serve
- 2 cups cooked white rice
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Start by slicing the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. This helps them cook faster and ensures every piece is coated in that sweet, sticky sauce.
- Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Sauté until golden brown and fully cooked, about 6–8 minutes. You want the edges to be slightly crispy—that’s where the flavor hides.
- Make the Honey BBQ Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey and barbecue sauce until smooth. If you like a bit of spice, stir in a pinch of red chili flakes for heat.
- Combine and Simmer: Pour the honey BBQ mixture over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Stir to coat every piece. Lower the heat and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. The sauce will thicken slightly and cling to the chicken in the best way possible.
- Add the Rice: Gently fold in the cooked white rice. Let everything warm through for 2–3 minutes. This step brings all the flavors together and makes sure the rice absorbs some of that smoky-sweet sauce.
- Finish and Serve: Top with chopped green onions if using, and serve hot. The aroma alone is enough to bring everyone to the table.
Notes
- Use day-old rice or freshly cooked rice that has cooled slightly for best texture.
- Adjust the sweetness and spiciness of the sauce by varying the amount of honey and chili flakes to your taste.
- For extra heat, add more red chili flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the barbecue mixture.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- To make the dish gluten-free, ensure your barbecue sauce does not contain gluten ingredients.
