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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Healthy Hot Honey Chicken 

    Healthy Hot Honey Chicken 

    Published on May 28, 2021 · Last updated on Aug 24, 2021 ·

    Jump to Recipe

    Skip the takeout and make this Healthy Hot Honey Chicken instead! It has the perfect balance of sweetness and heat and is LOADED with veggies! Easy to make with a hot, sweet, and savory stir-fry sauce. Perfect for lunch or dinner with rice or cauliflower rice.

    healthy hot honey chicken stirfry with bell pepper, broccoli and sweet hot honey sauce served in a bowl over rice

    If you like a bit of “sweet” with your heat, my healthy hot honey chicken stir-fry is going to be your new favorite chicken dinner. 

    My healthy Hot Honey Chicken combines two of nature's most special flavors: honey and chili peppers. If you are a fan of Chinese sweet and sticky chicken sitr-fries, this one is for you!

    You will love the balance of sweetness and heat in this healthified hot honey chicken! The restaurant-style version is made with batter-fried chunks of boneless chicken covered in sugary sauce. We don't bread and deep-fry! It's all cooked up in one pan using the classic stir-frying method but don't you worry, the flavors are there! An easy stir-fry sauce with honey and chili sauce adds a perfect kick to an otherwise simple Chinese Chicken Stir-fry, without overwhelming with spiciness or sweetness.

    It's not too mild but not too spicy either so you can taste the full flavor of all the ingredients, not just the fire of chili.

    healthy hot honey chicken stir-fry with broccoli and pepper served over rice sprinkled with sesame seeds

    Now, hot honey can be made by infusing honey with fresh or dried chilies but we take a simple shortcut because infusing anything takes time. We want a quick dinner for weeknights that comes together in a cinch. Right, team? Enter an easy stir-fry sauce made with honey, hot sauce, soy sauce, broth and sesame oil.

    As for the veggies, I use broccoli, bell pepper and spring onions but snap peas, asparagus, leek, chickpeas, cauliflower or squash would all be amazing.

    How to Make Healthy Hot Honey Chicken:

    a picture collage with two pictures, one with ingredients needed for hot honey chicken stir fry, one with veggies being sauteed in a frying pan

    Prep your chicken and vegetables. Mince garlic.

    Prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, chicken broth, honey, sesame oil, and soy sauce. In another small bowl mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water. Set aside. 

    Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes, then add the bell pepper and spring onion and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from the pan.

    a bowl with fried chicken chunks next to a frying pan with bell pepper and broccoli

    Wipe the pan with a paper towel and turn the heat to high. Add one tablespoon of oil.

    Season the chicken pieces liberally with pinches of salt and white pepper and add them to the pan. Work in batches, only adding ½ -  ⅓ of the chicken at a time if you are using a wok.

    For a big pan, it will work in 2 batches. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes until browned and barely cooked through. We will heat it up again so don’t overdo it. For beautifully browned bites, resist the urge to stir the chicken pieces too much in the pan. Remove from the pan. 

    chicken breast, broccoli and red bell pepper tossed in a frying pan with hot honey frying sauce

    Add another teaspoon of oil. Add garlic and fry for a few seconds, then add the veggies back to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, just to bring it all together. 

    Give the sauce and the cornstarch a good stir. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in the cornstarch slurry and bring everything to a boil. Add in the chicken and gathered juices. Cook on high for at least one more minute or until sauce has thickened. Heat it up well - cornstarch needs to be brought up to 90C to thicken and lose the starchiness.

    chicken breast, broccoli and bell pepper in sweet hot honey sauce sprinkled with sesame seeds

    Serve immediately over a bed of rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. Top with sesame seeds and enjoy!

    Tips

    • As for the veggies, I use broccoli, bell pepper, and spring onions but snap peas, asparagus, leek, chickpeas, cauliflower or squash would all be amazing.
    • If you can, use raw honey
    • Check the spice level of your hot sauce. Frank's is pretty mild compared to other brands so consider adding less.
    • You can use low-sodium soy sauce if you're watching your sodium intake
    healthy hot honey chicken served over rice
    5 from 5 votes
    Print

    Healthy Hot Honey Chicken

    Skip the takeout and make this Healthy Hot Honey Chicken instead! It has the perfect balance of sweetness and heat and is LOADED with veggies! Easy to make with a hot, sweet, and savory stir-fry sauce. Perfect for lunch or dinner with rice or cauliflower rice.

    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Keyword hot honey chicken
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes
    Servings 2
    Calories 654 kcal

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound of boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
    • 3 tsp refined coconut oil or avocado oil + 1 tablespoon
    • 2 cups broccoli cut into small florets
    • 1 red bell pepper sliced
    • 2 spring onions sliced diagonally
    • 2 cloves minced garlic
    • 2-3 tbsp hot sauce I used Franks
    • ¼ cup low sodium chicken broth
    • 2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup + 1 tbsp soy sauce
    • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
    • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
    • salt and white pepper to taste

    Instructions

    1. Prep your chicken and vegetables. Mince garlic.Prepare the sauce. In a medium bowl, whisk together the hot sauce, chicken broth, honey, sesame oil, and soy sauce. In another small bowl mix the cornstarch with a tablespoon of cold water. Set aside. 

    2. Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the broccoli and cook for approximately 2-3 minutes, then add the bell pepper and spring onion and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from the pan.

    3. Wipe the pan with a paper towel and turn the heat to high. Add one tablespoon of oil.Season the chicken pieces liberally with pinches of salt and white pepper and add them to the pan. Work in batches, only adding ½ -  ⅓ of the chicken at a time if you are using a wok. For a big sautee pan, it will work in 2 batches. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes until browned and barely cooked through. We will heat it up again so don’t overdo it. For beautifully browned bites, resist the urge to stir the chicken pieces too much in the pan. Remove from the pan. 

    4. Add another teaspoon of oil. Add garlic and fry for a few seconds, then add the veggies back to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, just to bring it all together. Give the sauce and the cornstarch a good stir. Pour the sauce mixture into the pan and cook for 30 seconds. Pour in the cornstarch slurry and bring everything to a boil. Add in the chicken and gathered juices. Cook on high for at least one more minute or until sauce has thickened. Heat it up well - cornstarch needs to be brought up to 90C to thicken and lose the starchiness. 

    5. Serve immediately over a bed of rice, cauliflower rice, or quinoa. Top with sesame seeds and enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    • As for the veggies, I use broccoli, bell pepper, and spring onions but snap peas, asparagus, leek, chickpeas, cauliflower or squash would all be amazing.
    • If you can, use raw honey
    • Check the spice level of your hot sauce. Frank's is pretty mild compared to other brands so consider adding less.
    • You can use low-sodium soy sauce if you're watching your sodium intake.
    • Heat it up well - cornstarch needs to be brought up to 90C to thicken and lose the starchiness. 
    Nutrition Facts
    Healthy Hot Honey Chicken
    Amount Per Serving (1 /2)
    Calories 654 Calories from Fat 243
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 27g42%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Cholesterol 145mg48%
    Sodium 2272mg99%
    Potassium 1432mg41%
    Carbohydrates 50g17%
    Fiber 5g21%
    Sugar 40g44%
    Protein 56g112%
    Vitamin A 2639IU53%
    Vitamin C 172mg208%
    Calcium 117mg12%
    Iron 4mg22%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    If you tried this Hot Honey Chicken Stir Fry Recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

    MORE ASIAN RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE:

    • Korean Ground Beef Rice Bowls
    • Asian Glazed Meatballs
    • Cauliflower Fried Rice
    • Asian Slaw with Ginger Peanut Dressing
    • Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    « Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables
    Quick Banana Bread Baked Blended Oats (Made in the Microwave!) »
     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      June 01, 2021 at 11:21 pm

      Yummy! Dinner was a big hit here and my family loved it! Definitely one of our favorite recipes now. Excited to make this again very soon!

      • Marie

        June 02, 2021 at 1:35 pm

        Super! So happy you liked it

    2. Liz

      June 01, 2021 at 11:24 pm

      There's a new hot chicken restaurant that just opened here so everyone has been raving about hot chicken! haha I'm going to see if my mom will make this recipe!

      • Marie

        June 02, 2021 at 1:35 pm

        OH I hope it can rival the restaurant version! I'm pretty sure it's quite a bit healthier to make at home

    3. Katie

      June 01, 2021 at 11:37 pm

      I am always on the hunt for new Asian recipes because I live in a rural area with no Asian restaurants near by. This recipe sounds like a winner! I will be making it this week! Thanks for posting!

      • Marie

        June 02, 2021 at 1:36 pm

        Amazing! Hope you have fun with this one Katie

    4. Tara

      June 02, 2021 at 12:20 am

      Oh yum! Such amazing flavors paired with this chicken! I love how easily it comes together and the addition of all the vegetables. Definitely perfect for weeknights!

      • Marie

        June 02, 2021 at 1:36 pm

        The hot sauce and honey is so amazing with each other

    5. Jac

      June 02, 2021 at 1:02 am

      Homemade take-out is always the best! This recipe looks delicious. Thanks 🙂

      • Marie

        June 02, 2021 at 1:36 pm

        🙂 so happy you enjoy it!

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