Honey Garlic Chicken and Green Beans: a super-flavorful one-pan weeknight dinner. Tender chicken and crisp-tender green beans are coated in a glossy honey garlic sauce that beats takeout. Ready in under 30 minutes and perfect served over rice or cauliflower rice.
This easy one-pan recipe combines bite-sized pieces of chicken with fresh green beans, all tossed in a savory-sweet honey garlic sauce. It’s ideal for busy evenings because it comes together fast, requires minimal cleanup, and can be adapted to different proteins and vegetables. Serve it over brown rice or cauliflower fried rice for a complete meal.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fast and convenient: ready in about 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Balanced flavor: a glossy honey garlic sauce that’s sweet, savory, and not overly sugary.
- Versatile: easy to swap proteins or vegetables to match what you have on hand.
- One-pan cooking keeps cleanup quick and simple.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken: 1 to 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces (thighs or ground meats also work).
- Green beans: 12 oz fresh, trimmed green beans (avoid canned for best texture).
- Olive oil: 2 Tbsp, divided. You can also use avocado oil, sesame oil, or butter.
- Soy sauce: 3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce (tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free).
- Chicken broth: 1/4 cup for depth of flavor.
- Honey: 1/4 cup to glaze the chicken and add natural sweetness (maple syrup or brown sugar are alternatives).
- Garlic & ginger: 4 cloves garlic, minced, and 1/2 tsp grated fresh ginger (or 1/4 tsp ground ginger).
- Arrowroot powder or cornstarch: 1 Tbsp to dredge the chicken and 2 tsp to thicken the sauce.
- Seasonings: garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and an optional pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.
- Garnish: 1/4 cup chopped green onions and sesame seeds (optional).
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken and Green Beans
- Prep the chicken: Cut chicken into 1-inch cubes. In a bowl, combine 1 Tbsp arrowroot (or cornstarch), 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Toss the chicken until lightly coated.
- Cook the chicken: Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and cook until lightly golden and cooked through, about 4–5 minutes, stirring as needed. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.
- Sauté the green beans: Add the remaining 1 Tbsp olive oil to the skillet. Add green beans, season lightly with salt and pepper, and sauté about 6 minutes until they develop a little char but remain crisp-tender.
- Make the sauce: Whisk together chicken broth, low-sodium soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger in a small bowl. In a separate small bowl, mix 2 tsp arrowroot (or cornstarch) with 2 tsp water until smooth and set aside.
- Combine and thicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet with the green beans. Pour the honey garlic sauce over everything, then add the arrowroot slurry and stir to combine. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken and vegetables.
- Finish and serve: Remove from heat and top with sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately over rice or cauliflower rice.
Variations and Substitutions
- Protein swaps: Use shrimp, salmon, tofu, chicken thighs, or ground turkey for different textures and flavors.
- Vegetable swaps: Broccoli, asparagus, snap peas, carrots, zucchini, or bell peppers all work well with the honey garlic sauce.
- Make it spicy: Add sriracha, sambal oelek, or extra red pepper flakes to the sauce for more heat.
Prepping and Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or in the microwave. The flavors often deepen after a day, making this recipe excellent for meal prep.
Nutrition (per serving)
Serving: 1/4 of recipe • Calories: 382 kcal • Carbohydrates: 24.8 g • Protein: 38.1 g • Fat: 10.9 g • Saturated Fat: 2.2 g • Sodium: 737.3 mg • Fiber: 2.2 g • Sugar: 18.3 g
Note: Nutrition is an estimate and should be used as a guideline.
Enjoy this Honey Garlic Chicken and Green Beans as a quick, satisfying weeknight meal. It’s a reliable go-to when you want something tasty, wholesome, and easy to prepare. Leftovers reheat well and the recipe scales up nicely for meal prep or feeding a crowd.