Make these quick and easy Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls in under 20 minutes! Tender, crispy chicken glazed in a sticky, sweet sauce served over rice. Meal prep gold!
Ingredients for Easy Sticky Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls.
If you are craving something incredibly satisfying but are short on time, these Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls are going to be your new weeknight hero. Bite-sized pieces of chicken are tossed in a seasoned cornstarch coating, pan-fried to crispy golden perfection, and then drenched in a thick, sticky, sweet, and savory honey BBQ glaze. Served over a bed of warm, fluffy rice, this comforting dish tastes like takeout but comes together right in your own kitchen using simple pantry staples.
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chopped into bite-sized chunks)
- A generous pinch of salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarchÂ
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or your favorite cooking oil)
- 1/2 cup of your everyday barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Plenty of warm, cooked rice (the foundation for your Chicken Rice)
- A handful of chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color (optional)
How To Make Easy Sticky Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls.
1
Prep and Coat the Chicken
Toss the diced chicken in a bowl with your seasonings and cornstarch to create a powdery coating that will guarantee a crispy sear.
2
Pan-Fry to Perfection
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken chunks until they form a golden-brown crust and cook through.
3
Whisk the Sweet and Savory Glaze
While the chicken cooks, combine the barbecue sauce, honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar to create a balanced, tangy-sweet glaze.
4
Coat and Simmer
Pour the whisked sauce directly over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Let it bubble and reduce until the sauce thickens and clings to every piece of meat.
5
Build Your Bowls
Scoop a hearty portion of the sticky chicken over warm, cooked rice and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh, vibrant parsley.Â
Variations and Add-Ins To Try
- Spicy Kick: Add 1 tablespoon of sriracha, a teaspoon of red pepper flakes, or simply use a habanero or jalapeño-infused barbecue sauce to balance the honey with some fiery heat.
- Hawaiian Luau: Toss in a half cup of fresh pineapple chunks and diced red bell peppers during the last 3 minutes of simmering to give the dish a sweet, tropical flair.
- Veggie-Loaded Power Bowl: Bulk up the nutritional value by stir-frying broccoli florets, sugar snap peas, and julienned carrots before cooking the chicken, then toss everything back into the glaze.
- Sesame Ginger Twist: Add 1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger to the sauce and swap the parsley for toasted sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions for an Asian-fusion vibe.
- Crunchy Tex-Mex: Serve the chicken over cilantro-lime rice, and add roasted corn kernels, black beans, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice over the top.
Easy Sticky Honey BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls.
Make these quick and easy Honey BBQ Chicken Bowls in under 20 minutes! Tender, crispy chicken glazed in a sticky, sweet sauce served over rice. Meal prep gold!
- Total Time20 minutes
- Yield4 servings 1x
- DietDairy-Free
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (chopped into bite-sized chunks)
- A generous pinch of salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarchÂ
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or your favorite cooking oil)
- 1/2 cup of your everyday barbecue sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- Plenty of warm, cooked rice (the foundation for your Chicken Rice)
- A handful of chopped fresh parsley for a pop of color (optional)
Instructions
Step 1: Prep and Coat the Chicken
Toss the diced chicken in a bowl with your seasonings and cornstarch to create a powdery coating that will guarantee a crispy sear.
Step 2: Pan-Fry to Perfection
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the chicken chunks until they form a golden-brown crust and cook through.
Step 3: Whisk the Sweet and Savory Glaze
While the chicken cooks, combine the barbecue sauce, honey, soy sauce, and apple cider vinegar to create a balanced, tangy-sweet glaze.
Step 4: Coat and Simmer
Pour the whisked sauce directly over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Let it bubble and reduce until the sauce thickens and clings to every piece of meat.
Step 5: Build Your Bowls
Scoop a hearty portion of the sticky chicken over warm, cooked rice and garnish with a sprinkle of fresh, vibrant parsley.
Notes
When meal-prepping, pack the rice and chicken together but let them cool completely before sealing the containers to prevent condensation from making the rice gummy. To reheat, microwave in 1-minute intervals, or reheat the chicken in a skillet over low heat with a tiny splash of water to rehydrate the glaze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’S)
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts?
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless chicken thighs are incredibly flavorful and forgiving to cook. They remain incredibly juicy and will work perfectly with the cornstarch coating and pan-frying method.
How do I make this recipe gluten-free?
It is very easy to make this gluten-free. Swap the regular soy sauce for Tamari or coconut aminos, and verify that the barbecue sauce you are using is certified gluten-free. Cornstarch is naturally gluten-free.
Why is my sauce too thin/too thick?
If the sauce is too thin, simply let it simmer for another minute or two—the cornstarch from the chicken will act as a thickener. If it gets too thick or sticky too fast, stir in a tablespoon of warm water or chicken broth to loosen it up.
