Honey Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- cup olive oil
- cup honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- teaspoon paprika
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Directions
Step 1: In a nonporous glass dish or bowl, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, salt, pepper, curry powder, and paprika. Stir until well-mixed.
Step 2: Add the chicken breasts to the mixture and toss to coat evenly. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight to marinate.
Step 3: Preheat your oven to 350F (175C).
Step 4: Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade, discarding any remaining marinade.
Step 5: Place the chicken breasts into a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
Step 6: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the juices run clear.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
- Calories: 404
- Total Fat: 15g (19% DV)
- Saturated Fat: 2g (12% DV)
- Cholesterol: 68mg (23% DV)
- Sodium: 661mg (29% DV)
- Total Carbohydrate: 41g (15% DV)
- Dietary Fiber: 1g (2% DV)
- Total Sugars: 39g
- Protein: 28g (56% DV)
- Vitamin C: 29mg (32% DV)
- Calcium: 26mg (2% DV)
- Iron: 2mg (8% DV)
- Potassium: 443mg (9% DV)
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may vary depending on your individual calorie needs.
** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amounts are based on available data. For a medically restrictive diet, consult your doctor or dietitian before preparing this recipe.
Author: Sarah Ripley
Category: Dinner
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Calories: 404 kcal
Ingredients
- cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- cup olive oil
- cup honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- teaspoon paprika
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Instructions
- In a nonporous glass dish or bowl, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, oil, honey, salt, pepper, curry powder, and paprika. Mix well, then add chicken breasts and toss to coat. Cover dish and refrigerate to marinate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350F (175C).
- Remove chicken from marinade, discarding any remaining marinade, and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Bake at 350F (175C) for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.
Origin and History
The Honey Chicken recipe has its roots in the fusion of Western and Eastern flavors, drawing from both the sweetness of honey and the aromatic depth of spices like curry and paprika. This dish is a perfect example of how diverse culinary influences come together to create something uniquely delicious. While its exact origin is not well documented, it's a popular choice in contemporary American and Asian-inspired home cooking. The marriage of honey with spices is often seen in many international dishes, including those from China, where honey chicken is a well-known takeout dish.
Regional Variations
Honey chicken recipes vary widely across different regions. In many Western versions, honey is combined with tangy citrus fruits like orange or lemon, adding both sweetness and acidity. In some parts of Asia, honey chicken might also feature soy sauce and ginger, offering a more savory profile. The addition of curry powder and paprika in this particular recipe is more typical of a Westernized version of an Asian-inspired dish, which gives it a unique twist that sets it apart from traditional honey chicken recipes in other cultures.
What Makes It Different
Honey chicken is a common dish, but this particular recipe stands out due to its use of curry powder and paprika. Most traditional honey chicken recipes simply focus on the honey's sweetness combined with soy or ginger. The addition of curry powder brings a warm, earthy flavor, while paprika adds smokiness and a bit of heat. This combination of sweet and spicy elements gives this version of honey chicken a distinctive flavor that differentiates it from other variations.
Where It's Commonly Served
Honey chicken is a popular dish served in many casual dining restaurants and takeout spots, especially in Asian fusion eateries. It's commonly served with steamed white rice or fried rice and often paired with sauted or steamed vegetables. In home cooking, its a favored choice for easy, flavorful weeknight dinners due to its simple ingredients and relatively quick cooking time.
Interesting Facts
Did you know that honey is one of the oldest sweeteners in the world? It has been used in cooking and medicine for thousands of years. In ancient cultures, honey was often considered a gift from the gods. It also has antibacterial properties, which is why it has been used in natural remedies throughout history. In this recipe, honey not only enhances the flavor but also helps keep the chicken moist during cooking, ensuring a tender, juicy dish.
Conclusion
The Honey Chicken recipe offers a delightful combination of sweet and savory flavors, making it a perfect dish for any occasion. Whether you are enjoying it at home with your family or serving it at a dinner party, this dish is sure to impress with its unique blend of spices and natural sweetness. With the convenience of a quick marinate-and-bake method, its an easy and satisfying meal that brings a little taste of fusion cuisine right to your table.
FAQ about Honey Chicken Recipe
Comments
Karen Anderson
08/29/2024 08:15:35 AM
Great experience! The dish was lightly sweet with a fantastic flavor. I drizzled some marinade over the chicken as it baked, resulting in a delicious sauce. Next time, I'll consider simmering the marinade to thicken it before serving with the chicken. The chicken breasts were quite large, so they took about an hour to cook, but the process was simple and the end result was incredibly tasty.
Kenneth Carter
02/09/2024 01:48:49 PM
When preparing a single chicken breast, I marinated it overnight in a mixture of 1/2 cup Tropi50, juice from a small orange, less than 1/4 cup honey, a bit of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, curry, and a diced garlic clove. An hour before cooking, I added fresh diced ginger, paprika, and sliced red bell pepper to the marinade. After setting aside the red pepper, I cooked the chicken in a covered wok on medium-high heat for 20 minutes. Then, I added 1/3 cup water, more curry, red peppers, snow peas, and cooked for an additional 10 minutes. Finally, I stirred in a small can of crushed pineapple and cooked for 5 more minutes. I served this delicious dish with white rice. It turned out amazing!
Christine Johnson
06/08/2023 06:30:15 PM
Delicious recipe! I doubled the marinade ingredients and added just one minced fresh garlic clove. I let it marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Baked it in the oven for 25 minutes with half of the marinade, flipping it once. Used the rest of the marinade to make a flavorful gravy/glaze. Mixed 3 tablespoons of flour with 1/4 cup of water and added it to the boiled marinade. Then transferred the chicken cutlets to the stovetop gravy/glaze, basted them with the sauce, and let them simmer. Voila! Absolutely delicious.
Jose Taylor
10/21/2023 08:49:27 AM
I absolutely adored this recipe, and so did my fiancé! It had the perfect amount of spice that we both enjoyed. I decided to make the marinade again (cooked on the stovetop) while the chicken was cooking. Once the chicken was cooked, I poured the marinade over it, wrapped it in foil, and added an extra 10 minutes to the cooking time. This technique really enhanced the juiciness of the chicken and gave it a beautiful glossy brown finish!
Michelle Hall
03/16/2023 01:32:47 PM
Great and simple to use. I simmered the remaining marinade to create a delicious sauce for drizzling over chicken. The flavors complemented each other beautifully.
Joyce Harris
02/16/2024 09:12:43 AM
I grilled this dish during the summer, and it came out quite nicely. The chicken was incredibly moist, and the flavors complemented each other well. However, I wish it had a more intense flavor profile. I was anticipating a honey glaze-like consistency but was slightly let down by its thinness. Next time, I might consider following suggestions from other reviewers by creating a sauce using the marinade (but with a fresh batch to avoid health risks like salmonella) instead of the used marinade.
Melissa Hernandez
07/05/2024 05:01:27 PM
This recipe was fantastic! I saved half of the sauce to simmer and drizzle over the baked chicken, and it turned out amazing! I've printed out the recipe and shared it with all my colleagues at work. The flavor was tangy and just the right amount of sweetness. I will definitely be making this again...possibly tonight!
Nathan Lee
12/23/2022 11:41:34 AM
Absolutely adore this recipe! I could only marinate it for 3 hours, but it still turned out incredibly delicious. Following the recommendation to create a reduction of the marinade and drizzling extra over the chicken before baking was a fantastic idea. I plan to experiment with pork next time.
Nancy Davis
07/24/2023 08:10:22 AM
I wasn't a fan of the curry powder in this recipe, as I found its aroma to be more prominent than its actual taste. It didn't quite complement the sweet citrusy marinade for me. However, after patting the chicken dry, I grilled the chicken breasts on the gas grill and they turned out wonderfully moist and with a beautifully caramelized exterior. For my next attempt, I'm considering using only lemon juice without the orange, and perhaps adding garlic and Dijon mustard for a different flavor profile.
Nancy Gonzalez
01/18/2024 02:48:37 PM
I stuck to the recipe but made a few tweaks - I used 8 chicken tenders and added 3 cloves of garlic to the marinade. After marinating, I poured the remaining sauce over the chicken before baking. The result was juicy, tender, and a big hit with my husband. I will definitely be making this dish again.
Ronald Martin
05/21/2025 02:31:15 PM
I absolutely adored this recipe! I didn't have any curry powder on hand, so I used red pepper flakes as a substitute. I marinated the chicken for over 24 hours and cooked it in the same marinade, basting it frequently. This has quickly become my favorite chicken recipe. Thank you for sharing it! I will definitely be making it again. I paired the chicken with mashed cauliflower instead of mashed potatoes.
Victoria Smith
09/17/2022 11:09:32 AM
The marinade has a delicious taste, but it doesn't penetrate the meat deeply enough to enhance the flavor significantly. I tried marinating my second batch for over 24 hours, but the flavor was still quite subtle. I recommend increasing the amounts of curry and paprika to create a more intense marinade. Despite this, the dish was easy to prepare and paired well with white rice and vegetables for a satisfying dinner.
Rachel Gomez
11/13/2023 09:22:10 AM
This dish was disappointingly bland. In the 52 years of our marriage, my husband, for the first time ever, pushed his plate away, expressing his dislike for the meal. I had to add herbs and spices to make it more palatable for my son too. Additionally, the thick breasts resulted in a longer cooking time. If I were to attempt this recipe again, I would butterfly the chicken breasts. However, we have decided not to make it again.
Aaron Evans
12/02/2024 09:25:09 PM
The chicken was juicy, but lacked in flavor.
Amanda Green
12/17/2024 08:11:01 AM
Simple yet excellent!
Edward Perez
04/28/2024 07:06:14 AM
Tasty and a hit with the kids
Raymond Smith
12/06/2024 05:06:29 PM
Simple to make, marinated for 24 hours. The chicken was juicy and flavorful. We both agreed it was absolutely delicious!