If you love the perfect balance of sweetness and heat, Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is the dish you’ve been craving. The natural sweetness of honey pairs beautifully with the bold kick of black pepper, creating a flavor combination that’s both irresistible and unforgettable. In this post, we’ll walk you through how to make this incredible dish and explain why it should become a go-to recipe for any occasion when you’re deciding what to cook.
Why make Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken?
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is the perfect way to serve a crowd. It’s great for serving the family a flavorful dinner, just as much as it is serving a crowd when having a company or special event over. Tender, juicy chicken glazed with a sweet and spicy glaze just hits the spot.
Basing the sauce with natural honey gives it character and raises the flavor profile, while the pepper gives a little kick that makes you want more. It’s a no-brainer to throw together for beginners and experienced cooks too.
Ingredients for Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken
To create your own Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken, you’ll need a few simple ingredients that pack a punch:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon black pepper (adjust based on spice preference)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra spice)
- Salt to taste
The honey provides the perfect sweetness, while the pepper adds the spice. The soy sauce balances the flavors, creating a harmonious blend that coats the chicken perfectly.
Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken
Instructions:
Prepare the Chicken:
- If the chicken breasts are thick, cut them in half horizontally so they’ll cook evenly.
- Clean and season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
Cook the Chicken:
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add chicken breasts to the pan and cook for 6-8 minutes per side (until golden and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F or 75°C).
- Take the chicken out of skillet and place on side.
Make the Sauce:
- Make the garlic and ginger mixture Wipe the skillet out, then return it to the heat and heat another tablespoon of oil. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger. Sauté until fragrant, for about 1 min.
- Combine with the honey, soy sauce, and black pepper. Mix together well, and bring the sauce to a simmer.
- Allow the sauce to simmer for 2-3 minutes, or until it thickens a little.
Coat the Chicken:
- Add the cooked chicken back into the skillet with the sauce.
- Toss everything together and let the chicken cook in the sauce another minute, so the flavors absorb.
Serve:
- Plate the chicken and pour any remaining sauce over the top.
- If desired, sprinkle with red pepper flakes or fresh herbs for more flavor and color.
Tips for the Perfect Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken
To ensure your Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken turns out just right, remember the following:
- Make it Less Spicy: If you’re looking for a less spicy version, you could decrease the amount of black pepper or it’s totally fine to just leave out the red pepper flakes! Conversely, if you prefer more heat, add additional pepper and flakes.
- Marinate the Chicken: For added flavor, marinate the chicken in the honey, soy sauce, and black pepper mixture for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Serve over Rice: This is good served over steamed rice or vegetables as well. The sauce is so delicious, I would even drizzle over all my rice for more kick.
- Include Vegetables: You can also throw in some bell peppers, or broccoli while cooking the chicken. This will give the dish some texture, protein, and nutrition.
Why Should We Include Honey And Pepper In Our Diet:
Both honey and pepper both have healthy properties that this Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is not just also healthy but tasty! Honey is natural antioxidant that is soothing. It can aid digestion and offer a speedy energy lift.
Pepper on the other hand, has piperine, believed to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It can help with digestion and absorption of nutrients from other foods. When you put those together in a tasty chicken recipe, you have the best of two worlds.
Where to Serve Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is not only super EASY, but super delicious with one of the best honey pepper sauces! It is a great BBQ chicken recipe that combines sweetness, spiciness and makes for an incredibly tasty meal! Superb occasions for lifting up this dish include:
Family Dinners:
This dish is ideal for that cozy family dinner. The blend of sweet and gentle heat is universally appealing and is a great option for the family dinner table. Whether you’re eating it with rice, veggies or a salad, there’s something for everyone around the table.
Barbecues:
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken would be a great addition to a bbq feast. The honey glaze will caramelize so gorgeously on the grill with that hint of smoky flavor. That makes it a hit to serve alongside other BBQ staples, like veggies and burgers.
Special Occasions:
You may want to serve Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken on special events/moments like birthdays, anniversaries or occasions, holidays or just because you want a special meal, this is it! This is a pretty dish and the flavor will not disappoint your guests! It makes a good centerpiece for festive meals and can just as easily be served with wine or other beverages to make it feel even more special.
Weeknight Dinners:
This recipe is great for a fast and tasty dinner on a busy weeknight. It’s quick to prepare, and you can easily control the heat level to your taste. Pair it with a side of steamed vegetables, mashed potatoes or even a green salad, and you have a dinner that’s comforting and engaging at the same time.
Meal Prep:
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is ideal for meal planning. The chicken keeps well in the fridge and is great throughout the week. It’s so versatile, so you won’t get bored, and works great for weekly food prep.
Serve it anywhere, that Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is bursting with flavor!
Honey Pepper Chicken with Sweet and Spicy Drinks
What to drink with Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken If you want to enhance the flavor of that Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken recipe, you can accompany it with ideal sweet and spicy drinks. Here are a few suggestions:
- Iced Tea: Refresh your palate with a glass of iced tea with lemon as a your chaser to that sweet and spicy dish.
- White Wine: If you’re a wine person, reach for a nice and crisp white like Sauvignon Blanc. The acidity will help cut through the richness of the honey sauce.
- Lemonade: It is refreshing and does well to tone down the heat of the black pepper.
Final Thoughts
Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken is an insanely delicious, yet super easy meal to make. Weeknight dinner or backyard barbecue to a special celebration, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t love the flavor of this chicken. The best part is, it is versatile, so you can make it as spicy or mild as you want to suit everyone. The honey black pepper glaze gives it a nice, savoury-sweet finish that goes really well with the juicy chicken. It’s so simple to make and super tasty – one of those dishes that I’m sure will soon end up in your regular recipe rotation! Go ahead, treat yourself to a flavor rush of great comfort food, with some extra excitement thrown in.
FAQs
What is sweet and spicy chicken in Korean?
The dish Dakgangjeong (Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken) starts with two fried chicken pieces before finishing them in a mixture of sweet gochujang glaze. This dish will deliver a tasty combination of sweet, spicy with crispy textures.
What to serve with sweet and spicy chicken?
You can serve Sweet and Spicy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Rosemary Roasted Potatoes (viewed in the photo) and Oven Roasted Frozen Broccoli or steamed green beans (shown in the image) together with roasted sweet potatoes or potato salad.
What does spicy honey taste like?
Hot honey has emerged as a sensational culinary creation which now rules over the food industry. The fusion of chili peppers and honey in hot honey condiment unleashes explosive flavors which drive tastebuds into uncontrollable longing for an additional taste.
What does sweet and pungent chicken taste like?
The Asian-inspired sauce of the aromatic chicken contains tangy notes with sweet flavor and pungent flavor from a blend of garlic, ginger, sesame oil and crispy chicken coating for a succulent result. The Asian Aromatic Chicken recipe has resided in my personal collection for thirty years while I have prepared it several times throughout those years.
What does Galbi taste like?
Short ribs in Korean marinade gain their smoky taste from grilling in addition to their sweet and savory flavor notes. Soy sauce and sugar together with fruit juice deliver sweetness in the marinade along with savoriness created by the beef along with ingredients such as garlic and ginger. Grilling produces both smoky characteristics in foods.