Honey Garlic Chicken Broccoli Rice (Printable version)

Savory one-pan meal with tender chicken, rice, broccoli, and honey garlic sauce.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Grains

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
02 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed

→ Vegetables

03 - 2 cups broccoli florets
04 - 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
05 - 3 green onions, sliced

→ Sauce

06 - 3 tablespoons honey
07 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon sesame oil
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Liquids

12 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

→ Garnish

13 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
14 - Sliced green onions for serving

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together honey, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside.
02 - Heat a large deep skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil, then add chicken pieces. Sear for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden.
03 - Add rinsed rice, carrots, and most of the green onions to the pan. Stir to combine with the chicken.
04 - Pour the prepared sauce and chicken broth into the pan, stirring well to combine. Bring to a gentle boil.
05 - Reduce heat to low, cover the pan with a lid, and simmer for 15 minutes.
06 - After 15 minutes, carefully lift the lid and scatter broccoli florets evenly over the rice without stirring. Replace the lid and cook for 8-10 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
07 - Remove from heat and let rest covered for 5 minutes. Gently fluff rice with a fork.
08 - Divide into serving portions and garnish with sesame seeds and reserved green onions.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan, which means fewer dishes staring at you from the sink later.
  • The honey garlic sauce is addictive in a way that makes you want to eat straight from the pot.
  • Chicken thighs stay tender while the rice soaks up all that savory-sweet goodness without becoming mushy.
02 -
  • Don't stir the rice once you've added the liquid—stirring breaks down the grains and makes everything starchy and clumpy instead of fluffy.
  • The broccoli layer on top method is the difference between crisp-tender vegetables and sad overcooked ones; I learned this the hard way after stirring it in early the first time.
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for thirty seconds right before serving—it transforms them from invisible to the best part of the dish.
  • If your household eats at different speeds, keep everything covered on low heat because this dish actually improves as it sits for a few minutes while the flavors marry together even more.
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