Description
This sheet pan honey garlic chicken is your new weeknight hero. Tender, juicy chicken pieces coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory glaze, baked to perfection alongside beautiful roasted vegetables. It’s a complete meal with minimal cleanup, making it ideal for busy evenings or when you’re craving something incredibly satisfying without the fuss.
Ingredients
2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs, cut into cubes
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
kosher salt and black pepper
1/4 cup all-purpose flour or use gluten-free
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 zucchini/yellow summer squash, sliced
1/2 cup hot sauce
6 tablespoons salted butter
4–6 cloves garlic, chopped
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1–2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1/4 cup honey
blue cheese or ranch dressing, for serving
avocado, basil, sliced green onions, for serving
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 450 F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly oiling it.
2. On the prepared baking sheet, combine the cubed chicken with smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon each of onion powder and garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and toss again. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, tossing to ensure the chicken is well-coated. Arrange the chicken on one side of the baking sheet. Add the sliced zucchini to the other side and toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked.
3. While the chicken and zucchini bake, prepare the sauce. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the hot sauce and butter together. Add the chopped garlic, chipotle chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Stir until everything is melted and well combined. Remove from heat and stir in the honey. Season with salt to taste.
4. Once the chicken is cooked, pour the honey garlic sauce over it and toss to coat the chicken pieces evenly. Return the baking sheet to the oven for another 5 minutes to allow the sauce to bake onto the chicken beautifully.
5. Serve the honey garlic chicken and zucchini warm. You can enjoy it with chunks of avocado, fresh basil, sliced green onions, and a side of blue cheese or ranch dressing. It’s also delicious served over rice or with french fries.
Notes
Ensure your chicken pieces are roughly the same size so they cook evenly. If using larger thighs, you might cut them into more bite-sized pieces.
Use a large enough baking sheet so the chicken and vegetables have space to roast and caramelize, rather than steam. If your pan is too crowded, consider using two baking sheets.
The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 F (74 C). If the vegetables are done before the chicken, you can carefully remove them from the pan and continue baking the chicken for a few more minutes.
For an extra sticky and caramelized finish, you can broil the chicken for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking, keeping a very close eye on it to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American