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A close-up overhead shot of a shallow matte ceramic bowl filled with Honey BBQ Chicken Rice. The chicken has charred, caramelized edges.
FL Recipes

Honey BBQ Chicken Rice: The Ultimate 30-Minute Sticky Chicken Bowl

This Honey BBQ Chicken Rice is the perfect 30-minute weeknight meal. It features perfectly seared chicken breast chunks coated in a thick, glossy, homemade dark amber honey barbecue sauce served over fluffy brown rice for a dinner that's better than takeout.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 645

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch chunks (680g)
  • 1 tbsp avocado or canola oil (15ml)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup honey (120ml)
  • 1/2 cup ketchup (120ml)
  • 3 tbsp soy sauce (45ml)
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar (15ml)
  • 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (5ml)
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch (8g)
  • 2 tbsp cold water (30ml)
  • 1 cup long-grain brown rice, uncooked (185g)
  • 2 cups water (475ml), for rice
  • 1 tbsp toasted white sesame seeds for garnish
  • 2 green scallions, thinly sliced for garnish

Equipment

  • 1 Large Non-stick Skillet
  • 1 Medium Saucepan with Lid
  • 1 Small mixing bowl

Method
 

  1. In a medium saucepan, combine brown rice, 2 cups of water, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook for 40-45 minutes until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and let steam, covered, for 10 minutes before fluffing.
  2. Pat chicken chunks dry and season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and sear for 3-4 minutes per side, until a golden-brown crust forms. Cook in batches if needed.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, ketchup, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, and minced garlic. Pour the sauce over the seared chicken in the skillet.
  4. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring to coat the chicken. In a separate small bowl, mix the cornstarch and cold water to make a slurry. Pour the slurry into the skillet and stir constantly for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens to a glossy glaze.
  5. Serve the honey BBQ chicken over a bed of the fluffy brown rice. Garnish generously with toasted sesame seeds and freshly chopped green scallions.

Nutrition

Calories: 645kcalProtein: 48gFat: 15gFiber: 5g

Notes

Don't Crowd the Pan: For the best sear, cook the chicken in two batches if necessary.
Toast Your Seeds: Toasting sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes unlocks incredible nutty flavor.
Control the Sauce Thickness: If the sauce gets too thick, add a tablespoon of water to thin it out.
Rest Your Rice: Letting the rice steam for 10 minutes off the heat is crucial for a fluffy texture.
Keyword chicken and rice,honey bbq chicken,weeknight dinner

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