Description
Hot honey chicken bowls blend sweet and spicy flavors in a perfect harmony of textures. Drizzled with homemade hot honey, this dish offers a delightful culinary experience for home cooks seeking bold and satisfying meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups cooked rice (white, brown, or jasmine)
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 1 cup sweet potato, diced
- ¼ cup (60 ml) honey
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (like Franks RedHot or sriracha)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsps cornstarch
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp chili flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
- ¼ cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional)
- Lemon or lime wedges
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Roasting Vegetables: Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss broccoli and sweet potato with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet, ensuring minimal overlap. Roast until edges caramelize and vegetables become tender, approximately 20-25 minutes.
- Preparing Chicken: Combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to season chicken. Dust with cornstarch for a crispy exterior. Sear in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden-brown and fully cooked, achieving an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Creating Glaze: In the same skillet, merge honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and optional chili flakes. Simmer until the mixture reduces and thickens. Coat chicken pieces thoroughly in the spicy-sweet glaze, ensuring complete coverage.
- Assembling Bowls: Layer fluffy rice as a base. Top with roasted vegetables and glazed chicken. Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro. Optional: Sprinkle crumbled feta or goat cheese for additional richness. Serve with lemon or lime wedges to brighten the flavor profile.
Notes
- Optimize Roasting Technique: Spread vegetables in a single layer without overcrowding to achieve perfect caramelization and prevent steaming, ensuring crispy golden edges and maximum flavor development.
- Cornstarch Crispiness Secret: Pat chicken completely dry before applying cornstarch to guarantee an ultra-crisp exterior that locks in moisture and creates a delightful textural contrast.
- Glaze Balance Mastery: Adjust hot sauce quantities to control spice levels – start with less and incrementally add to achieve personal heat preference without overwhelming the dish’s delicate flavor profile.
- Meal Prep Flexibility: Prepare components separately and store in refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing quick assembly of bowls and maintaining ingredient freshness for convenient, make-ahead lunches or dinners.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 82g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg