Honey Soy Glazed Chicken Rice Bowl

This sticky glazed chicken sits on top of creamy brothy rice that soaks up all the flavors. The sweet honey mixes with salty soy sauce to make tender juicy chicken that takes just minutes to prep.

What You Need

For the Chicken:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce

For the Brothy Rice:

• 1 cup white rice
• 2 cups chicken stock
• 1/2 cup cream
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 2 tablespoons chives, chopped

To Serve:

• Fresh chives
• 1 red chili, sliced
• 2 spring onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds

How to Make Honey Soy Chicken

Step 1: Cut chicken breasts into thick strips. Put them in a bowl with dark soy sauce, honey, white vinegar, minced garlic, and oyster sauce. Mix well and let sit for 20 minutes.

Step 2: Heat a pan on medium high. Add the chicken with all the marinade. Cook for 4 minutes on each side until the glaze turns sticky and the chicken looks golden brown.

Step 3: While chicken cooks, start your rice. Put garlic in a pot with a little oil. Cook for 1 minute until it smells good.

Step 4: Add your rice to the pot. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 minutes.

Step 5: Once rice is soft, add cream, onion powder, paprika, and chopped chives. Stir everything together until it looks creamy.

Step 6: Put rice in your bowl. Slice the glazed chicken and place on top. Add fresh chives, sliced red chili, spring onions, and sesame seeds.

Why This Rice Bowl Works

The chicken gets a shiny glaze that tastes sweet and salty at the same time. Dark soy sauce makes it darker and gives it more flavor than regular soy sauce. Honey helps it stick to the chicken and turns a little bit crispy on the edges.

The rice is not dry like normal rice. It has chicken stock and cream which makes it soft and brothy. Every bite soaks up the sauce from the chicken.

Quick Chicken Marinade Tips

Your chicken needs at least 20 minutes in the marinade but you can leave it longer. Put it in the fridge in the morning before work and it will be ready when you get home.

Don’t throw away the marinade when you cook the chicken. Pour it all in the pan. It turns into the glaze that coats your chicken.

If your glaze looks too thin, let the chicken cook for one more minute. The sauce will get thicker and stickier.

Making Creamy Brothy Rice

Regular rice is boring but this rice tastes like a meal on its own. The chicken stock gives it so much flavor. You can taste the garlic and onion in every spoonful.

Add the cream at the end, not at the start. If you add it too early it might curdle. Stir it in when the rice is already cooked and soft.

Fresh chives make a big difference. They taste light and a little bit like onion. Dried chives don’t work the same way.

Best Toppings for Rice Bowls

Spring onions add a fresh crunch. Slice them thin so they are not too strong.

Red chili gives you a little kick of heat. If you don’t like spicy food, use less or leave it out.

Sesame seeds look pretty and add a nutty taste. You can use white or black sesame seeds. Both work well.

Extra chives on top make it look like restaurant food. Chop them right before you serve so they stay bright green.

Smart Ingredient Swaps

No dark soy sauce? Use regular soy sauce and add a tiny bit of brown sugar. It won’t be as dark but it will still taste good.

You can swap chicken breasts for chicken thighs. Thighs are juicier and cook in the same amount of time.

Don’t have oyster sauce? Add one more tablespoon of soy sauce and a pinch of sugar. It won’t taste exactly the same but it will still be delicious.

If you want less cream, use half cream and half milk. The rice will be lighter but still creamy.

Honey Soy Chicken for Meal Prep

This recipe works great if you want to make food for the week. Cook the chicken and rice together on Sunday.

Keep them in separate containers in the fridge. Rice lasts 4 days and chicken lasts 3 days.

When you want to eat, heat the rice in the microwave with a splash of water. It will get soft and creamy again. Heat the chicken separately so it stays a little crispy.

Add fresh toppings right before you eat. Don’t put spring onions or chili on food you want to store. They get soggy.

How to Serve This Bowl

This bowl is a full meal on its own. You get protein from the chicken, carbs from the rice, and the broth makes it filling.

Serve it in a wide shallow bowl so you can see all the colors. Put the rice on one side and fan the chicken slices on top.

Make it look pretty by sprinkling the toppings in a line down the middle. Green from the spring onions, red from the chili, and white from the sesame seeds.

Eat it with a spoon and fork. The rice is too brothy for chopsticks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t skip marinating the chicken. Plain chicken with glaze on top is not the same. The marinade has to soak into the meat.

Don’t cook chicken on heat that is too high. The outside will burn before the inside cooks. Medium high heat is best.

Don’t forget to stir your rice while adding the cream. If you just pour cream on top it will be creamy in some spots and plain in others.

Don’t add toppings too early. Wait until right before serving or they will get soft and lose their crunch.

FAQ

Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?

Yes but it takes longer to cook. Brown rice needs 40 minutes instead of 15. Add more stock so it doesn’t dry out.

How do I know when the chicken is cooked?

Cut the thickest piece in half. If it is white all the way through it is done. If you see any pink, cook it for 2 more minutes.

Can I make this without cream?

You can use coconut milk instead. It makes the rice a little sweet and the flavor is different but still really good.

What if my glaze is too thick?

Add a splash of water to the pan. Stir it in and it will thin out. If it is too thin, cook for one more minute without a lid.

Can kids eat this?

Yes. Leave out the red chili if they don’t like spicy food. The honey makes it a little sweet so most kids love it.

This honey soy glazed chicken rice bowl is easy enough for a Tuesday night but tastes like you spent hours cooking. The sticky chicken and creamy rice work so well together. Make it once and it will become your go to dinner.