Need a fast, flavorful dinner? These 20-minute chicken dinner recipes are perfect for busy weeknights! Featuring honey ginger chicken, soy glazed chicken, spicy honey garlic chicken, and lemon pepper chicken, this lineup delivers big flavor with simple ingredients. Quick to cook, family-friendly, and better than takeout—save this pin for easy chicken dinners, meal prep ideas, and quick healthy meals.
1️⃣ Best Honey Ginger Chicken
Ingredients:
2 boneless chicken thighs
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp mirin
2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
1 tbsp cooking oil
Instructions:
In a bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, grated ginger, mirin, minced garlic, and sesame oil.
Season the boneless chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Pan fry the chicken thighs for 4 to 6 minutes per side.
Remove from the pan and set aside.
Add sauce mix in same pan and simmer. Place chicken back in for 2 to 3 minutes and done.
Serve with sesame seeds and green onion and drizzle the thickened sauce over the thighs. Best partner with steamed rice and steamed veggies. Enjoy!
2️⃣Best Soy Glazed Chicken
Ingredients:
2 Chicken Thigh (boneless with skin)
3 tbsp Corn Starch
3 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp honey
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 tbsp five spice powder
Salt & Pepper
Instructions:
Season the chicken thigh with salt and pepper on both sides.
Pat dry the chicken with a paper towel and coat the chicken with corn starch on both sides. Shake off any excess corn starch before pan-frying.
In a pan, add oil and turn the heat to medium-high. Once the pan is hot, add in the chicken thigh skin side facing down. Pan fry for 7 minutes, skin side facing down, flip, and cook for another 5 minutes.
Remove the chicken and set it aside.
Mix soy sauce, minced garlic, five-spice powder, and honey in a bowl.
Drizzle the sauce into the same pan that the chicken was cooked and simmer for 1 minute.
Add back in the chicken and cook the chicken on high heat while drizzling the sauce all over the chicken for 1 minute and done.
Sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds. Serve with steamed rice, roasted veggies, or noodles.
3️⃣Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients:
2 boneless chicken thighs
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
½ tsp smoked paprika (optional)
For the Sauce:
3 tbsp honey
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp sriracha (adjust for spice level)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp rice vinegar (or lemon juice)
1 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
Instructions:
- Sear the Chicken:
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, and paprika. Sear for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan. - Make the Sauce:
In the same pan, melt butter and sauté garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds). Add honey, soy sauce, sriracha, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes. Stir and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened. - Coat & Serve:
Return the chicken to the pan, tossing it in the sauce to coat. Let it cook for another minute, allowing the sauce to caramelize slightly.
Serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve over steamed rice or noodles.
4️⃣Lemon Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
1½ lb chicken breasts or thighs (boneless, skinless)
2 tbsp olive oil or butter
Zest of 1 lemon
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
¼ tsp black pepper
1 tbsp honey (optional, balances acidity)
Lemon slices & parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Prep chicken
Pat chicken dry. If using breasts, pound to even thickness. - Season
In a bowl, mix oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and honey (if using). Coat chicken well. - Heat pan
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. - Sear
Add chicken and cook 5–7 minutes per side until golden and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C). - Finish
Remove from heat. Spoon pan juices over chicken. Rest 3–5 minutes. - Serve
Garnish with lemon slices and parsley. Serve with steam rice or vegetables.
