Description
A quick and easy chicken dinner featuring a spicy sweet honey glaze paired with creamy, tangy feta cheese. Perfect for a flavorful weeknight meal with crispy edges and a vibrant Mediterranean vibe.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs / 680g)
- 6 oz (170g) crumbled feta cheese (preferably block feta)
- 1/4 cup (85g) honey
- 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 3 tablespoons olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (about 15g, optional)
- Optional add-ins:
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes (150g)
- 2 cups baby spinach (60g)
Instructions
- Pat chicken breasts dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. Mince garlic and crumble feta. Prep cherry tomatoes and spinach if using.
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, minced garlic, red chili flakes, lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Taste and adjust chili flakes if desired.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. When oil shimmers, add chicken breasts and cook undisturbed for 5-6 minutes until golden brown on the bottom.
- Flip chicken and cook another 5-6 minutes until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C).
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour the hot honey glaze over the chicken, swirling to coat each piece. Sprinkle crumbled feta evenly over chicken.
- Cover pan loosely with a lid or foil and let simmer for 3-4 minutes until feta softens and starts melting into the glaze.
- If using cherry tomatoes, add them with the glaze in step 5 to soften but keep shape. If using spinach, toss it in now and stir gently until wilted.
- Add chopped parsley for a fresh finish.
- Serve immediately with extra glaze and feta spooned over the top. Pairs well with steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a crisp salad.
Notes
[‘Do not rush the sear; let chicken sit undisturbed to develop a golden crust.’, ‘Adjust chili flakes to control heat level; start with 1/2 teaspoon for mild.’, ‘Use fresh garlic for best flavor; jarred garlic is not recommended.’, ‘Covering the pan allows feta to soften without drying out or burning.’, ‘Leftovers taste better the next day; reheat gently with a splash of water or olive oil.’, ‘If chicken is dry, pound breasts to even thickness for uniform cooking.’, ‘Optional veggies like bell peppers or zucchini can be added for extra nutrition.’, ‘Swap chicken breasts for thighs for juicier meat but adjust cooking time.’]
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast wit
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 13
- Sodium: 620
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 14
- Fiber: 0.5
- Protein: 35
Keywords: hot honey feta chicken, spicy sweet chicken, honey glaze chicken, feta chicken recipe, easy chicken dinner, weeknight chicken, Mediterranean chicken