Description
This Honey Pecan Chicken Breast recipe features tender, juicy chicken breasts cooked in a buttery skillet and topped with a sweet, nutty honey pecan sauce. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, chipotle pepper for a smoky kick, and toasted pecans, this quick and easy dish makes a wonderful weeknight dinner that yields six servings.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- â…› teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground chipotle pepper (optional, for a smoky kick)
- 2 tablespoons butter
Sauce and Garnish
- â…“ cup honey
- â…“ cup finely chopped pecans, toasted
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Pound chicken breasts to a uniform ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet. Even thickness ensures even cooking. Season both sides evenly with salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and ground chipotle pepper if you like a smoky flavor.
- Cook Chicken: Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat until melted and hot. Add the seasoned chicken breasts and cook until both sides are nicely browned. Then reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and continue cooking for 6-8 minutes, flipping the chicken once halfway through. The chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and an instant-read thermometer registers 160°F at the thickest part.
- Make Honey Pecan Sauce: Drizzle honey evenly over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Sprinkle the toasted pecans atop the honey. Cover and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken slightly and the flavors to meld.
- Rest and Serve: Spoon some of the warm honey pecan sauce from the pan over the chicken breasts. Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before serving to let the juices redistribute, resulting in moist, tender chicken ready to enjoy.
Notes
- To toast pecans, heat them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned.
- If you prefer a less sweet sauce, reduce the honey to ¼ cup or adjust according to taste.
- Ground chipotle pepper is optional but adds a nice smoky warmth; skip if you prefer mild flavors.
- Use a meat mallet or rolling pin to pound chicken evenly for thorough cooking and tender texture.
- Resting the chicken after cooking is important for juicy results.
