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This recipe is amazing! We tried it for the first time tonight and it was a huge hit. The sauce is so flavorful. My husband and I both loved it. Thanks so much for another wonderful recipe!
Elizabeth
You guysss. Today is a Totally Absolutely Completely Spicy Garlic Chicken and Broccoli Monday.
These tender, juicy, flavor-pumpin’ chicken pieces are first baked to a golden crispy perfection, then dipped in sauce, then re-baked to get that sauce all soaked into the chicken so it’s that perfect balance of semi-crispy and saucy-sticky, and served over hot steaming basmati rice that will make you feel like you might be in the restaurant of your dreams. Surprise! It’s your kitchen. And before the fork action starts, let’s throw some supergreen tender crisp broccoli florets up in there and drizzle it all with a little more of that tangy hoisin and honey garlic sauce, mmkay? Sauce makes the food world go ROUND.
Is it just me, or should it always be time to eat? I am pretty sure we arranged and re-arranged our whole Texas trip this last weekend around where we (read: I) would locate, obsess, and devour our next meal. And then hi hello hayyy snack bar over there, and then the clock strikes vanilla latte o’clock, and *gasp* would you look at that, kids? Time to eat again.
I take eating really seriously 1) in life, and 2) to the extreme when traveling. It will for real put me in a medium-ish bad mood if and when a travel meal is not intentionally pre-chosen for all its good ratings on my nerdiest/favoritist website ever, Trip Advisor. Don’t look now but I might have just become a Senior Reviewer. BOOSH.
So before every meal, and especially on vacation, there is re-re-re-research. As in I search and a re-search and I re-re-search until I find the place deserving of one of my Eating Out On Vacation Meals. We’re talking 45 minutes of hard core, sorry-can’t-talk-right-now-I’m-working-on-something Trip Advisor picture stalking and restaurant website studying. After Saturday’s night’s epic hunt for the perfect place in Houston, I became a living, breathing version of Trip Advisor with a database of BBQ and seafood restaurant menus embedded into my food-loving head. Like, mem-or-ized. And that’s the kind of crazy you’re endorsing when you read this blog.
When we arrived in Houston, it was late and we got a leetle mixed up and tried to check in at the wrong hotel thanks to the person who arranged our accommodations whose name rhymes with Tindsay. By the time we made it the actual correct hotel *eye roll* all the restaurants within ten miles were closed. Pouty face. No room in the inn. Do not pass go. Kick self in face.
So the real truth of my life ensued: with all the restaurants closed, I had to spend one of my Eating Out On Vacation meals on (you know it’s coming) McDonald’s. Owie ow, it hurts. Not even because I don’t like McDonald’s – you and I both know there is a very real time and place for the arches, usually involving Desperation with a capital D and fistfuls of golden, salty, crispy French fries – but how horrible is it to go all the way to Texas only to find yourself eating things fr— I can’t even talk about it anymore.
Here, look at some chicken with me.
This Sticky Garlic Chicken and Broccoli. ❤ It’s so satisfying – especially with a side of beautifully aromatic basmati rice. And hello to the pile of bright green broccoli. I’m telling you – this combo is going to fill you up all day and night (which, for me, is some kind of miracle) and now let me tell you the magic trick –> 30 minutes.
I made this for the first time in the 25 minutes between a quick jog around the lake, a shower and get ready, and a head out the door for a church event. Maybe I stuffed my face with my sticky garlic chicken and broccoli dinner in the car that night. Don’t know don’t care.
What I do care is about that it was ready in time for me to whip into existence and then the leftovers were there waiting for me the next day for lunch and I swear to you they tasted like something from a movie. Er, like a food movie. Uhh, what? I don’t.. just, like… here.
Eat the sticky garlic chicken and feeeeeel gooooood.
Sticky Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
This Sticky Garlic Chicken and Broccoli has that awesome semi-crispy, saucy-sticky texture and tons of spicy sweet Asian inspired flavor.
Ingredients
For the chicken and broccoli
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk (just use milk with a spoonful of vinegar if you don’t have buttermilk)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
- 3–4 cups broccoli florets
For the sauce
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 1-inch piece fresh ginger
- 3/4 cup light soy sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sambal oelek
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a metal cooling rack on top if you have one (it can work without, too). Soak the chicken in the buttermilk. Mix the panko, cornmeal, olive oil, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Remove the chicken one piece at a time, let the buttermilk drip off, and gently press into the panko cornmeal mixture until coated with crumbs. Place the chicken on the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. At 10 minutes, flip each piece and bake for another 10 minutes (so total bake time for the chicken is about 20 minutes).
- Meanwhile, as your chicken bakes, pulse all the sauce ingredients in a food processor. This is optional, but to help the sauce develop its flavor and thicken a bit, you can put it in a skillet over medium low heat and let it simmer for a while. Prepare your broccoli by boiling for 1 minute and plunging into ice water (it stays so bright green and crispy!) or stir frying until tender crisp.
- When the chicken is done, dip each piece in the sauce and return to the baking sheet. Bake another 5 minutes, re-dip for one last sauce love, and let rest for a minute or two. Serve over rice, with the broccoli and extra sauce.
Notes
You might have some extra breading and sauce, so you can also use closer to two pounds of chicken depending on how many people you have to feed. Also, the key to the 30 minute trick is prepping the sauce, broccoli, and rice while the chicken bakes. Voila!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Keywords: garlic chicken, chicken and broccoli, sticky chicken, asian chicken recipe
One more thing – we just got back from an awesome weekend at Blog Elevated where Bjork and I taught seminars on monetizing a food blog, improving your food photography, and self-publishing ebooks. Holy wow that was fun! Thanks so much to everyone there for hosting us and it was so nice to meet all y’all Texas (and beyond) food bloggers. What a privilege. XO!
PS. I call that the Touching Heads Selfie. You can use that idea if you want, for sure. Feel free.
Travel Super Nerd, here! I love Trip Advisor so much! My husband makes fun of me because of how much I love the planning part of travelling. I’m addicted to travel books, too. This chicken looks perfect, and I bet my picky six year old would love it, too.
The planning is half the fun. Honestly.
Loved meeting y’all this weekend! YAY New Friends.
I will take an entire baking sheet of these, please and thank you!
<3
So nice to meet you too, Rachel! Also, just was on your site this morning and I spy a TFP affiliate sidebar ad! Thanks so much friend! 🙂
I would of have loved to be there! You always provide such great information about blogging and innovation.
Any way I love the coat on these wings. They look so tasty and moreish; thank goodness they are so easy.
I know what you mean about eating out on vacations! It takes an overwhelming amount of research! Finding something local, that’s delicious, highly rated, not overpriced, etc, etc…. Anyways, this chicken looks amazing.
Right. It’s like a life-size never-ending puzzle. And I sort of love it.
Vanilla latte o’clock? I feel ya!
Looks like you had a great time in Texas, pity about the arches incident. Got to roll with the punches…
This sticky garlic chicken – oh my goodness. I want it, I need it!
This looks aH-mazing! You’re totally making me crave sticky, garlicky, chicken before it’s even lunch time. Definitely going on the dinner menu this week!
Pro tip next time you are in Texas and have to settle for fast food: Whataburger. Way, way better than McD’s and they’re pretty much everywhere here 🙂
Going to have to try this chicken next week for sure!
Great tip! Thanks Katie! Whatever little ‘burb we were in near the airport gave us three options: Applebees, Burger King, and McDos. But next time I will seek out the Whataburger at whatever cost necessary. 😉
I’ve wondered this on many recipes… would sriracha be an acceptable substitute for the sambal oelek?
And glad you guys had a great time!! Looks like a blast.
Hey Joey! I think it would give you a similar amount of heat, but personally I don’t love sriracha – I think I like the chili paste texture of the sambal oelek better. It gives you those chili flakes that add a nice texture to the sauce IMO.
The Golden Arches in Texas? Noooo wayyyy! I hope you tried some awesome BBQ at the very least…and maybe even a little Chick-fil-a.
Glad you had fun in this little corner of the universe. I would loved to have been at the conference!
We DID! We ate at this place called Goode Company, which, I don’t even know if it was “good” by Texas standards, but it was delicious to me and had such a fun Texas vibe.
Goode Company’s minutes from my house – definitely “good” classic Texas BBQ. I’m relieved to hear you hit at least one decent eatery while you were in town, but promise if you ever come back you’ll splurge on The Taste of Texas. It’s fabulous! 😉
p.s. the Sticky Garlic Chicken looks predictably wonderful!
Yes! Will do.
EVERY trip should center around the next meal (and well, every day too, but yes! especially when traveling.) I <3 your priorities.
This looks so good I wish I had a plate for breakfast! Oh, and it is most definitely always time to eat 😉
I love love your idea of planning your vacation/work trip around food. I normally just go with “Oh that person said it was good, let’s try it” and then I end up in the shady part of town eating blah food. Ya, no fun.
But – getting to meet yall and be in your sessions was absolutely amazing. I tried to explain to my family how Bjork made everyone slow clap an intro for him during his session. And how I learned so so much from yall! It was a great weekend for sure!
Ps.. I agree with Rachel.. I would like a plate of these. Please and thank you!
Pps.. LOVE the touching heads selfie. You need to copyright that asap!
Kelley, it was so fun to meet you too! Thanks for giving me such a fun intro in the photography class!
I am SO the same way about vacation meals….pouring over internet research for hours. My husband just doesn’t quite get it….but food is seriously the BEST part about vacation.
I would plan the whole vacay around restaurants if it was up to me.
I’m sold! Going on the menu. I just can’t resist!
These look like sticky heaven!
I would have loved to attend your seminars! The info you two provide has been the most amazing resource for me as a new blogger.
In fact, I just used Bjork’s tips to make my first Free PDF download to my subscribers. It’s a menu for a Sugar-Free Thanksgiving!
I wouldn’t have had any clue how to do this without his guidance! Thanks!
What a great idea Jill! I should check that out! Seriously, way to go. It’s hard to just maintain a blog, much less work above and beyond to create incentives like that as a thank you for your readers. Fist bump!
It’s only 10:20 in the morning, but I’m already starving for lunch and looking at this recipe isn’t helping things any. 😉 I see these on my dinner menu this week!
They make great lunch leftovers too, so tomorrow = no more starving for lunch! 🙂
Are you my twin, Lindsay? Seriously. I think you are. I went to Salt Lake City this summer and I literally had every single meal planned out. Right down to what I was ordering (and what my mom was to order so I could sample that too:) But McDonalds? I would have cried. I’m so sorry.
This looks pretty amazing, too!! Love the sauce recipe!
It was a sad sad moment. Until I stuffed my face with those fries, then it got a little better.
Sounds that you are spreading the food blogging love, and I have so much to thank you for your teachings. I´ll be taking Linday´s food photography lessons next week on Food Blogger Pro!
Eating while traveling is quite a challenge for me (food sensitivities to gluten, eggs, dairy, corn,… ). It requires a lot of planning but it can also be fun 🙂 One tip is to rent a flat where you can cook. Actually doing it right now and off to the market for some dinner ideas.
Big hello from sunny Lisbon,
Joana
Hi Joana! I’ve actually been to Lisbon (it was maybe eight years ago now – sheesh!) but what a beautiful place to live. I’d love to visit again someday!
Just let me know, and I´ll be glad to to give you some tips 😉
These look AMAZING! (as always!) I’m coming to Chopped Con in KC next month and am beyond excited to hear you two speak!!! <3
Oooh – love that honey and sambal oelek in the sauce and the sweet and spicy flavor mingling in these mouthwatering chicken fingers!
I so wish I had been at that blog conference! I was at one this weekend that touted the benefits of publishing with an agent and I so want to hear more about self publishing…
Interesting! Was that for ebooks or traditional print books? I think definitely print books are better to do with an agent but we’re all about self-publishing when it comes to ebooks.
You just made me super hungry and gave me all kinds of ideas. Great Job on your site. I am a huge fan
Oh my word you two are so adorable. 🙂 It is so amazing watching you and POY grow!
“you and I both know there is a very real time and place for the arches, usually involving Desperation with a capital D” – Yes, unfortunately. The chicken looks amazing and I love that it comes together so quickly.
Just speaking the real life truth.
At the risk of sounding totally uncultured, what in the world is sambal oelek!??
Not uncultured at all. It’s just a chili paste, usually found in the Asian section of the grocery store. 🙂
Yum! I just made some sticky garlic wings last week but could SO go for some of this right NOW. Never enough garlic chicken, right?!