This Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken is easy to prepare and can be on the table in 30 minutes or less!  Golden brown, stir-fried ground chicken with a sticky, sweet, tangy honey lemon sauce piled high on nutty quinoa and spiralized veggies.  This skinny chicken is absolutely delicious and a great alternative to take out!

*Updated*

This post was originally published in May 2018.  I’ve updated the post below to include more information about this skinny lemon chicken.  Plus, I’ve included a recipe video to show you how easy stir-fry is to make! 

Haaaay, fraaands!

Before we get to today’s sticky, sweet, savory and SUBLIMELY delicious dish, I have a burning question about the topic that has been on everyone’s mind – the royal wedding.  I know, I know, I ALWAYS have a random question.  But, my curious nature is endearing.  Right?  😉

So, how many of you will be watching the endless streaming 411 of the royal wedding?  I’m going to be honest here, I won’t be watching.  Did you just look at me sideways?

Well, if it makes you feel better, I’m sure on Monday I will look online at what Meghan’s dress looked like, but other than that, I’m not really into it.

I guess I’m just not a sideline spectator?  That, or I’d much rather soak up some much needed R&R and read a good book.  What can I say?  I’m boring.

Now that we have gotten that imperative, breaking entertaining news out of the way, I’m going to dish dirt on this lemony deliciousness.

Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken

These bowls are healthy, yet hearty lunch and dinner GOALS, friends.

Let me break down what’s happening up in here –

Tender crumbles of savory chicken sautéed with mild shallots, pungent ginger, aromatic garlic, and tossed with a tart, sticky, sweet and sour lemon and honey sauce.  All that savory, sweet chicken goodness gets piled high on chewy quinoa, then topped with crisp, delicate strands of zucchini and squash, and sprinkled with fresh sliced scallions and nutty sesame seeds.

This skinny chicken quinoa bowl is light, fresh and fabulous!

How to make healthy honey lemon chicken?

This nutritious skinny chicken stir fry is incredibly easy to make!  In just three quick steps, this chicken can be ready and on the table in 30 minutes or less!

1. Prepare the honey lemon sauce.  Whisk together chicken stock, lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, soy sauce, cider vinegar and cornstarch together in a small bowl.  Set aside.
2. Make the stir-fry chicken.  In a skillet over medium-high heat, stir fry diced shallots and add in ground chicken.  Cook until the chicken is golden.  Season with garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant.  Add in the sauce and simmer the sauce is thickened and the chicken is coated.
3. Serve.  Divide the chicken into bowls with quinoa and shredded zucchini.  Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.  Enjoy!

Crazy easy, right?!

What is in honey lemon chicken sauce?

The honey lemon sauce for this healthy chicken stir fry is super simple to prepare and only requires seven pantry staple ingredients!

Using fresh lemons to make the sauce is highly recommended!  Since lemon is main component of the sauce, using fresh lemons (versus bottled lemon juice) will produce the brightest, most flavorful sauce.  Also, if you are a huge fan of lemon, I highly suggest you increase the lemon zest in the recipe from the zest of 1 lemon to the zest of 1 ½ – 2 lemons.  Lemon zest holds the essential oils of the lemon and therefore, it is filled with PURE lemon flavor.

Tips for the best Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken?

1. The recipe below calls for ground chicken, however you can substitute ground turkey if desired!  To keep things extremely healthy and light, I used lean, all white meat ground chicken.  With that said, the plain packaged combination of white and dark meat ground chicken will pack the most flavor and produce moister chicken.  The recipe below is extremely flexible, and you should use whatever variety of ground chicken, or turkey, you like!
2. I highly encourage you to squeeze fresh lemons for the juice required in the sauce.  Bottled lemon juice does not taste as bright and lemony as fresh lemon juice.  As well, if a strong lemon flavor is desired, increase the amount of lemon zest in the recipe from 1 lemon to 1 ½ -2 lemons.
3. While I served my easy lemon chicken as a quinoa grain bowl, the stir-fry chicken is also delicious served as a lettuce wrap!  Simply nix the quinoa and pile the chicken into bibb, iceberg or romaine lettuce!

What to serve with Honey Lemon Chicken?

• Grains – Quinoa, brown rice or zucchini rice if you want to keep this healthy.  Or, white rice, wild rice and rice pilaf.
• Vegetables Noodles – Zucchini, squash or carrot noodles
• Stir-fried vegetables – Zucchini, carrots, green beans or squash
• Sautéed greens – Spinach, kale or swiss chard
• Salad

This healthy honey lemon chicken quinoa bowl is fresh, fabulous and needs to happen in your kitchen!   And since these bowls can be ready, and on the table in 30 minutes or less, you really have no excuse.  😉

Until next week, friends, cheers – to healthy bowl goals FOR LIFE.

XOXO

Cheyanne

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The best Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken recipe plus step-by-step video👇

5 from 10 votes

Print

Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

30 mins

 

This Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken Quinoa Bowl is easy to prepare and can be ready in 30 minutes or less!  This skinny chicken is absolutely delicious and a great alternative to take out!

Course: entree

Cuisine: American, Asian

Keyword: chicken, Healthy, honey, lemon, quinoa, stir-fry

Servings: 4

Calories: 251 kcal

Author: Cheyanne Holzworth

Ingredients

Stir-Fry:

• 1 TBS Oil neutral flavored such as vegetable or canola
• 1 large Shallot finely diced
• 1 pound Ground Chicken*
• 1 tsp Ginger freshly grated
• 2 cloves Garlic minced
• Kosher Salt and Ground Black Pepper to taste

Sauce:

• ½ Cup Unsalted Chicken Stock
• ¼ Cup Lemon Juice freshly squeezed*
• Zest of 1 Lemon
• 1/3 Cup Honey
• 1 TBS Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce
• 1 TBS Apple Cider Vinegar
• 1 TBS Cornstarch
• Pinch Crushed Red Pepper Flakes or more to taste (you can substitute Sriracha)

Optional For Serving: Lettuce, Quinoa (cooked according to package directions), Shredded Zucchini, Shredded Squash, Microgreens, Sliced Radishes, Sliced Green Onions, Sesame Seeds and Lemon Wedges

Instructions

1. Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce. Add in a teaspoon of sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat, if desired. Set aside.

2. Stir-fry:  Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes, or until softened. Add in the chicken and season generously with salt and pepper. Saute, breaking up any lumps with a wooden spoon, until almost golden brown, about 3-4 minutes.

3. Add in the garlic and ginger. Cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Add in the sauce and bring to a rapid simmer. Reduce heat and simmer until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 4 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
4. To serve: Divide the lettuce and quinoa between serving bowls and add the chicken. Top with shredded vegetables and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Enjoy!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

1. The recipe calls for ground chicken, however you can substitute ground turkey if desired! To keep things extremely healthy and light, I used lean, all white meat ground chicken. With that said, the plain packaged combination of white and dark meat ground chicken will pack the most flavor and produce moister chicken. The recipe below is extremely flexible, and you should use whatever variety of ground chicken, or turkey, you like!
2. I highly encourage you to squeeze fresh lemons for the juice required in the sauce. Bottled lemon juice does not taste as bright and lemony as fresh lemon juice. As well, if a strong lemon flavor is desired, increase the amount of lemon zest in the recipe from 1 lemon to 1 ½ -2 lemons.
3. While I served my healthy honey lemon chicken as a quinoa grain bowl, the stir-fry chicken is also delicious served as a lettuce wrap! Simply nix the quinoa and pile the chicken into bibb, iceberg or romaine lettuce!

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Honey Lemon Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 251 Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 10g 15%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 68mg 23%

Sodium 191mg 8%

Potassium 470mg 13%

Total Carbohydrates 27g 9%

Sugars 23g

Protein 14g 28%

Vitamin C 7.7%

Calcium 0.8%

Iron 5.1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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