How to return a resolved promise from an AngularJS Service using $q?

From your service method:

function serviceMethod() {
    return $timeout(function() {
        return {
            property: 'value'
        };
    }, 1000);
}

And in your controller:

serviceName
    .serviceMethod()
    .then(function(data){
        //handle the success condition here
        var x = data.property
    });

Return your promise , return deferred.promise.
It is the promise API that has the 'then' method.

https://docs.angularjs.org/api/ng/service/$q

Calling resolve does not return a promise it only signals the promise that the promise is resolved so it can execute the 'then' logic.

Basic pattern as follows, rinse and repeat
http://plnkr.co/edit/fJmmEP5xOrEMfLvLWy1h?p=preview

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

<head>
  <script data-require="angular.js@*" data-semver="1.3.0-beta.5" 
        src="https://code.angularjs.org/1.3.0-beta.5/angular.js"></script>
  <link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css" />
  <script src="script.js"></script>
</head>

<body>

<div ng-controller="test">
  <button ng-click="test()">test</button>
</div>
<script>
  var app = angular.module("app",[]);

  app.controller("test",function($scope,$q){

    $scope.$test = function(){
      var deferred = $q.defer();
      deferred.resolve("Hi");
      return deferred.promise;
    };

    $scope.test=function(){
      $scope.$test()
      .then(function(data){
        console.log(data);
      });
    }      
  });

  angular.bootstrap(document,["app"]);

</script>


How to simply return a pre-resolved promise in AngularJS

Resolved promise:

return $q.when( someValue );    // angularjs 1.2+
return $q.resolve( someValue ); // angularjs 1.4+, alias to `when` to match ES6

Rejected promise:

return $q.reject( someValue );