Description
This Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs recipe features tender, bone-in chicken cooked to crispy perfection with a sweet and savory honey garlic glaze. Seared on the stovetop and finished in the oven, the flavorful glaze caramelizes beautifully, making this an easy yet impressive meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Honey Garlic Glaze
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or green onions
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for finishing the chicken after searing.
- Season Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance flavor and promote crispy skin.
- Sear Chicken: In a large oven-safe skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin side down and sear for 3 to 4 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for an additional 2 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside temporarily.
- Prepare Glaze: Using the same skillet, add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in honey, low-sodium soy sauce, vinegar, water, and the optional crushed red pepper flakes. Bring the mixture to a simmer to combine the flavors.
- Glaze Chicken: Return the seared chicken thighs to the skillet, arranging them skin side up. Spoon the honey garlic glaze generously over each piece to coat the chicken.
- Bake Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. About halfway through cooking, baste the chicken with the glaze to keep it moist and enhance caramelization. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked through and the skin is nicely caramelized.
- Rest Chicken: Remove the skillet from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the chicken with chopped fresh parsley or green onions and optionally toasted sesame seeds before serving for added freshness and a touch of crunch.
Notes
- Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs provide the best flavor and texture for this recipe.
- Make sure to dry the chicken thoroughly before seasoning to achieve crispy skin.
- Using a large oven-safe skillet simplifies the cooking process since you can sear and bake in the same pan.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to your heat preference or omit for no spice.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently to preserve the glaze.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: honey garlic chicken, baked chicken thighs, easy dinner recipe, sweet and savory chicken, oven-baked chicken
