Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

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5 from 96 votes
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My family can’t get enough of my honey garlic chicken thighs. Featuring a sweet, garlicky glaze, the chicken is baked until tender in the center and crispy on the outside!

honey garlic chicken thighs.

If you love easy chicken recipes like us, try my Persian chicken, chicken piccata, or stuffed chicken breast next. 

Table of Contents
  1. Why I love this recipe
  2. Key ingredients
  3. How to make honey garlic chicken thighs
  4. Arman’s recipe tips
  5. Frequently asked questions
  6. Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (Recipe Card)
  7. More sheet pan dinners

I swear my family wouldn’t complain if I made chicken thighs every night of the week. To be fair, neither would I. Chicken thighs are naturally flavorful, harder to overcook, and work beautifully with all types of flavors. 

This time, I’m baking them in my addictive honey garlic sauce. The sauce itself couldn’t be easier to make, yet the results are tender chicken thighs covered in a caramelized, sticky glaze. Gosh, if I wasn’t hungry before, I sure am now!

Why I love this recipe

  • Easy enough for a weeknight. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a cooking newbie, you’ll have no trouble getting this dish on the table in under an hour. 
  • The perfect sauce. It’s sweet, savory, umami, and garlicky all in one. It’s so good I even use it to make honey garlic salmon!
  • Minimal prep time. Once you make the sauce and pour it over the chicken, all that’s left is to bake them in the oven. When I make this recipe, I’ll be out of the kitchen after 5 minutes.
garlic honey chicken thighs.

Key ingredients

  • Chicken thighs. I recommend using bone-in chicken thighs because they stay juicier during baking. The skin also adds an extra crispiness to each bite. If you’d rather use boneless and skinless chicken thighs, reduce the cooking time by 5-10 minutes. 
  • Flour. To coat the chicken and make the skin extra crispy. For a gluten-free version, use blanched almond flour or a gluten-free flour blend. 
  • Italian seasoning. For flavor. 
  • Kosher salt and black pepper. To taste. 

For the honey garlic sauce:

  • Garlic cloves. Try to use fresh garlic if possible. If all you have is garlic powder, substitute ½-1 teaspoon. 
  • Olive oil. To create a thick sauce. 
  • Honey. To balance the savory ingredients and give the chicken a caramelized exterior.
  • Ketchup. For an added touch of sweetness and depth of flavor. 
  • Rice vinegar. I like the subtle acidity of rice vinegar, though I also liked the flavor of apple cider vinegar. 
  • Soy sauce. For a satisfying umami flavor. Use low-sodium soy sauce or gluten-free tamari if needed. 

How to make honey garlic chicken thighs

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

honey garlic sauce ingredients in a bowl.

Prep. Preheat the oven and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. 

seasoning raw chicken thighs and placing them in the baking dish.

Season. Season the chicken with the flour and seasonings. Place the chicken in the baking dish, skin side up, and pour the sauce on top.

baked honey garlic chicken thighs with fresh herbs on top.

Bake the chicken until fully cooked and golden brown. 

baked honey garlic chicken thighs.

Rest and serve. Let the chicken rest briefly before slicing and serving. 

Arman’s recipe tips

  • Marinate the chicken. When I have the extra time, I’ll marinate the chicken in the sauce for 30 minutes before cooking. You can even marinate it overnight. 
  • Sear the chicken first. To lock in juices and cut down on the baking time, I like to quickly sear the chicken in an oiled skillet over medium-high heat, then add the sauce and place the skillet in the oven to finish baking. 
  • Broil for the last 2-3 minutes. To get even crispier skin. Just keep an eye on it though, as even an extra minute can burn the chicken. 
  • Thicken the sauce. For an extra sticky glaze, whisk together 2 teaspoons of cornstarch and 4 teaspoons of water, then add the cornstarch slurry to the sauce. 

Variations

  • Use other cuts of chicken. This recipe also works with chicken breasts, though you’ll want to reduce the cooking time to 25-30 minutes. 
  • Reserve some of the sauce. And drizzle it over broccoli or your favorite veggies for a flavor-packed side dish. 
  • Cut the sugar. Use keto honey and sugar-free ketchup.
  • Garnish with sliced green onions for a fresher flavor. 

Frequently asked questions

How do you get the most flavor out of these chicken thighs?

The best way to maximize the flavor of chicken thighs is to generously season them and cook them at a higher temperature so the skin crisps up while the center remains juicy. Leaving the bone in also helps enhance the flavor and keep the meat tender. I make sure not to add too much sauce to be overpowering.

honey garlic chicken.
honey garlic chicken thighs recipe.

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

5 from 96 votes
These sweet and sticky baked honey garlic chicken thighs make a fabulous weeknight meal that takes minutes to prep. The meat is juicy, tender, and so flavorful. Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen!
Servings: 6 servings
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 37 minutes

Video

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  • In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, olive oil, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. 
    honey garlic sauce ingredients in a bowl.
  • Season both sides of the chicken thighs with flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken thighs in a baking dish, skin side up. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs, ensuring they are well coated.
    seasoning raw chicken thighs and placing them in the baking dish.
  • Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the skin is crispy and golden brown.
    baked honey garlic chicken thighs with fresh herbs on top.
  • Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
    baked honey garlic chicken thighs.

Notes

TO STORE: Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. 
TO FREEZE: Let the chicken cool, store it in a freezer bag, and freeze for 3 months. Let it thaw in the fridge before reheating. 
TO REHEAT: Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 400F for 10-12 minutes, or microwave for 45 seconds or until warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 11gProtein: 19gFat: 21gSodium: 662mgPotassium: 278mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 120IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 22mgIron: 1mgNET CARBS: 11g
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Arman Liew
Tried this recipe?Give us a shout at @thebigmansworld or tag #thebigmansworld!

More sheet pan dinners

Originally published August 2023, updated and republished December 2024

Arman Liew

I’m a two time cookbook author, photographer, and writer, and passionate about creating easy and healthier recipes. I believe you don’t need to be experienced in the kitchen to make good food using simple ingredients that most importantly, taste delicious.

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    You say you can reheat the thighs in the air fryer, but can you cook then in the airfryer rather than the oven.?

  2. 5 stars
    This looks delish! But, in your description you say to use skin on, bone in thighs. In your ingredients it says, boneless, skinless?

  3. Hi! This looks delicious, but I am confused. If it is boneless skinless thighs, which side is “skin side up” when I cook them- the side that would have had skin?