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This honey garlic chicken thighs recipe features crisp and juicy baked chicken thighs coated in a sweet, savory, and umami-forward sauce. It’s easy to make and the perfect family-friendly dinner for weeknights!
I love chicken thighs because they’re naturally flavorful and take on the flavors from dry seasonings, marinades, and sauces like a champ! These honey garlic chicken thighs, in particular, feature crispy baked chicken thighs bathed in a luxurious honey garlic sauce. The meat soaks in the sweet and savory flavors, leaving you with a downright delicious meal!
Table of Contents
Why this recipe works
- Easy weeknight dinner. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner in the kitchen or a seasoned pro – this dish is easy to make and on the table in less than 40 minutes. It’s the best choice for weeknight dinners AND special occasions!
- The best sauce! Simply put, the honey garlic sauce is a flavor explosion in your mouth! Like honey garlic salmon, It’s made with a simple combination of garlic, honey, soy sauce, and a few other pantry staples.
- Always a hit. Whether cooking for your family, hosting friends, or just treating yourself to a home-cooked meal, this crowd-pleasing honey garlic chicken recipe will have everyone asking for seconds.
The best part? Despite its decadent and elegant appearance, this honey garlic chicken is easy to make and mostly hands-off. This gives you more time to focus on the side dishes while the oven covers the rest!
Ingredients needed
- Chicken thighs. I recommend using bone-in and skin-on chicken thighs because they stay juicier and more flavorful during baking. The skin also adds an extra crispy crunch to every bite. The recipe works just as well with boneless chicken thighs, but you’ll need to reduce the cooking time.
- Flour. All-purpose flour is used to coat the chicken thighs and give them an extra crispy skin.
- Italian seasoning. For flavor.
- Salt and pepper. To taste.
Honey garlic sauce:
- Garlic. Fresh cloves are best. If all you have is garlic powder, substitute half to 1 teaspoon instead.
- Olive oil. To bind the ingredients and create a thick, cohesive sauce.
- Honey. The sweet honey balances the savory flavors in the sauce. Also, the dry heat of the oven caramelizes its natural sugars, so you get a crispier coating around the chicken.
- Ketchup. To improve the flavor, consistency, and color of the sauce.
- Rice vinegar. This adds a mild acidic element and a hint of tangy, slightly sweet flavor.
- Soy sauce. For a satisfying umami flavor.
Gluten-free substitutions
If you or someone you’re serving has a gluten sensitivity, all you have to do is substitute the all-purpose flour for gluten-free all-purpose flour and the soy sauce for tamari.
How to make honey garlic chicken thighs
Make the honey garlic sauce. Stir the garlic, oil, honey, ketchup, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl.
Season the chicken. Season both sides of the chicken thighs with flour, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Place them in a baking dish, skin side up, and pour the honey garlic sauce over the top until each piece of chicken is fully coated.
Bake. Transfer the chicken to the oven and bake until it’s cooked through and the skin is golden brown and crispy.
Rest, garnish, and serve. Set the baked chicken thighs aside to rest for a few minutes. Finally, garnish them with freshly chopped parsley, and enjoy!
Recipe tips and tricks
- Consider marinating. For maximum flavor, marinate the chicken in the honey garlic sauce for at least 30 minutes or overnight before cooking.
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning. This helps the seasonings stick and ensures that the skin gets nice and crispy.
- Line the baking dish. To prevent the chicken from sticking and to make cleanup a breeze, line your baking pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Broil for an extra crispy skin. If the skin isn’t as crispy as you like after baking, place the thighs under the broiler for 2 to 3 minutes. Just watch them carefully as they can burn quickly!
- Rest after baking. Let the chicken thighs rest on a cutting board for 5 to 10 minutes after baking. This helps the meat become extra tender and juicy.
What to serve with this dish
Serve this delicious dish as the centerpiece paired with any of these sides:
Salads. The chicken’s umami flavor pairs well with Asian-inspired salads, like kani salad and Asian cucumber salad.
Vegetables. You can’t go wrong with a side of sauteed vegetables, roasted vegetables, or steamed greens.
Potatoes. Pair the chicken with sauteed potatoes, baked potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, or roasted potatoes.
Rice and noodles. These thighs are fantastic served over a bed of rice, pasta, or any kind of noodles.
Storage instructions
To store: Store the leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay fresh for up to 4 days.
To freeze: The chicken also freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw the leftovers overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
To reheat: Reheat the chicken thighs in the oven or air fryer at 400ºF (200ºC) for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
Leftover ideas
Did you end up with plenty of leftovers? These honey garlic chicken thighs are even better the next day! Try slicing the leftover thighs and using them in sandwiches, wraps, salads, or on a pizza.
More chicken thigh recipes
Frequently asked questions
Chicken thighs typically take between 35 and 40 minutes to cook though.
The best way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. To do so, insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the thighs as they’re baking. The chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Absolutely! Grilled chicken thighs are just as juicy as baked but also come with a lightly charred crust. To grill honey garlic chicken, brush the grill grates with oil and place the thighs skin side down over medium-high heat. Grill for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through and brushing the honey garlic sauce generously over the chicken during the process.
Absolutely! You can use the honey garlic sauce for any cut of chicken you like, including drumsticks, tenderloins, wings, and even a whole chicken. Just be sure to adjust the baking times accordingly.
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 chicken thighs bone-in and skin-on
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
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.
- Season both sides of the chicken thighs with the 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.
- 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.
- Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
This sauce is wonderful. You have to try it to believe it.
I love to add it to many chicken recipes, Evelyn! 🙂
Oh so delicious, and stays moist.
Does this recipe work without the rice vinegar or is there some sort of substitute for it?
Try any kind of vinegar 🙂
You say you can reheat the thighs in the air fryer, but can you cook then in the airfryer rather than the oven.?
Yes you can- see the FAQ and tips sections.
I’m not seeing Air Fryer instuctions anywhere, except for reheating?
This looks delish! But, in your description you say to use skin on, bone in thighs. In your ingredients it says, boneless, skinless?
Apologies, let me fix it 🙂
Thanks! That explains it 🙂
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?