Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are an easy weeknight meal that everyone will love. The honey and garlic combine in the perfect sauce, that goes perfectly over the chicken and rice.
Our family absolutely loves the flavors of stir fry recipes. Not only that, but they tend to come together on the stove-top so quickly. (Pssst . . . my very favorite is my Pork Stir Fry.)
That being said we have a . . . picky child in our house who does not love them. But! This child absolutely loves meat dishes. So let me introduce you to the perfect solution that will wow even your pickiest of eaters, Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs.
This delicious dish has all the magical flavors of a stir fry, but in the form of a delicious chicken thigh that you serve over rice. Add a little steamed or roasted broccoli to the dish for a full rounded dinner everyone will love.
I made this last night with Singapore Noodles, it was so easy and tasted fantastic, thank you so much for the recipe and clear and easy instructions. May well become a weekly recipe in our house.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Here is a brief overview of how these garlic honey chicken thighs come together. For the full recipe including all measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Season the chicken thighs. While butter melts in the skillet, season both sides of the chicken thighs with salt and pepper.
- Sear the chicken. Add the chicken thighs to the pan and cook for about four minutes. Flip and cook for another four minutes on the other side.
- Make the sauce. Mix together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic. Once the chicken is done searing, pour the sauce over the chicken.
- Finish cooking the chicken. Put the entire pan in the hot oven for about 20 minutes or until the chicken thighs register 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Allow the sauce to thicken. Remove the pan from the oven and remove the chicken from the pan. Place the pan with the sauce over medium heat and cook, whisking, for the sauce to thicken.
- Serve. Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over the chicken again. Serve over cooked rice and top with scallions and sesame seeds if desired.
Bone-in or Boneless Chicken Thighs
This recipe can be made with boneless or bone-in chicken thighs. You can use two pounds of bone-in chicken thighs or one pound of boneless chicken thighs. If you want to double the recipe, also double the sauce.
Please keep in mind that most boneless chicken thighs come without skin on them. Because of that, you will want to skip the first steps of searing the chicken and add a little bit of time to the oven portion of the recipe.
Honey Garlic Sauce
The sauce in this recipe is really amazing and brings the whole recipe together! It is truly worth it to take that extra minute to thicken up the sauce at the end. The chicken is cooked in the sauce and topped with it for the flavor to fully infuse in the most delicious way. And, it only has four simple ingredients!
- Honey: Makes the sauce sticky and sweet.
- Garlic: Adds the perfect flavor profile.
- Soy sauce: To make this gluten-free, be sure to use a gluten-free soy sauce.
- Rice vinegar: Adds a unique flavor profile.
Cooking Temperature For Chicken
Searing the chicken thighs in a skillet first creates a crispy outer skin. It finishes cooking in the oven which keeps the inside moist and juicy.
All chicken is considered fully cooked for food safety purposes at 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time on the recipe card will get you close, but the best way to know exactly when your chicken is done and prevent it from drying out is to use an instant-read thermometer.
Instant Read Thermometer
FAQ
Yes! They will take longer to cook as they are bigger and thicker than chicken thighs. Be sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you use gluten-free soy sauce, this recipe would be gluten-free. Always double-check your ingredients to make sure they don’t contain gluten.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until heated through. Never reheat leftovers more than once. Always use your best discretion with leftovers.
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken
As you can see, we had this recipe on a bed of rice which is perfect for soaking up the great flavors in the sauce of this recipe. You could also serve it with noodles. Great side dishes for honey garlic chicken are:
- Oven Roasted Asparagus: They are so simple to make and are a great veggie side dish for this chicken recipe.
- Roasted baby potatoes: Another great simple side with flavors that work great with this dish!
- Broccoli rice casserole: Skip serving this on a bed of rice and make it with this casserole instead!
If you make this honey garlic chicken recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Baked Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (42.38 grams)
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs with skin (907.185 grams)
- salt and pepper
- 2/3 cup honey (157.73 ml)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (59.15 ml)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 6 cloves minced garlic
- diced scallions (optional)
- sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In an oven-proof skillet, melt the butter. While the butter is melting, season the chicken thighs lightly with salt and pepper.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, salt and pepper
- Place the chicken skin side down in the butter. Cook for 4 minutes or until the chicken easily releases from the pan. Cook for an additional 4 minutes on the other side.
- While the chicken is searing, mix together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and garlic to create the sauce. Once the chicken is done searing (4 minutes on each side), pour the sauce over the chicken and put the entire pan in the hot oven for about 20 minutes or until the chicken thighs register 165 degrees Fahrenheit.2/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 6 cloves minced garlic
- Optional: Spoon the sauce over the chicken and put the pan back in the oven under the broiler for 3 minutes or until the chicken reaches the desired crispiness, watching closely.
- Remove the pan from the oven and remove the chicken from the pan. Place the pan with the sauce over medium heat and cook, whisking, for 7 to 10 minutes or until the sauce thickens. Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over the chicken again.
- Top with scallions and sesame seeds if you wish, serve over rice, and enjoy!
did you make this
Baked Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Heather says
Can I make this with chicken breasts ? and would I need to use ones with bone in and skin? I am not a fan of dark meat and didn’t know if I would need to adjust the temp or time if I used boneless breasts? I wanted to say I love your site and it always puts a smile on my face to read what is happening with your beautiful family.
Thanks for always making such great recipes and sharing them with all of us :)
First, thank you Heather. This comment made my day. Second, yes! You can make this with chicken breasts, you will just need to play with it a little and adjust the cooking time.
Misrii - Homemade Food says
This is so unique and delicious recipe We love your blog.
Thanks
xoxo
Misrii
Irene Burstyk says
I like your receipes and have tried them often Thank you.
Thank you so much, Irene!
Judy says
I love this recipe, easy, quick, delicious and a beautiful presentation.
Chris Palmer says
Thank you Lisa,
I made this last night with Singapore Noodles, it was so easy and tasted fantastic, thank you so much for the recipe and clear and easy instructions.
May well become a weekly recipe in our house.
I only gave 4 out of 5 stars because i have yet to ever give a 5 for anything.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Terri says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I love Asian recipes. I plan on making this and the pork stir fry. They both sound absolutely delicious.
I hope you love both!