Get ready to meet your new favorite weeknight dinner. These Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are unbelievably easy to make, packed with a sweet and savory sticky sauce, and come out perfectly juicy every single time. This is one of those recipes the whole family will ask for again and again. It’s quick enough for a busy Tuesday but impressive enough for a Saturday night dinner with friends.
We’re using simple, pantry-staple ingredients to create a mouthwatering glaze that caramelizes beautifully on tender, succulent chicken thighs. Forget takeout—this dish delivers that irresistible flavor you crave, right from your own oven. Let’s get cooking!
Why This Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe is a Winner
In a world of complicated recipes, this one stands out for its simplicity and incredible flavor payoff. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it meal that minimizes both prep time and cleanup.
Effortless Flavor: The 4-ingredient honey garlic sauce is the star, creating a perfect balance of sweet and savory that coats the chicken in a sticky, irresistible glaze.
Perfectly Juicy: Using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs ensures the meat stays incredibly moist and tender while the skin gets delightfully crispy.
Minimal Ingredients: You likely have everything you need in your pantry right now to make this amazing dish.
Weeknight Champion: With just 10 minutes of prep time, this is the ultimate solution for busy evenings. For another quick meal, check out this 20-minute chicken recipe.
The Perfect Ingredients for Honey Garlic Chicken
The magic of this recipe lies in its simplicity. We’re using a handful of powerful ingredients to create a sauce that tastes like it took hours to develop.
Lining up the chicken thighs—the first step to a delicious dinner.
Chicken Thighs: We recommend bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for the best flavor and juiciest results. The bone adds depth, and the skin gets wonderfully crispy.
Honey: This provides the sweetness and helps create that signature sticky glaze as it caramelizes in the oven.
Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is a must for a robust, aromatic flavor. Don’t be shy with it!
Soy Sauce: Use a low-sodium soy sauce to control the saltiness while adding a deep, savory, umami flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar: A splash of vinegar cuts through the richness and balances the sweetness of the honey.
Optional Spices: A pinch of black pepper and ginger can add another layer of warmth and complexity.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs (Step-by-Step)
This simple process guarantees a perfect result every time. Just mix, pour, and bake!
Preheat & Prep: Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the chicken thighs completely dry with paper towels—this is the secret to crispy skin! Arrange them in a single layer in a baking dish.
Mix the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and apple cider vinegar until well combined.
Coat the Chicken: Pour about half of the honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs, making sure to coat them evenly. Reserve the other half of the sauce for later.
Bake to Perfection: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through and the juices should run clear.
Glaze & Broil: Remove the chicken from the oven. Brush the remaining sauce over the tops of the thighs. For an extra crispy, caramelized finish, switch the oven to broil and cook for another 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
Tips for Perfectly Crispy & Juicy Chicken
Want to take your chicken thighs to the next level? Follow these simple tips for restaurant-quality results.
Just a few pantry staples are all you need for this incredible sauce.
Dry the Skin: We can’t stress this enough! Use paper towels to pat the chicken skin until it’s as dry as possible. Moisture is the enemy of crispiness.
Don’t Crowd the Pan: Give the chicken thighs some space in the baking dish. Overcrowding will steam the chicken instead of allowing it to bake, resulting in soggy skin.
Reserve the Sauce: By saving half the sauce to brush on at the end, you create a final, glossy layer of flavor that hasn’t been thinned out by the chicken juices during baking.
Let it Rest: Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes after coming out of the oven. This lets the juices redistribute, ensuring every bite is moist and tender. For other great oven-baked ideas, see these delicious oven-baked chicken thighs.
What to Serve With Your Chicken
These Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are incredibly versatile. You can pair them with almost anything for a complete and satisfying meal.
Steamed Rice: A bed of fluffy white or brown rice is perfect for soaking up that extra honey garlic sauce.
Roasted Vegetables: Broccoli, asparagus, or green beans tossed in a little olive oil and roasted alongside the chicken make for an easy sheet-pan style dinner.
Creamy Mashed Potatoes: A classic comfort pairing that never fails.
A Crisp Salad: This refreshing Asian Cucumber Salad would be a fantastic contrast to the rich chicken.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
This recipe is great for meal prep! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To reheat, place the chicken on a baking sheet and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through, about 10-15 minutes. This method helps to re-crisp the skin. You can also microwave it, but you’ll lose the crispy texture.
Absolutely! For boneless, skinless thighs, reduce the baking time to 20-25 minutes. For chicken breasts, bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Note that you won’t get the crispy skin, but the flavor will still be delicious.
The safest way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the thigh should register 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have one, the juices should run clear when pierced with a fork.
Yes! For an air fryer, cook at 380°F (193°C) for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through. For the stove, pan-sear the chicken thighs for 5-6 minutes per side in an oiled skillet over medium-high heat. In the last few minutes of cooking, add the sauce and let it thicken.
Yes, the sauce can be prepared and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. This makes prep time even faster on a busy night.
If the sauce in the pan seems too thin after baking, you can pour it into a small saucepan and simmer it over medium heat for 3-5 minutes until it reduces and thickens to your desired consistency. Then, you can brush it over the cooked chicken.
More Delicious Recipes To Try
If you loved this simple and flavorful dish, you’re in for a treat. Exploring new recipes is the best part of being a home cook! We know you’ll enjoy creating memorable meals for your family and friends. For more recipe inspiration, be sure to follow us on Pinterest!
You won't believe how easy these sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are to make!
These incredibly easy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are baked to perfection with a sticky, sweet and savory 4-ingredient sauce. The ultimate weeknight dinner for the whole family!
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and place them in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, low-sodium soy sauce, minced garlic, and apple cider vinegar.
Pour half of the honey garlic sauce over the chicken thighs. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Brush the remaining sauce over the chicken. Turn the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the glaze is bubbly and caramelized. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley or green onions if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 410kcalProtein: 28gFat: 22g
Notes
Ensure the chicken thighs are in a single layer in the baking dish to promote even cooking and crispy skin. For a bit of heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Hi, I’m Emily Carter, and welcome to FL Recipes! I share simple, healthy recipes that make cooking easy, fun, and delicious for everyone. more about me »
