Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe for Weeknight Dinners

Spread the love

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a great mix of sweet and savory that will make you want more. This meal has soft, juicy chicken thighs with a thick honey-garlic sauce that turns into a gorgeous caramel color as it cooks. The end result is a great meal that works well for weeknight dinners or special events. The flavors mix together to generate a dish that tastes rich but is really easy to cook.

This recipe comes together very quickly, so if you like chicken with a lot of flavor, you’ll love it. Not only do Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs taste great, but they can be used in a lot of different ways. You may eat them with rice, roasted veggies, or in wraps for a filling meal. This one dish will wow both family and guests, and the greatest part? It’s easy for even new cooks to learn how to do it.

Let’s go into the details of why you’ll enjoy this recipe, how long it takes to make, and everything else you need to know to make your own Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

There are so many reasons to love Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs. This dish has something for everyone, from exciting taste combinations to how easy it is to make. This recipe is so good that you can’t resist it:

Great Flavor: The honey lends a nice sweetness, while the garlic offers a savory taste that goes nicely with the chicken.
Easy and Fast to Make: This recipe is great for a hectic schedule because it doesn’t take long to prepare or cook.
Many Ways to Serve: You can eat it by itself, over rice, in wraps, or as part of a bigger meal spread. The options are unlimited.
Good for families: This recipe will please both youngsters and adults, making family meals fun.
Healthy Ingredients: Chicken thighs are not only flavorful but also a good source of protein. This recipe is healthy when you include natural honey and garlic.
Satisfying Texture: The chicken is really soft, and the glaze makes a beautiful caramelized crust that makes each bite taste better.

With these points in mind, it’s simple to understand why Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a must-have for weeknights.

Time to get ready and cook

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are quick and easy to make, so they’re perfect for hectic nights. Here is a list of the time you’ll need:

Time to get ready: 15 minutes
Time to cook: 30 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

This makes it possible to cook a tasty meal even after a long day.

Food

Size of serving: 6
Calories: 250 kcal
10g of fat
22g of protein

Ingredients

6 chicken thighs with bones and skin on them
½ cup honey
5 cloves of garlic, minced
¼ cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons of rice vinegar
1 teaspoon of ground ginger
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Optional: chopped green onions for garnish
Optional: sesame seeds for garnish

Instructions in Steps

You would assume that making Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is hard, but it’s not. Just do these simple things:

Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) to warm it up.
Make the marinade: In a bowl, whisk together the honey, minced garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and crushed ginger until everything is thoroughly mixed.
Season the chicken: Use paper towels to dry the chicken thighs. Add salt and pepper on both sides.
Marinate the chicken: Put the chicken thighs in a shallow dish or a bag that can be sealed. Make sure that all the pieces of chicken are well coated by pouring the marinade over them. Let it sit for at least 15 minutes (or up to 2 hours for extra flavor).

Sear the chicken: Put a big skillet that can go in the oven on medium-high heat. Put the chicken thighs in the pan with the skin side down and cook them for 5 to 7 minutes, or until they are golden brown.
Flip and Bake: Turn the pieces of chicken over and add the rest of the marinade to the skillet. Put the skillet in the oven that has already been heated.
Cook through: Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
Baste with Sauce: Halfway through cooking, use the sauce to baste the chicken to make it taste better.
Let it rest: Take the chicken out of the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. This lets the liquids spread out so that the meat is as soft as possible.
Garnish: If you want to add some taste and make it look nice, put chopped green onions and sesame seeds on top.

Follow these steps to make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs that are full of flavor and sure to impress!

How to Present

When you serve Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, how they look is important! Here are some ideas:

Serve on a Bed of Rice: The honey-garlic sauce goes great with steamed white or brown rice, which soaks up all the great flavors.
Serve with veggies: This recipe goes great with roasted or steamed veggies like broccoli, green beans, or carrots.
Make wraps: Shred the chicken and use it to fill wraps or tacos. For a delicious supper, add fresh vegetables and a little additional sauce.
Add some flair with a garnish: Chopped green onions or sesame seeds can make your dish look better. Fresh herbs can also make things brighter.
Drink Pairing: A light white wine or sparkling water with a lime wedge would be a nice addition to the meal.

If you remember these serving tips, you’ll not only enjoy the taste of Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, but you’ll also impress your visitors with how you serve the food. Have fun preparing and enjoy your meal!

More Advice

Use Fresh Garlic: Freshly minced garlic tastes better than garlic that has been minced and put in jars.
Let the chicken thighs marinate for longer: If you have the time, letting the chicken thighs marinate for longer will make the flavor better and make each bite taste better.
Change the Honey to Taste: You can change the amount of honey in the marinade to make it sweeter or less sweet, depending on what you like.
Use a Meat Thermometer: To make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through, use a meat thermometer to check that it reaches 165°F (75°C).
Add sides: To make a whole meal, serve your Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs with fluffy rice, steaming vegetables, or a fresh salad.
Freezing and Storing: After cooking, let the Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs cool all the way down before putting them away. You can keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 3–4 days if you put them in an airtight container.
Freezing: To freeze, put the cooled chicken thighs in a container that can go in the freezer or wrap them securely in plastic wrap and then foil. You can keep them in the freezer for three months. Thaw it out in the fridge overnight, then cook it up again and enjoy the taste!

Change to the Recipe

You can change these Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs any way you want:

Spicy Kick: Add sriracha or red pepper flakes to the marinade to make it spicy and bring out the sweetness.
Citrus Flavor: Add lime or orange juice to the marinade for a tangy taste that makes the food taste better.
Add herbs: For a fragrant experience, add fresh herbs like thyme, rosemary, or cilantro to the marinade.
Pineapple Glaze: Add crushed pineapple to the sauce to give it a tropical taste that goes well with garlic and honey.
Grilled Version: Instead of baking the chicken thighs, marinade them and then grill them for a smokey flavor.

Tools Needed

You don’t need a lot of fancy tools to make your Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs. This is a collection of tools that can help things go more smoothly:

A big skillet or cast-iron pan that can go in the oven
Measuring cups and spoons
A bowl for mixing the marinade
Tongs to turn the chicken over
A meat thermometer to check if it’s done

Questions that come up a lot

Can I use breasts instead of thighs?
Yes, you may use chicken breasts instead. But remember that thighs are more forgiving and will stay juicy even if they are a little overdone.
What may I use instead of rice vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can be used in place of rice vinegar because they have the same level of acidity.
How do I reheat leftovers?
Put the chicken back in a skillet over medium heat and add a splash of water or stock to keep it moist.
Is it okay to double the recipe?
Yes, for sure! Just make sure you have a bigger skillet or use two pans to cook the food evenly.
What do you serve with Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs?
To balance the flavors, think of serving it with steamed broccoli, fried rice, or a crunchy coleslaw.

In conclusion

In short, anyone can cook Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, which are both easy and impressive. This recipe is sure to become a family favorite because it has a nice sweet and salty taste. These chicken thighs are a quick and tasty way to make dinner on a weeknight or for a big event. You will realize how much fun cooking can be if you try them.