Description
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is a deliciously savory and sweet dish featuring crispy skin-on chicken thighs glazed with a sticky honey garlic sauce. This easy skillet recipe delivers tender, juicy chicken with a flavorful, caramelized coating, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 6 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
Sauce
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispier skin during cooking. Set aside.
- Mix the sauce: In a small bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Stir well and set aside for later use.
- Cook the chicken, skin-side down: Heat 1 teaspoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken thighs skin-side down. Cook undisturbed for 5-7 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy.
- Flip and finish cooking: Reduce the heat to medium. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes until the juices run clear or the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove chicken and keep fat: Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate, leaving about 2 tablespoons of the rendered chicken fat in the skillet.
- Sauté the garlic: Add the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 30-60 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Make the glaze: Pour in the prepared sauce mixture. Cook while stirring occasionally until the sauce begins to foam and thickens into a glaze consistency. It will thicken more as it cools.
- Coat the chicken: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet and spoon the thickened sauce over them to coat well.
- Serve: Serve the honey garlic chicken thighs immediately for the best flavor and texture. Enjoy!
Notes
- Patting the chicken dry is key to crispy skin.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic when sautéing; cook just until fragrant.
- The glaze will thicken more once it cools, so remove from heat when it just reaches the desired consistency.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked to 165°F for safety.
- Serve with steamed rice and vegetables for a complete meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
