Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs with Cucumber Salad

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-02 · Updated 2026-04-02

Succulent chicken thighs coated in a sticky-sweet honey-garlic glaze, served with a refreshing cucumber salad for a balanced meal. This american-inspired chicken (gluten-free) ready in about 30 minutes pairs bone-in, skin-on Chicken thighs, Honey, Soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1.5 lbs, bone-in, skin-on Chicken thighs
• 3 tbsp Honey
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 1 tsp Garlic powder
• 1 tbsp Rice vinegar
• 1 tsp Sesame oil
• 1 tbsp Cornstarch
• 1 large, peeled and diced into 1/4-inch cubes Cucumber
• 1/4 cup, thinly sliced Red onion
• 1 tbsp, chopped Fresh dill
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 1.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs dry and season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp sesame oil, and 1 tbsp cornstarch until smooth.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden brown and crispy, then flip and cook for 2 more minutes.
3. Step 3: Pour the honey-garlic sauce over the chicken, reduce heat to medium, and cook, turning occasionally, for 10-12 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened and caramelized, about 10-12 minutes.
4. Step 4: While chicken cooks, combine 1 large peeled and diced cucumber, 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill in a small bowl. Toss with a pinch of salt and let sit for 5 minutes to marinate.