Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs
Succulent chicken thighs coated in a sweet-savory honey garlic glaze, ready in 25 minutes with minimal cleanup. This american-inspired chicken ready in about 25 minutes pairs (bone-in, skin-on) chicken thighs, sesame oil, (minced) garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 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
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 3 cloves (minced) garlic
- 1 tsp (grated) fresh ginger
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 (sliced, for garnish) green onions
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels; season both sides with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; add chicken skin-side down and cook for 8-10 minutes until skin is golden brown and crispy.
- Step 3: Flip chicken and cook for 5 minutes; transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Step 4: In the same skillet, add minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 5: Whisk together 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp cornstarch, and 2 tbsp water; pour into skillet and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon (about 2 minutes).
- Step 6: Return chicken to skillet, spooning sauce over top, and cook for 3-4 minutes until chicken is cooked through and sauce is glossy.
- Step 7: Garnish with sliced green onions and serve.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (10 min prep + 15 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep sesame oil from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Honey-Garlic Glazed Chicken Thighs?
American chicken like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Really good but took about 10 minutes longer than stated.
- ★★★☆☆
Not bad. Would need significant modifications to make it a regular.