Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice
Crispy, sweet-savory chicken thighs served over nutty sesame rice for a perfectly balanced weeknight dinner. This asian-inspired chicken ready in about 35 minutes pairs bone-in chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 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 lb bone-in chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 cup rice
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 3 stalks green onions
- 1 tsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat 1 lb chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp sesame oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Add chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 8 minutes until golden brown and skin is crispy. Flip and cook for 5 more minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Step 3: Remove chicken and set aside. In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp minced garlic and 1 tbsp grated ginger, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce and 2 tbsp honey, simmering for 2 minutes until slightly thickened. Pour sauce over chicken thighs and transfer skillet to a preheated 400°F oven for 5 minutes to glaze.
- Step 5: While chicken cooks, cook 1 cup rice according to package instructions. Finely chop 3 green onions and mix with 1 tsp sesame seeds. Serve chicken over rice, drizzling with pan sauce and topping with green onion-sesame mixture.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice take to make?
Total time is about 35 minutes (10 min prep + 25 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-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice?
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 bone-in chicken thighs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Honey-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice?
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-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice 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-Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs with Sesame Rice?
Asian 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
- ★★★★★
Swapped butter for olive oil to keep it lighter. Still delicious.
- ★★★★★
Best recipe I've made this month.
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
