Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Five-Spice Honey Glaze

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-06 · Updated 2026-05-06

Tender chicken thighs pan-seared to golden perfection and coated in a fragrant five-spice honey glaze, offering a harmonious balance of sweet and aromatic flavors. This Chinese-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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

• 6 pieces (about 2 lbs) bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp water
• 2 tbsp thinly sliced green onions
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat dry 6 bone-in chicken thighs and season evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder, rubbing the spices into the skin.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 6-7 minutes until the skin is crisp and deep golden brown.
3. Step 3: Flip the chicken thighs and add 3 minced garlic cloves to the pan, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt.
4. Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp honey, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 2 tbsp water. Pour this glaze over the chicken thighs.
5. Step 5: Reduce heat to medium-low and cook the chicken, spooning the glaze over the thighs every 2 minutes for 6-8 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the glaze thickens slightly to coat the chicken.
6. Step 6: Remove the chicken from the skillet, garnish with 2 tbsp thinly sliced green onions and 1 tsp sesame seeds, then serve immediately with steamed rice or vegetables.