Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Smoky Chipotle Honey Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Juicy chicken thighs pan-seared to golden perfection, then finished with a sticky, smoky chipotle and honey glaze that balances heat and sweetness. This Latin American-inspired Halloween recipe (gluten free), 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 370 calories and feeds 3, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 3 Latin American cuisine 370 cal/serving

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Ingredients

6 pieces, skin on bone-in chicken thighs
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp chipotle chili powder
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lime juice
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tbsp chopped, for garnish fresh cilantro

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat 6 bone-in chicken thighs dry and season both sides evenly with 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and 1 tsp chipotle chili powder.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook for 7-8 minutes until the skin is deep golden brown and crisp.
Step 3: Flip the chicken and reduce heat to medium. Cook another 8-10 minutes until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
Step 4: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lime juice, and 2 minced garlic cloves.
Step 5: Pour the honey glaze over the chicken in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes, spooning the glaze over the thighs until sticky and caramelized.
Step 6: Remove from heat and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro before serving.