Roasted Lemon-Thyme Chicken with Honey Glaze

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

Tender roasted chicken infused with fresh lemon and thyme, finished with a sweet honey glaze that caramelizes to perfection. This Mediterranean-inspired Mother’s Day recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs bone-in chicken thighs, fresh thyme sprigs, lemon zest 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 bone-in chicken thighs
• 4 fresh thyme sprigs
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp honey
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 4 garlic cloves
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

The roasting pan we’d use for this → Best Roasting Pans for 2026: Racks, Handles & Sizes for the Holiday Bird

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 425°F. Pat dry 6 bone-in chicken thighs and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
2. Step 2: In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp lemon zest, 3 tbsp lemon juice, and 4 minced garlic cloves; stir in 4 fresh thyme sprigs stripped of leaves. Rub this mixture evenly over the chicken thighs.
3. Step 3: Place the chicken thighs skin-side up on a roasting pan and roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
4. Step 4: Remove the pan and brush 2 tbsp honey over the chicken pieces, then return to the oven and roast for an additional 10 minutes until the skin is golden and the glaze is caramelized.
5. Step 5: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.