Whiskey-Glazed Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Onions

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-26 · Updated 2026-06-26

Juicy chicken thighs glazed with a rich whiskey sauce and topped with sweet caramelized onions, perfect for an indulgent dinner. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 45 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 bone-in chicken thighs
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whiskey
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tbsp butter

The pan we’d use for this → Best Nonstick Cookware for 2026: Top 5 Pans + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Pat 6 bone-in chicken thighs dry and season with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper evenly on both sides.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken thighs skin side down and sear for 5-6 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside.
3. Step 3: In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 1 large thinly sliced yellow onion with 1 tbsp brown sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until onions are deeply caramelized and soft.
4. Step 4: Add 3 minced garlic cloves to the onions and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Carefully pour in 1/2 cup whiskey and 1/2 cup chicken broth, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze and loosen browned bits. Let the sauce simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly reduced.
6. Step 6: Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin side up, and spoon some sauce over them. Cover and cook for an additional 10 minutes on low heat until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
7. Step 7: Stir in 1 tbsp butter into the sauce for richness and spoon the glaze over the chicken before serving.