Name: Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided); 8 bone-in chicken thighs; ⅓ cup honey; ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce; 1 tablespoon garlic powder; 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar; 1 tablespoon cornstarch

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There’s nothing better on busy weeknights than knowing you have a simple, yet tasty, meal you can toss together in under an hour. Honey garlic chicken thighs are easy to prepare with only a handful of ingredients and versatile enough to serve with your family’s favorite veggies and sides. With it’s no-fuss preparation and sweet and savory sauce, this chicken dish might soon become your new go-to and your family’s new favorite!

A honey dipper drizzles honey onto a baked sticky chicken thigh.

What is the best way to cook honey garlic chicken thighs?

There’s no one best way to cook chicken thighs. In the summer you may want to try some smoky grilled chicken thighs, but in the cooler months it’s nice to have a recipe you can pop in the oven. Honey garlic chicken thighs are a delicious weeknight option when you’re looking to get dinner on the table quickly.

What is this honey garlic sauce made of?

Sometimes the simplest recipes produce the best tasting dishes, and that’s what happens with this chicken thighs recipe. Before making the honey garlic sauce, make sure you have these pantry staples on hand:

Honey
Apple cider vinegar
Cornstarch
Garlic powder
Low-sodium soy sauce

Close view of finished chicken thighs in a white casserole dish, topped with minced fresh herbs.

Should I use bone-in or boneless thighs?

The cooking time for this recipe is based on bone-in chicken thighs. Bone-in thighs are less expensive, they cook longer, and in my opinion, the bone adds some nice flavor to the dish.

If you prefer to use boneless skinless chicken thighs, you’ll still have a delicious meal, but you’ll have to change the cooking time slightly. Instead of the honey garlic chicken thighs cooking for 25-30 minutes, it’ll be closer to 20-25 minutes of cooking time.

How long does it take to cook honey garlic chicken thighs?

Once your chicken thighs are in the oven, it’ll take 25-30 minutes for them to fully cook. You want them to reach an internal temperature of 165 °F. Altogether, the recipe should take 45 minutes from prep to table.

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Top view of baked bone-in skin-on chicken thighs in a sticky sauce.

I’m short on time—is there a faster way to cook these?

If you’re short on time, you can skip the step where you sear the chicken thighs in butter on the stovetop. This step adds a crispy coating to the chicken that I love—but if you need to shave a few minutes off this recipe, you can skip this step and still have a sweet and savory meal.

What goes well with honey garlic chicken thighs?

The taste of this savory chicken and sweet honey garlic sauce pairs perfectly with almost any side dish you can think of. That’s what makes it one of my go-to chicken recipes! Some of my favorite sides to serve with honey garlic chicken thighs include:

Tight view of skin on chicken thighs in a baking dish with a flavorful sauce.

What should I do with the leftovers?

When you’re done with your chicken thighs, you can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. This honey garlic chicken tastes great shredded and used in wraps, sandwiches, and on top of salads.