Sweet, tangy, savory, this Honey Garlic Chicken is a delicious dinner that really has it all. Crispy chicken thighs are marinated in a blend of spices, baked to perfection, and glazed with a homemade honey garlic sauce. Pair with some simple white rice and dinner is served!
Honey Garlic Chicken
Honey garlic chicken thighs will melt in your mouth with how juicy they are. The crispy skin on the outside seals everything in so you get the most amazing bite every time. These chicken thighs are made better because they’re marinated in savory spices like Cajun, garlic, and onion while the homemade honey glaze is sticky, sweet, and a touch tangy. The blend of sweet and savory can’t be beat in a dish like this. I know some people shy away from chicken thighs but I’m telling you, you have to give them a shot! Plus they’re a great budget friendly option over traditional chicken breasts. I love to serve these over some white rice and maybe pair with a simple stir fry veggie medley. And if you want to spice things up, add some red pepper flakes or chili crisp to the glaze to add another level of flavor to dinner!
Looking for more to make with chicken thighs? Try these easy Air Fryer Chicken Thighs or these Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken full of Mediterranean flavors!
Do I have to marinate the chicken?
While you could just coat the chicken in the oil and seasoning blend and bake right away, I highly recommend marinating for at least 30 minutes if you can’t do the hour. Marinating meat really locks in flavors and seals in moisture so whether it’s chicken or steak, the meat comes out tender, juicy, and flavorful. It may seem like a time consuming step but I promise it’s worth it!
How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken
- Mix. In a small bowl, mix together the Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, chicken seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Season. Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to remove extra moisture. Rub them with oil, then coat in the seasoning blend.
- Marinate. Cover the chicken and let it marinate in the fridge for about an hour.
- Preheat. Once marinated, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the chicken thighs skin side up on a baking sheet.
- Bake. Bake for 20-25 minutes before flipping the chicken over and baking for another 10 minutes.
- Saute. While the chicken bakes you can make the honey garlic glaze. In a small saucepan, melt the butter and saute the garlic over medium heat for about 30 seconds.
- Stir. Stir in the honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Simmer for 5-20 minutes, until the sauce thickens into a glaze.
- Glaze. Remove the chicken thighs from the oven and flip back over so they are skin side up. Brush a generous amount of glaze over the chicken and return to the oven.
- Bake. Bake for another 10-15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.
- Broil. An optional step you can do to get the skin a little crispier, broil for about 2-3 minutes. Keep a close eye while broiling so the chicken doesn’t burn. It can happen very quickly.
- Serve. Serve over some white rice with an extra drizzle of glaze over top. Garnish with some freshly sliced green onions and a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Storing Honey Garlic Chicken
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Ingredients Notes for Honey Garlic Chicken
For the chicken:
- Chicken Thighs – Bone in and skin on.You can use chicken breasts if you feel the need but you won’t get that same crispy outside, juicy inside texture and flavor that you get with the chicken thighs.
- Olive Oil – This will help the dry seasonings stick to the chicken and help all the flavors sink in as they marinate.
- Seasonings – Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, chicken seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your liking.
- Optional Garnishes – Green onions and sesame seeds.
For the honey garlic glaze:
- Butter – I used unsalted since the chicken marinade has a decent amount of salt.
- Garlic – Feel free to add more or less.
- Honey – Any brand you like! I love to find local honey when I can.
- Soy Sauce – Once again, I used low sodium so I could control the salt content but use what you have.
- Lemon Juice – Fresh if possible for a brighter flavor.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp Lemon pepper
- 1 tsp Chicken seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Honey Garlic Glaze:
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted butter
- 4 Cloves Garlic minced
- 1/3 Cup Honey
- 2 Tbsp Low sodium soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp Lemon juice
Instructions
- Pat the chicken thighs dry, then rub with oil, Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper seasoning, chicken seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and marinate in the fridge for about an hour.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the chicken thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet or dish.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, then turn the chicken and bake for another 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat and sauté the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Stir in the honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice, let it come to a simmer and continue simmering for 5-10 minutes or until thickened into a glaze.
- Flip the chicken so it’s skin side up, brush the glaze over the skin side of the chicken, then return to the oven for 10-15 more minutes or until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Optional: broil in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until it’s to your liking.
- Serve hot with rice with extra glaze spooned over and garnished with freshly sliced green onions and sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
This honey garlic chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
