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Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs

With sesame oil, honey, and plenty of fresh garlic, this recipe for Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs is unbelievably flavorful! If you like sweet, sticky chicken with crispy skin, this one’s for you!

overhead shot of a baking dish with six honey garlic baked chicken thighs garnished with sesame seeds.

A Sweet and Savory Bone-In Chicken Recipe

Baked chicken is easy to make, but the results aren’t always very different. Or interesting. Until now, that is! This easy recipe for honey garlic baked chicken thighs has it all! Crispy skin, meltingly tender chicken, and a finger-lickin’ sauce that’ll have everyone lining up for seconds.

To top it off, this one is super easy to make, and perfect for those busy weeknights. So if you love sticky chicken, and you’re looking for a new spin on it, try this one!

I highly recommend serving some fragrant jasmine rice, or whatever kind of rice you like, to accent this saucy dish. In fact, you might want to make a double batch because, it’s that good. Leftovers have never looked so appealing.

overhead shot of a baking dish with six honey garlic baked chicken thighs.

What You’ll Need

To make this savory dish, you need bone-in chicken thighs and a few simple sauce ingredients. Although it’s so bold and flavorful, it’s not complicated! No fancy items or cooking techniques needed.

  • Chicken Thighs: Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs guarantee a robust, mouthwatering dish.
  • Flour: For dredging. You can substitute with cornstarch for a gluten free version.
  • Oregano, Salt, and Pepper: To season the dredging mixture.
  • Honey: Maple syrup will also work.
  • Soy Sauce: I like low-sodium, but regular is fine, too. For a gluten free recipe, you can substitute tamari or coconut aminos.
  • Garlic: Mince or press the garlic.
  • Parsley: Fresh chopped parsley is my favorite, but dried is fine, too.
  • Sesame Seed Oil: This scrumptious condiment adds a sweet, nutty flavor to the sauce.
  • Rice Vinegar: White vinegar or apple cider vinegar will work too, but the flavor of rice vinegar is really refreshing.
  • Hot Sauce: To taste.
  • Toasted Sesame Seeds: For garnish.
raw chicken thigh set on a black plate filled with flour, and a fork set right next to the chicken thigh.

How to Make Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs

Okay, let’s get into the nitty gritty. Just what do you have to do in order to make this recipe? Here’s the scoop. (Pro tip: the flour-dredging technique here is totally simple, and really delivers in terms of texture and sauciness. Don’t skip it!)

  1. Prep the Oven and Baking Dish. To get started, first preheat your oven to 400˚F. Next, lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray or oil, and set it aside.
  2. Dredge the Chicken in Seasoned Flour. To make the seasoned flour, mix the flour, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a shallow dish. Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels, and then coat each chicken thigh in the flour mixture. Place the coated thighs in the baking dish as you go.
  3. Make the Sauce. Next, whisk the sauce ingredients (honey, soy sauce, garlic, parsley, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, and hot sauce) in a small mixing bowl.
  4. Bake. Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs, and turn them to coat evenly. Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is done. (Chicken thighs are cooked through when internal temperature registers at 165˚F, but you can cook them a few minutes longer if you like them extra tender. Don’t overcook, or the chicken will be dry.)
  5. Enjoy! Transfer the chicken to a serving platter, and let it rest for about 5 minutes before garnishing and serving. 
overhead shot of a white baking dish with six raw bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs arranged inside of the baking dish.

What Temperature Should Baked Chicken Thighs Be Cooked At?

Some recipes call for different cooking temperatures, and the truth is, you can do what works best for you. For example, this chicken could be baked at 350˚F instead of 400˚F if needed. It would just take longer to cook. Cooking at a higher temperature may give a slightly crispier skin, and it definitely cooks the chicken faster, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

overhead shot of a baking dish with six honey garlic baked chicken thighs.

Tips for Success

Keep reading for my top tips on making this simple dinner recipe. Honey garlic baked chicken thighs are sure to become a family favorite!

  • Chicken Options: You don’t have to stick with chicken thighs for this recipe, if you would rather use another cut. Drumsticks are also fantastic, leg quarters work perfectly, and even chicken breasts or tenders will work – although you have to watch those carefully to make sure they don’t dry out. Boneless chicken will take much less time than bone-in, so adjust accordingly 👈 SUPER important! Just use an Instant Read Meat Thermometer, please. 😊
  • Control the Heat: There’s a small amount of hot sauce in this dish, but even so, it’s fairly mild. However, if you want a dish without any heat, feel free to leave out the hot sauce entirely. Need more kick? Try shaking in some crushed red pepper or even replacing the hot sauce with sriracha, to taste.
  • Instant Read Thermometer: Using an instant read thermometer (there it is again!) is hands-down the easiest way to tell when your chicken is done! Insert the thermometer into the thickest portion of the thigh, not touching the bone. It should register 165˚F when cooked through.

Side Dishes for Chicken

This dish is perfect with rice, or you could serve it with cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. I also like to add a veggie side or two, like one of these:

  • Summer Squash: Steamed, sauteed, or roasted, you can’t go wrong with colorful yellow squash and tender zucchini. For a grill-friendly option, Grilled Summer Squash Kebabs are a favorite!
  • Green Beans: Fresh green beans are paired with butter and plenty of garlic in this easy side. Sauteed Garlic Butter Green Beans go with just about anything, and come together in a snap.
  • Snap Peas: The natural sweetness of snap peas (not to mention their crisp crunch!) is just right alongside honey garlic chicken. Try these Roasted Sugar Snap Peas with red onion – you’ll love ‘em!
overhead shot of a baking dish with six honey garlic baked chicken thighs garnished with sesame seeds.

Storing and Reheating Baked Chicken Thighs

  • To store, place the cooled leftover chicken in airtight food storage containers, or zip-top bags. Refrigerate for 3 to 4 days.
  • To reheat, just place the chicken in an ovenproof dish covered with foil. Bake at 350°F until heated through. When the chicken is just about ready, take the foil off of the baking dish so that the skin can crisp up for the last ten minutes or so of cooking. 

Can I Freeze This?

  • Definitely! Honey garlic baked chicken thighs are great for freezing. I like to take the meat off the bones, so that it freezes and thaws faster, but that’s up to you.
  • Either way, place the chicken in freezer bags, and press out as much air as possible before sealing.
  • Freeze for up to three months, and thaw in the fridge before reheating.
overhead shot of a baking dish with six honey garlic baked chicken thighs garnished with sesame seeds.
Print Recipe
4.50 from 10 votes

Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs

With sesame oil, honey, and plenty of fresh garlic, this recipe for Honey Garlic Baked Chicken Thighs is unbelievably flavorful! If you like sweet, sticky chicken with crispy skin, this one’s for you!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken thighs in oven, oven baked chicken, sticky chicken
Servings: 4
Calories: 677kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400˚F.
  • Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
  • Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels.
  • In a shallow plate combine the flour, oregano, salt, and pepper; mix to combine.
  • Coat each chicken thigh in the flour mixture, then transfer to the baking dish in one single layer. Set aside.
  • In a small mixing bowl whisk together the honey, soy sauce, garlic, parsley, sesame seed oil, rice vinegar, and hot sauce.
  • Pour over the chicken thighs and coat them evenly with the honey garlic sauce. Flip them over to coat on both sides.
  • Bake, uncovered, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until done. Chicken is cooked through when internal temperature registers at 165˚F.
  • Remove from oven; transfer to a serving plate and let stand for 5 to 8 minutes.
  • Garnish with sesame seeds and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 212mg | Sodium: 1627mg | Potassium: 649mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 208IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 3mg

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24 Comments

  • Beth
    May 24, 2022 at 4:28 pm

    5 stars
    These look so good! I love the honey and garlic flavor combined with the super tender, juicy thighs. Yum!

    Reply
  • Erik
    May 24, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    5 stars
    The sauce it phenomenal. So much flavor!

    Reply
  • Krystle
    May 24, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    5 stars
    This sauce is lick your plate clean good. A new favorite!

    Reply
  • Amanda
    May 24, 2022 at 8:11 pm

    5 stars
    Flavor combination is the best you will ever have with chicken, hands down!

    Reply
  • Erin
    May 25, 2022 at 4:21 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good and amazing! Quickly became a favorite dinner at my house! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply
  • Catalina
    May 26, 2022 at 7:09 am

    5 stars
    These chicken thighs look so crispy and inviting! My family will love it!

    Reply
  • Allyson Zea
    May 26, 2022 at 2:11 pm

    This sauce was everything!!!

    Reply
  • Kate Coutermarsh
    Sep 25, 2022 at 2:50 pm

    Can it be made with chicken breast? Would I have to do something different?

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Sep 26, 2022 at 7:01 am

      Hi!
      Chicken breasts do not need to cook for as long as bone-in chicken thighs. I would suggest to start checking for doneness around the 23 to 25-minute mark.

      Reply
  • Emily
    Oct 6, 2022 at 9:44 pm

    These were delicious but my pan is totally ruined because the sauce burnt. I’m new-ish at cooking so it could’ve been user error. From what I’ve heard, it’s recommended to put “sugary” sauces over the chicken towards the end of baking. I’m not sure, but I thought it was worth mentioning!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina
      Oct 7, 2022 at 7:32 am

      Oh no, I’m so sorry about your pan. 🙁 I use a ceramic baking dish for these types of recipes and haven’t really had a problem with burnt pans. But, it does happen to all cooks, beginners or not. 🙃
      If I can suggest to add 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup white vinegar to the pan and allow to boil. Use more water & vinegar if you have a large pot or pan. As the liquid boils/simmers, use a spatula or scraper to gently deglaze the bottom of the pan, loosening the bits of burnt food. I hope this helps.

      Reply
  • Ginger
    Oct 21, 2022 at 1:25 am

    The sauce was really good but the chicken was soggy and the skin never got crispy. I’d make it again if it weren’t for that. And my pan was ruined too.

    Reply
  • Laura
    Nov 28, 2022 at 4:04 am

    3 stars
    I used skinless chicken thighs. Tasted great, may cut the oregano next time. Family loved it, one wanted chicken breasts, one wanted boneless thighs next time, but overall positive reaction. I used a ceramic baking dish, sauce was burned-ish when it came out of the oven, but cleaned up fine! Most likely will make again! Imho, I like the honey garlic sauce on wings a little better I think!

    Reply
    • Katerina
      Katerina Petrovska
      Nov 29, 2022 at 12:51 pm

      That’s great! I’m very glad you and your family enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂

      Reply
  • Sarah
    Dec 20, 2022 at 7:48 pm

    5 stars
    Omitted the Oregano, made with bone in/skin on thighs and the sauce was perfect. For those with burnt sauce in the pan issues, I used a Pampered Chef ceramic baking dish with parchment. No issues at all!

    Reply
  • Sue T
    Feb 19, 2023 at 2:14 pm

    5 stars
    I am just making this right now and it smells amazing! I id not have sesame oil I gave it a 5 star because I know I am gonna love it!
    Thank you for this recipe!

    Reply
  • Elizabeth
    Mar 9, 2023 at 10:20 am

    2 stars
    Sauce was burned and chicken was not crispy. Would not make again.

    Reply

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