Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are an easy weeknight meal that everyone will love. The honey and garlic combine in the perfect sauce, which goes perfectly over the chicken and rice.
Our family absolutely loves the flavors of stir fry recipes. Not only that, but they tend to come together on the stove-top so quickly. (Pssst . . . my very favorite is my Pork Stir Fry.)
That being said, we have a picky child in our house who does not love them. But! This child absolutely loves meat dishes. So let me introduce you to the perfect solution that will wow even your pickiest of eaters, Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs.
This delicious dish has all the magical flavors of a stir fry, but in the form of a delicious chicken thigh that you serve over rice. Add a little steamed or roasted broccoli to the dish for a full-rounded dinner everyone will love.
I made this last night with Singapore Noodles, it was so easy and tasted fantastic, thank you so much for the recipe and clear and easy instructions. May well become a weekly recipe in our house.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Here is a brief overview of how these garlic honey chicken thighs come together. For the full recipe, including all ingredient amounts and step-by-step directions, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Make the Honey Garlic Sauce
Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and minced garlic to make the sauce.
Season and Cook the Chicken Thighs
Cook the olive oil until it is shimmering. Place the chicken thighs skin side down into the skillet. Cook for 10 minutes.
Sear the Chicken
Flip the chicken thighs and cook for three more minutes. Searing the chicken thighs in a skillet first creates a crispy outer skin. Remove the chicken from the pan.
Add the Sauce to the Pan
With the heat on medium, pour the prepared sauce into the pan, scraping up any browned bits and whisking it in so it combines with the remaining oil in the pan.
Finish Cooking the Chicken
Return the chicken to the pan, skin side down, and cook for five minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for five more minutes or until the chicken registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tips and Tricks
- Using boneless chicken thighs: Most chicken thighs that are boneless are also skinless chicken thighs. If you use those you will want to skip the searing, and instead cook these in their sauce in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes.
- Use chicken breasts: If you decide to go with chicken breasts, follow the instructions just above for cooking it in the oven, but cut the chicken into cutlets so that it cooks faster. Read this post: How to Make Chicken Cutlets.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover chicken thighs with any remaining honey garlic sauce for chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat until heated through. Never reheat leftovers more than once. Always use your best discretion with leftovers.
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken
As you can see, we had this recipe on a bed of rice, which is perfect for soaking up the great flavors in the sauce of this recipe. You could also serve it with noodles. Great side dishes for honey garlic chicken are:
- Oven Roasted Asparagus: They are so simple to make and are a great veggie side dish for this chicken recipe. Air Fryer Green Beans would be another delicious option.
- Asian Cucumber Salad: This would vibe so well with this chicken dish.
- Egg Drop Soup: This is another great side that would complement these chicken thighs well.
If you make this honey garlic chicken recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 4 pounds bone-in chicken thighs with skin, about 6 thighs
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- diced scallions (optional)
- sesame seeds (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk together the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and minced garlic to make the sauce.2/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper.4 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, salt and pepper
- Place a large heavy bottomed skillet over medium heat. Cook the olive oil until it is shimmering. Place the chicken thighs skin side down into the skillet. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Flip the chicken thighs and cook for 3 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan.
- With the heat on medium, pour the prepared sauce into the pan scraping up any browned bits and whisking it in so it combines with the remaining oil in the pan.
- Return the chicken to the pan, skin side down and cook for 5 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook for five more minutes or until the chicken registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit with an instant read thermometer.
- Top with scallions and sesame seeds if you wish, serve over rice, and enjoy!sesame seeds, diced scallions
did you make this
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Heather says
Can I make this with chicken breasts ? and would I need to use ones with bone in and skin? I am not a fan of dark meat and didn’t know if I would need to adjust the temp or time if I used boneless breasts? I wanted to say I love your site and it always puts a smile on my face to read what is happening with your beautiful family.
Thanks for always making such great recipes and sharing them with all of us :)
First, thank you Heather. This comment made my day. Second, yes! You can make this with chicken breasts, you will just need to play with it a little and adjust the cooking time.
Misrii - Homemade Food says
This is so unique and delicious recipe We love your blog.
Thanks
xoxo
Misrii
Irene Burstyk says
I like your receipes and have tried them often Thank you.
Thank you so much, Irene!
Judy says
I love this recipe, easy, quick, delicious and a beautiful presentation.
Chris Palmer says
Thank you Lisa,
I made this last night with Singapore Noodles, it was so easy and tasted fantastic, thank you so much for the recipe and clear and easy instructions.
May well become a weekly recipe in our house.
I only gave 4 out of 5 stars because i have yet to ever give a 5 for anything.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Terri says
Thank you for sharing this recipe. I love Asian recipes. I plan on making this and the pork stir fry. They both sound absolutely delicious.
I hope you love both!
Wdna says
Yes what is the nutritional information for this chicken please .
There is a little down arrow at the bottom of the recipe card. When you click that the nutritional information will expand.