Golden, sticky, and bubbling with savory aromas. This Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh recipe is a lifesaver when James and the kids want something sweet and savory for dinner. It is a wonderfully Honey Chicken Recipe Easy option that comes together in one pan. You need this quick meal in your weekly rotation.
Why You'll Love This
This Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh delivers a beautiful balance of savory soy and sweet sticky glaze. The primary benefit is how the cornstarch coating creates a gorgeous crust that clings to the Honey Glazed Chicken sauce beautifully. You will appreciate that it cooks entirely in one skillet, keeping your evening cleanup to an absolute minimum. Ethan loves tasting everything before it's finished, and he always asks for extra sauce to drizzle over his rice.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This
- Everything Required
- How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh (Step-by-Step)
- Kitchen Wisdom
- Customization Options
- Storage & Reheating Instructions
- What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
- Common Questions About Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
- Explore More Goodness
- Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
- Pairing
- More DINNER
Everything Required
Making this Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh requires just a few simple pantry staples and boneless poultry. Gathering these components guarantees a vibrant Hot Honey Garlic Chicken flavor profile without any complicated prep.
The full Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh instructions are right in the card below.
Main Ingredients
- Chicken thighs: Boneless and skinless cuts remain juicy during high-heat searing.
- Cornflour: Dusting the meat creates a delicate crust that absorbs the glaze.
- Honey: Melts down to form the sweet, sticky base of the sauce.
- Light soy sauce: Provides the essential salty, savory contrast.
- Rice vinegar: Adds a mild acidity that cuts through the rich sugar.
- Chicken stock: Thins the sauce slightly so it can simmer and reduce properly.
- Minced garlic & Butter: Sautéed together to build a robust aromatic foundation.
Optional Extras
You can sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over the finished dish for a subtle nutty crunch. Adding a dash of sriracha to the liquid mixture transforms this into a Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken variation with a lingering heat.
How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh (Step-by-Step)
This simple skillet method ensures a crispy exterior and a rich, glossy sauce for your weeknight dinner.
Coat Chicken Toss the chicken thighs in a bowl with cornflour, salt, and pepper until fully coated. This dry layer protects the meat from the hot oil, resulting in a matte, powdery surface ready for searing.
Sear Meat Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat and cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides. This intense heat develops a savory crust, leaving crispy edges along the exterior of the meat.
How do I know when the chicken is ready to flip? The meat will release easily from the pan when a proper sear has formed, showing a deep golden color.
Sauté Aromatics Melt the butter in the pan, lower the heat to medium, and stir in the minced garlic. Lowering the temperature prevents the garlic from burning, yielding a fragrant, pale golden aromatic base.
Build Sauce Whisk the honey, stock, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a bowl, then pour it into the skillet to boil. This deglazes the pan and combines the flavors, creating a bubbling, dark liquid.
Simmer and Glaze Simmer the sauce for five minutes until it thickens and the chicken cooks through completely. The cornflour from the crust thickens the liquid, leaving a sticky, glossy glaze clinging to every piece.
Garnish Sprinkle the chopped parsley and chilli flakes over the glazed meat before removing it from the heat. This final touch adds a pop of color and mild heat, presenting a vibrant dish ready for rice.
Kitchen Wisdom
Achieving the ideal texture for your Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh comes down to careful heat control.
Simmer until thick → creates a Healthy Honey Garlic Chicken style glaze → look for a sticky sauce coating the spoon.
Dry the meat → prevents the coating from turning mushy → look for a light, even cornflour crust.
Don't crowd the pan → ensures the chicken sears instead of steaming → look for deep brown, crispy edges.
Lower heat for garlic → prevents bitter, burnt flavors → look for soft, fragrant cloves.
Follow Aliana on Pinterest →Customization Options
You can easily adapt this dish if you prefer a more hands-off approach. For Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, skip the cornflour, place the meat directly into the pot, and pour the whisked sauce over the top to cook on low for four hours. Swapping the light soy sauce for coconut aminos also makes the sticky glaze completely gluten-free.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Because the sticky glaze thickens when cold, add a splash of water before reheating. Warm the Hot Honey Chicken Thighs gently in a skillet over low heat until the sauce becomes glossy and fluid again.
What to Serve With Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
This Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh begs for a starchy base to soak up the rich, sweet glaze. I always serve it over a bed of warm jasmine rice or Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs Meal style noodles. Steamed broccoli or roasted snap peas also provide a necessary, crisp green contrast to the heavy, savory sauce.
Common Questions About Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
Can I make this in a slow cooker?
Yes, preparing Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is very simple. Just omit the cornstarch step, add all the ingredients to your pot, and cook on low for 4-5 hours until the meat is completely tender.
Can I use chicken breasts instead?
You can use breasts, but they tend to dry out much faster than dark meat in a hot skillet. If using breasts, cut them into even chunks and reduce the simmering time slightly to preserve their moisture.
Why is my sauce too thin?
If the glaze hasn't thickened, it likely needs a few more minutes to reduce over the heat. You can also mix a teaspoon of cornstarch with a splash of cold water and stir it into the boiling sauce to thicken it quickly.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, you can freeze the cooled poultry and sauce in an airtight container for up to three months. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently on the stove so the glaze reconstitutes smoothly.
Explore More Goodness
Dinner is always a success when you have a reliable Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh recipe ready to go. Enjoy these other Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Crockpot favorites.
Made it your way? I'd love to see it! Tag @AlianaRecipes on Pinterest and show off your delicious version.
Honey Garlic Chicken Thigh
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Toss the chicken thighs in a bowl with cornflour, salt, and pepper until fully coated. This dry layer protects the meat from the hot oil, resulting in a matte, powdery surface ready for searing.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat and cook the chicken until golden brown on both sides. This intense heat develops a savory crust, leaving crispy edges along the exterior of the meat.
- Melt the butter in the pan, lower the heat to medium, and stir in the minced garlic. Lowering the temperature prevents the garlic from burning, yielding a fragrant, pale golden aromatic base.
- Whisk the honey, stock, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a bowl, then pour it into the skillet to boil. This deglazes the pan and combines the flavors, creating a bubbling, dark liquid.
- Simmer the sauce for five minutes until it thickens and the chicken cooks through completely. The cornflour from the crust thickens the liquid, leaving a sticky, glossy glaze clinging to every piece.
- Sprinkle the chopped parsley and chilli flakes over the glazed meat before removing it from the heat. This final touch adds a pop of color and mild heat, presenting a vibrant dish ready for rice.
Nutrition
Notes
Pairing
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