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Easy One-Pan Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs: Best Weeknight Dinner

one-pan honey garlic chicken thighs - featured image
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Sticky, glossy, garlicky chicken thighs cooked in one pan with minimal cleanup. This 30-minute recipe uses pantry-friendly ingredients and is incredibly forgiving, making it the perfect weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
  • ⅓ cup honey (runny, mild honey like clover or light wildflower)
  • ¼ cup soy sauce (or tamari/coconut aminos for gluten-free)
  • 6–8 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional garnish: fresh parsley or green onions, sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
  2. Heat a large skillet (12-inch recommended) over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Wait until the oil is shimmering but not smoking.
  3. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet in a single layer without crowding. Cook undisturbed for 6-7 minutes until the skin is deep golden brown and releases easily from the pan.
  4. Flip the chicken thighs using tongs. Cook for another 4-5 minutes on the second side until golden brown all over.
  5. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside on a plate. Leave the rendered fat in the pan.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium and add the butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and stir constantly for about 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
  7. Pour in the honey, soy sauce, and chicken broth. Whisk together, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  8. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it bubble for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly and coats the back of a spoon.
  9. Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, skin-side up. Spoon some sauce over each piece. Simmer for 5-7 minutes, spooning sauce over the chicken occasionally, until the sauce reduces to a sticky glaze and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F).
  10. Remove from heat and let the chicken rest in the pan for 2-3 minutes.
  11. Garnish with fresh parsley or green onions and sesame seeds if desired. Serve immediately with rice, roasted vegetables, or a simple salad.

Notes

Don’t walk away during the sauce reduction step as honey-based sauces can burn quickly. For best results, use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. If using boneless thighs, reduce searing time to 4 minutes per side and simmering time to 3-4 minutes. The dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, one-pan chicken, weeknight dinner, chicken thighs, easy dinner, 30-minute meal, sticky chicken

Find it online: https://milaspoon.com/easy-one-pan-honey-garlic-chicken-thighs-best-weeknight-dinner/