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4.83 from 17 votes

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Author: Nicole
Servings: 4
Calories: 351kcal
Sticky, glossy and packed with flavour, these Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a fakeaway favourite that comes together in under 20 minutes. They’re juicy, budget-friendly and made with pantry staples – perfect for a fast weeknight dinner with zero fuss.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes

Ingredients

CHICKEN

  • 6 boneless chicken thighs, skin on or off, can be substituted with chicken breast (see note 1)
  • ½ tsp sea salt flakes
  • ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

HONEY GARLIC SAUCE

  • 3 tbsp tamari or all-purpose soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp freshly minced garlic
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar, or white vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp cornflour (cornstarch)
  • 2 tbsp water

TO SERVE

Instructions

  • Prepare the chicken – Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a large, deep pan over medium–high heat.
  • Cook the chicken – Add the chicken thighs, skin- or smooth-side down, and cook for 4–5 minutes or until the skin is golden and crisp. If using skin-on chicken, press down slightly when cooking skin-down, using your spatula for maximum crispness. Flip and cook for a further 4–5 minutes or until cooked through. Set aside on a plate. Spoon out any excess fat if preferred, leaving at least 2 tablespoons (for extra flavour).
  • Prepare the honey garlic sauce – Combine all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl. Whisk to combine.
  • Combine the chicken and sauce – Reduce the heat to medium. Pour the honey garlic sauce into the pan. Let it bubble and simmer for 2–3 minutes, or until thickened and glossy. Return the chicken to the pan, turning to coat in the sauce. (Sauce too thin or too thick? See note 2.)
  • Serve – Slice the chicken into strips, if desired, and serve over rice with Chinese broccoli or Asian greens on the side. Spoon over any extra sauce and top with spring onion and chilli oil, if desired.

Notes

Note 1 – I love using skin-on boneless chicken thighs here. I buy bone-in thighs and debone them myself – it’s easier than it sounds, and there are great tutorials online. But if you’re short on time, skinless thighs work beautifully and cook even faster. If using chicken breast, cut it in half horizontally to form thin steaks. Chicken breast will take less time to cook – 3–4 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Note 2 – Sauce too thin? It needs to cook for longer. Allow it to simmer over medium–high heat until thickened. Sauce too thick? Add a splash of boiling water from the kettle, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach your desired consistency.

MAKE AHEAD

This is one of those recipes that’s fast enough to cook fresh – but a little prep earlier in the day makes it even smoother. Prepare your vegetables ahead of time – read my 12 tips for fruit and vegetable storage here.

LEFTOVERS

Fridge – Store leftover chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze – Freeze cooked chicken and sauce for up to 2 months. Freeze in portions with rice and veggies for easy lunches.
To thaw – Defrost overnight in the fridge or use your microwave’s defrost setting.
To reheat –
Microwave: Cover and heat in 1-minute bursts until hot.
Stovetop: Reheat gently in a pan over medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs
Amount per Serving
Calories
351
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
13
g
20
%
Saturated Fat
 
3
g
19
%
Trans Fat
 
0.03
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
6
g
Cholesterol
 
161
mg
54
%
Sodium
 
1469
mg
64
%
Potassium
 
485
mg
14
%
Carbohydrates
 
24
g
8
%
Fiber
 
0.3
g
1
%
Sugar
 
22
g
24
%
Protein
 
35
g
70
%
Vitamin A
 
42
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
30
mg
3
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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