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Easy Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Juicy chicken thighs cooked in a sweet, savory, garlicky honey sauce. An easy skillet chicken dinner that works perfectly with rice, noodles, potatoes, or vegetables.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch optional
  • 1 tablespoon water optional
  • Sesame seeds optional for serving
  • Sliced green onion optional for serving
  • Red pepper flakes optional

Equipment

  • 1 large skillet
  • 1 small bowl
  • 1 tongs

Method
 

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels.
  2. Season the chicken with black pepper and a little salt if desired.
  3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  4. Add the chicken thighs and sear until golden on both sides.
  5. In a small bowl, stir together honey, soy sauce, garlic, and vinegar or lemon juice.
  6. Pour the sauce into the skillet and reduce the heat to medium.
  7. Simmer until the chicken is cooked through and reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
  8. Spoon the sauce over the chicken as it cooks.
  9. For a thicker sauce, mix cornstarch with water, then stir it into the skillet.
  10. Simmer until the sauce is glossy and slightly thickened.
  11. Top with sesame seeds, sliced green onion, or red pepper flakes if desired.
  12. Serve warm with rice, noodles, potatoes, or vegetables.

Notes

Chicken thighs stay juicy and work best for this recipe. Use low-sodium soy sauce if you want more control over the saltiness. If the sauce gets too thick, add a small splash of water to loosen it.