These Chicken Thighs with Honey are sweet, savory, and packed with flavor thanks to a simple three-ingredient sauce of honey, soy sauce, and garlic. Simmered in broth for a tender, juicy finish, the chicken thighs soak up all the goodness while developing a slightly sticky glaze that’s perfect for spooning over rice or veggies. Whether you're using a skillet or saucepan, this is an easy, one-pan dinner that's ready in under 30 minutes.
These tender chicken thighs and sweet sauce is a dish the whole family will love. Whether you are looking for a busy weeknight dinner, easy meal prepping, or wanting to try something new, this honey glazed chicken thigh recipe feels a little special without a lot of fuss.
Jump to:
- Why You Will Love This Chicken Thighs with Honey Recipe
- Ingredients
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Chicken Thighs with Honey
- More Recipes You Will Love
- How to Store Chicken Thighs with Honey
- What to Serve with Chicken Thighs with Honey
- Top Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Thighs with Honey
- More Recipes You Will Love
- Chicken Thighs with Honey Recipe
These chicken thighs pair well with many sides. We love serving them with our Sautéed Green Beans with Shallots, Roasted Butternut Squash and Garlic Soup, Idahoan Mashed Potatoes, Baked White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, or our Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese Velveeta.
Why You Will Love This Chicken Thighs with Honey Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This recipe is so quick and easy; it makes the perfect staple to your meal in a pinch.
- One-Pan: Everything cooks in the same skillet or pan—less cleanup, more flavor.
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses common ingredients that you might already have at home.
- Balanced Flavors: The sweetness of honey paired with the soy sauce makes the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
- Great for Meal Prep: Makes a delicious leftover option for lunches or dinners.
- Versatile: Dress it up with rice and greens or keep it casual with a simple salad.
Ingredients
Take note of each ingredient listed in the recipe as we provide helpful tips on how to maximize their potential for the most delicious outcome.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
- Honey: I always try to buy local honey, but whatever you have access to works great!
- Soy Sauce: Since there isn’t any added salt to this recipe, I typically use a standard soy sauce. But if you are watching your sodium, choose a low sodium soy sauce.
- Fresh Garlic Cloves: Freshly chopped garlic adds so much flavor.
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Using these versus bone-in chicken thighs makes the recipe much quicker. If you want to use a bone-in thigh, just be sure to cook it for additional time. Make sure the internal temperature is 165F with any chicken thigh variation you choose.
- Vegetable or Chicken Broth: We used low sodium to be able to control the salt, but you can use your preferential broth.
For this great recipe, you'll want to have on hand a large enamelled cast iron skillet, tongs, small bowl and whisk. Also, with any meat dish you should use an instant-read thermometer, we love this Thermapen by ThermoWorks.
Substitutions and Variations
Love this recipe but want to make it your own? Here are some helpful ideas to change up your chicken thigh recipes.
- Gluten Free: Make sure that the bottle is clearly marked Certified Gluten Free or use Tamari to make this dish gluten free.
- Chicken Swap: Any kind of chicken thighs will work great. Also, you can use boneless skinless chicken breast; I recommend pounding them thin for best flavor and a quicker cook time.
- Maple Syrup: You can use this instead of honey for a deeper flavor but note it will not get as thick unless you cook it down more.
- Vegetarian: Consider using firm tofu in place of the chicken.
- Spice it Up: Use a hot honey, add red pepper flakes or hot sauce while cooking to give it a little heat. Alternatively, add some fresh black pepper.
- Thicker Glaze: Remove 1-1 ½ cups of chicken broth during the simmering stage for a sticky honey garlic sauce.
- Garlic Swap: Instead of fresh garlic you can use the jarred version or garlic powder.
- Garnish Options: Freshly chopped herbs or sesame seeds.
How to Make Chicken Thighs with Honey
With just a few simple steps, you will love how quick and easy it is to make these chicken thighs with honey.
In a small bowl whisk your sauce ingredients and set aside.
In a large skillet heat chicken broth on medium heat. Once the chicken broth starts to bubble, place chicken in (skin side down if using skin-on thighs) and cook for about 5 minutes per side.
Drizzle all but ¼ cup of the honey sauce and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness (note: for a sticky glaze remove about 1 ½ cups broth and drizzle additional honey if desired).
Serve with your favorite sides, and garnish with green onions or fresh parsley. Use the reserved sauce to glaze over top of chicken, for dipping, or to drizzle on any sides.
Hint: Once the sauce is added, reduce heat to keep a rolling boil, too high and you can burn the honey.
More Recipes You Will Love
How to Store Chicken Thighs with Honey
We all have leftovers sometimes, so here are some ways to store and reheat this dish.
- Refrigerator: Once cooled, place in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
- Freezer: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil to prevent freezer burn and they can last up to 3 months.
- Reheating: Microwave with a little bit of water in a bowl or dish in 2-minute increments.
- Make Ahead: Make your sauce up to 3 days in advance and store in the fridge in an airtight container.
What to Serve with Chicken Thighs with Honey
- Rice: Any leftover sauce can be drizzled over a simple white rice or brown rice to add extra flavor, a garlic rice or served alongside a mushroom risotto.
- Mashed Potatoes: Our Idahoan mashed potatoes make the perfect side for any chicken dinner.
- Green Vegetables: The chicken has such a great flavor that a simple steamed veg works well with this dish. Our sautéed green beans with shallots or maple Brussels sprouts are both great options.
- Glazed Carrots: Our glazed carrots are a perfect pairing for many chicken recipes.
- Mac and Cheese: We love how the honey flavor complements our baked white cheddar mac and cheese recipe!
- Cornbread: Try our moist and subtly crumbly cornbread recipe.
- Soup: The subtle sweetness of the honey goes well with so many soup varieties! We love pairing it with our Instant Pot pumpkin soup or our butternut squash soup.
Top Tips
These tricks make all the difference—don’t skip them!
- Don’t Overcrowd: Work in batches if needed for even cooking and place any extra chicken back in at the end to heat back up.
- Slice Before Serving: Right before serving, remove and slice the thighs and toss them back in the pan. Sliced chicken thighs soak up sauce even better.
- Finish with Fresh Herbs: Parsley or green onion brighten and balance the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions About Chicken Thighs with Honey
No. If you do not have boneless, skinless chicken thighs or if you just do not prefer them, this recipe still tastes just as delicious with chicken breasts (check out our substitutions above for our recommendation).
Chicken thighs go great with most sides you would pair with chicken dishes. Some popular options are rice, mashed or baked potato, roasted vegetables like broccoli, glazed baby carrots, corn on the cob, or asparagus.
More Recipes You Will Love
Check out some more of our recipes you will want to try!
Ready to get cooking? Save time by having a grocery list automatically generate for you by clicking the "Add to Shopping List" below.
Chicken Thighs with Honey Recipe
Equipment
- Large Skillet with Deep Sides
- Tongs
- Small Bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
Sauce:
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce any type
- 2 cloves garlic minced
Chicken:
- 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs approx. 2 pounds
- 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth low sodium
Garnishes:
- chopped green onions
- freshly chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a small bowl whisk your sauce ingredients and set aside.
- In a large skillet heat chicken broth on medium heat. Once the chicken broth starts to bubble, place chicken in (skin side down if using skin-on thighs) and cook for about 5 minutes per side.
- Drizzle all but ¼ cup of the honey sauce and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes or until sauce reaches desired thickness (note: for a sticky glaze remove about 1 ½ cups broth and drizzle additional honey if desired).
- Serve with your favorite sides, and garnish with green onions or fresh parsley. Use the reserved sauce to glaze over top of chicken, for dipping, or to drizzle on any sides.
Notes
- Once the sauce is added, reduce heat to keep a rolling boil, too high and you can burn the honey.
- Work in batches if needed for even cooking and place any extra chicken back in at the end to heat back up.
- Right before serving, remove and slice the thighs and toss them back in the pan. Sliced chicken thighs soak up sauce even better.
- Freshly chopped parsley or green onion brighten and balance the dish.
Nutrition
We would be so grateful for you to leave us a rating and review on any recipes you try. If you make any alterations, let us know how they turned out.
Eva Filer says
My family loves this recipe, and it is so quick to make. Quick and easy meal any time of year.
Sophie says
Tried it out turned out amazing. Will be making again!
Eva Filer says
We are so glad you liked this recipe, Sophie!
Sherry says
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Perfectly Sweet and Savory!"
This honey-glazed chicken thigh recipe is an absolute winner! The combination of tender, juicy chicken thighs with the perfect balance of sweet honey and savory seasonings makes every bite irresistible. The honey caramelizes beautifully, creating a deliciously sticky glaze that coats the chicken in rich, golden goodness.
I loved how easy it was to prepare—just a few simple ingredients, and the result was restaurant-quality! The skin was crispy on the outside while the meat stayed incredibly moist and flavorful. I paired it with roasted veggies and garlic mashed potatoes, and it was a hit with my whole family.
If you're looking for a dish that's both comforting and impressive, this is it! Definitely adding this to my regular dinner rotation.
Eva Filer says
Wow, you are so kind to share such a thoughtful review, thank you Sherry! We are so happy you loved so much about the recipe. Happy cooking.
Abi says
Amazing Recipe!
Eva Filer says
Thanks so much for the kind words Abi! Glad you liked it.