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Easy 20-Minute Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

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A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring juicy chicken thighs coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4–6 thighs)
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup (113g) honey
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) low-sodium soy sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon (2g) cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) water (for cornstarch slurry)
  • Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
  • Chopped green onions for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Trim excess fat and season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and rice vinegar. If using cornstarch, mix with water in a separate bowl to make a slurry and set aside.
  3. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  4. Place chicken thighs in the hot pan in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until golden brown, then flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour the honey garlic sauce into the same pan, scraping up browned bits. Let simmer for about 2 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy. If using cornstarch slurry, stir it in and cook for 30 seconds more.
  6. Return chicken to the pan, turning to coat evenly in the glaze. Simmer together for 1 minute.
  7. Transfer to a serving platter, spoon extra sauce over the top, and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, don’t crowd the pan when searing chicken. Garlic burns easily, so add it in the sauce rather than sautéing separately. Adjust sweetness by varying honey amount. For extra sauce, make 1.5 times the sauce recipe. Leftovers keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and freeze well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, quick dinner, weeknight meal, easy chicken recipe, sticky chicken, 20-minute meal

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