Honey-and-Soy-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Honey-and-Soy-Glazed Chicken Thighs
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(5,882)
Notes
Read community notes

In this simple weeknight recipe, chicken thighs are tossed with a sweet-salty glaze made of honey and soy sauce that caramelizes into a sticky coating as it roasts in the oven. Serve the sliced chicken with bibb lettuce cups for wrapping, or over steamed rice to catch all the juices. Leftovers can be chopped and combined with vegetables for a tasty clean-out-the-fridge fried rice. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 2tablespoons canola oil
  • 1tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1tablespoon minced ginger
  • 6tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce (see tip)
  • 5tablespoons mild honey, such as clover, acacia or orange blossom
  • 3tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 8small bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 pounds)
  • Lemon wedges, for serving
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

691 calories; 55 grams fat; 17 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 23 grams monounsaturated fat; 11 grams polyunsaturated fat; 5 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 42 grams protein; 962 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 425 degrees. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Add the soy sauce and honey and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. (You'll want to cook attentively for this step, as the syrupy mixture can burn if it cooks too long.) Turn off the heat then whisk in the butter. Season with salt and pepper.

  2. Step 2

    On an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet, season the chicken all over with salt and pepper. Add half the glaze and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and toss the chicken to coat. Arrange in an even layer, skin side up, and roast until browned, 15 minutes. Brush the chicken all over with 2 tablespoons of the remaining glaze. Roast until golden and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Drizzle the chicken with the remaining glaze and serve with lemon wedges.

Tips
  • The sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight; just rewarm it in the microwave or stovetop before using.
  • If gluten is a concern, substitute the soy sauce with low-sodium tamari.

Ratings

4 out of 5
5,882 user ratings
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Cooking Notes

This reminds me of an old 60 Minute Gourmet recipe from at least 30 years ago, and I’ve been making it since the 1980s. Marinate the chicken thighs in a sealed bag with the honey, soy, sesame oil, sherry, and grated fresh ginger for at least an hour. Bake at 350 for about an hour. I use a Pyrex dish, which cleans up nicely if you soak it right away. It’s great with chili-flavored rice.

There is no situation on the planet where chicken thighs cook in 25 mins. Took 45 mins for chicken to finally cook through and the heat was so high the sauce burned. Omit the oil and add OJ or pineapple juice and red Chile flakes. Cook chicken at 350 for 45 mins, basting 3-4 times.

I've made this and added a piece of orange peel when simmering the glaze. At 425 degrees the glaze will burn. I roast it at 400 degrees.

Used thin, skinless, boneless thighs. I halved the oil and butter and used 3 T of honey. Per another cook’s suggestion added crushed red pepper flakes. Cooked in 425 oven for 40 minutes. It was absolutely delicious- succulent and the glaze baked to a slightly sticky mahogany color. My family raved, so it’s a keeper.

This was spectacular. I cooked it, then got high and hungry, and it felt like the best chicken I've ever eaten. The next day I wasn't high anymore but the chicken was still absolutely incredible and unmatched.

Made this popular Hawaiian recipe starting in the late 70’s. We called it Rightous Chicken. Mixed equal parts soy sauce & honey with fresh ginger & garlic - no oil, no cooking. Added sauce to chicken and baked 325 oven for 45-60min. Basting 2-3 times and finished off under the broiler for 2-3 min. Easy & Delicious

Try using parchment paper instead of foil -- easy peasy!

This was a wow. Made half recipe ( but all the garlic and ginger) and had plenty of glaze. Does not have to be too thick to work well. Only alteration was 350* for 45 minutes because we like chicken that is cooked well done. Basted it 2x. No burning of meat though yes pan with foil was a stick mess. Fall off the bone tender.

Be aware that these recipes are based upon the thighs one buys at high end Manhattan butchers (the same place you find 3,5 pound whole chickens - ha!), not at the supermarket chains (where 95% of us shop) that have fattened thighs from commercial chickens (you know, the ones where whole chickens are never less than 5 pounds).

At the end of the day, we should follow the insta-read thermometers and not fuss about cooking times. I use them as a guideline - cut them in half and start measuring temp incrementally. The honey glaze drippings do burn on the bottom of the pan. Not sure that one needs to crank the temp to 425F to cook thighs. Try 350F and just a wait a bit longer. Can also run the finished thighs briefly under the broiler to crisp up the skin & glaze.

(4 servings) 763 calories; 55 grams fat; 16 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 23 grams monounsaturated fat; 10 grams polyunsaturated fat; 25 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 21 grams sugars; 41 grams protein; 256 milligrams cholesterol; 962 milligrams sodium

Used boneless skinless chicken thighs. When making the glaze I turned it up to boil a couple times to make sure it reduced and it turned out fantastic. And broiled for one min thirty seconds as the end. Served w broccoli and rice and it was so good!!! So tender and juicy!! Loved by the whole family

Marinated with chicken wings overnight, adding red pepper flakes, substituted sesame oil for canola, and baked as prescribed. Turned out fab!!

Any reason why the chicken can’t be marinated in the sauce overnight?

I used boneless, skinless thighs and they were cooked perfectly (granted I did not watch the clock too closely). I would use boneless thighs again but would double the sauce or not reduce as much as I didn’t have any left to use at the table.

Delicious taste but even with foil, my sheet pan was ruined.

So so delicious. Just doubled garlic and ginger.

The sauce will thicken as it cools down. I served it with rice and it was delicious

Don't forget the pineapple!

There is no reality in which bone-in chicken thighs are going to be fully cooked in 25 minutes. Also, that temperature will definitely burn the sauce and garlic to a bitter crisp.

Made for my husband (I don't eat meat). He could not get enough of it. Loved it. I added 2 more TB of Garlic and 1 more TB of Ginger. Put all ingredients, melted butter first, in a ziplock and tossed. Didn't precook garlic and ginger. Left in fridge for a couple of hours. Did 350 as others have recommended and roasted then air fried to give it nice extra crispiness. Will make again!! Thank you for easy and quick recipe.

Thank you to whoever said put all the ingredients in a bag and let chicken marinate for a few hours. I did then put it on the grill (instead of oven) for about 20-25 minutes at 350 . Definitely a new and super easy favorite!!

Made the marinade - deleted garlic (allergic), doubled ginger and added a few flakes of pul biber - and added chicken . . . then dinner plans changed so I froze it. A week later I retrieved it, thawed and continued as written, served with rice and vegetables in a light oyster sauce. The long marination worked wonders: husband declared it 'best chicken ever' and instantly demanded it go into the rotation. Result!

My oven must run very hot. 400 degrees pretty much burned the ginger and garlic. Next time will try 375.

It was OK. The flavor does not permeate past the skin. A marinade approach would have possibly rendered them far more flavorful.

I made this as written and it was delicious. The chicken thighs, small and large, cooked through in about 25 minutes; I checked with a thermometer. Next time I would make more sauce to pour over rice since what remains on the sheet pan is too caramelized for my taste.

There are many recipes similar to this but this was one of the best I've used. I agree it takes longer than 25 minutes-approximately 45 minutes (depending on the size of the thighs) works out perfectly. Delicious and a hit with the family.

Am I the only one who uses the "private" button to store the hints that you commenters make? After I read the comments and cook if I have deviated from the original recipe this is where I store my changes.

Very tasty! It took 15 minutes to get the glaze to reduce to where it would coat the chicken and the chicken took closer to 30 minutes to finish in the oven. Just a tip for realistic cook time.

Took the marinade route, as recommended by Diane, and since I was dealing with skinless/boneless thighs, I spread them out on oiled aluminum foil, sprayed them with a little oil, and broiled them, flipping once - it went quickly and my picky husband gave them 7/10. Not bad!

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