Description
Succulent honey mustard baked chicken thighs offer a mouthwatering blend of sweet and tangy flavors. Home cooks can easily prepare this simple yet delicious dish with minimal ingredients and straightforward techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 chicken thighs (bone-in, skin-on)
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 g) salt
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) black pepper
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) paprika
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) onion powder
- 1 lemon zest
- Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, or parsley)
Instructions
- Create a vibrant marinade by whisking together soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and chili flakes in a small bowl.
- Submerge chicken thighs in the marinade, ensuring complete coverage, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 8 hours.
- Heat oven to 400F (200C), preparing a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Extract chicken from marinade, thoroughly pat dry with paper towels to enhance skin crispiness.
- Position chicken thighs on prepared baking sheet, drizzling generously with olive oil and massaging across the surface.
- Combine garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
- Sprinkle seasoning blend uniformly over chicken, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Optionally, scatter fresh herbs and lemon zest across the chicken for enhanced aromatic complexity.
- Transfer baking sheet to preheated oven, roasting for 35-45 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165F and skin transforms into a golden, crispy exterior.
- Remove from oven, allowing chicken to rest for 5 minutes, which helps redistribute internal juices.
- Plate and serve alongside complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Marinate overnight for deeper flavor penetration, ensuring tender and juicy chicken with enhanced taste profiles.
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for maximum moisture and richer taste compared to boneless varieties.
- Pat chicken completely dry before seasoning to achieve extra crispy skin and better caramelization during baking.
- Customize seasoning blend by experimenting with different spice combinations like smoked paprika, dried herbs, or cayenne for varied flavor experiences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg