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Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe Perfect for Easy Big-Batch Meal Prep

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A cozy, easy-to-make honey garlic chicken thighs recipe ideal for big-batch meal prep, featuring a sweet-savory glaze and crispy skin.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • ½ cup honey (120 ml)
  • ¼ cup soy sauce (60 ml), low-sodium preferred
  • 4–5 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (30 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil (15 ml)
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup water (60 ml)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (8 g), mixed with 1 tablespoon water (15 ml)
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional, for garnish)
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and minced garlic. Set aside.
  2. Pat dry the chicken thighs with paper towels and season both sides lightly with ground black pepper.
  3. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
  4. Place chicken thighs skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 7-9 minutes until skin is golden and crispy.
  5. Flip the chicken thighs and cook the other side for 5 minutes until mostly cooked through.
  6. Pour the honey garlic sauce evenly over the chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, cover with a lid or foil, and simmer for 8-10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  7. Mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Remove lid, slowly pour slurry into the pan, and stir gently until sauce thickens and becomes glossy, about 1-2 minutes.
  8. Sprinkle sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds over the chicken. Turn off heat and let rest for 3 minutes before serving.

Notes

Dry chicken skin thoroughly before cooking to ensure crispiness. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. Add cornstarch slurry slowly to avoid over-thickening the sauce. Garlic should be added to the sauce mixture, not cooked alone in the pan, to prevent burning. Let chicken rest after cooking to keep it juicy. For a spicy variation, add red chili flakes or sriracha to the sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, chicken thighs, meal prep, easy dinner, big batch, sticky glaze, comfort food

Find it online: https://freshforkful.com/honey-garlic-chicken-thighs-recipe-perfect-for-easy-big-batch-meal-prep/