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Crispy Honey Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs

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Crispy chicken thighs coated in a sticky honey garlic butter glaze with fresh herbs, delivering a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. This easy homemade dinner is quick to prepare and perfect for weeknights.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 pounds / 900 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste (kosher salt preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Let sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  2. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Place chicken thighs skin side down in the hot skillet. Press lightly with tongs for even contact. Cook without moving for 7-8 minutes until skin is deep golden brown and crispy.
  4. Flip the chicken thighs and reduce heat to medium. Cook for another 6-7 minutes until nearly cooked through (about 155°F internal temperature).
  5. Push chicken to one side of the skillet. Add butter and minced garlic to the empty side. Stir garlic in butter for about 1 minute until fragrant but not burnt. Stir in honey.
  6. Spoon the honey garlic butter sauce over the chicken repeatedly for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the chicken. Add fresh thyme leaves and chopped parsley, stirring into the sauce and chicken.
  7. If chicken is not fully cooked (less than 165°F internal temperature), cover the pan with a lid or transfer to a preheated 375°F oven for 5 minutes to finish cooking. Alternatively, cook on stovetop on low heat, spooning sauce over the thighs.
  8. Just before serving, optionally squeeze 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice over the chicken to brighten flavors.

Notes

Pat chicken skin very dry before cooking for extra crispiness. Avoid overcrowding the pan and flipping too often to maintain crispy skin. Add butter and honey late in cooking to prevent burning. Fresh herbs added last preserve bright flavor. For dairy-free, substitute butter with plant-based butter and olive oil with mild oil. Oven finish option: sear then bake at 400°F for 20 minutes, basting halfway through.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken thighs, honey garlic chicken, crispy chicken, butter chicken, easy dinner, weeknight meal, fresh herbs, honey garlic butter sauce

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