Description
Whipping up Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs takes mere minutes with ingredients already stashed in your kitchen. Crispy, juicy chicken gets slathered in a tangy-sweet glaze that makes dinner feel like a quick culinary win.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Supporting Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Sauce and Finishing Ingredients:
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 clove garlic
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh parsley
- Sesame seeds
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Dry 8 chicken thighs thoroughly with paper towels. Coat each thigh with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, and optional ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper. Season with salt and pepper.
- Let the seasoned chicken marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
- Whisk together ½ cup Dijon mustard, ¼ cup honey, 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1 minced garlic clove. Add dried parsley, dill, optional red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat at 375F. Place chicken thighs in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
- Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Your goal is a beautiful caramelized exterior.
- Pour entire honey mustard mixture over seared chicken. Reduce heat to low at 250F.
- Cover skillet and simmer chicken for 15-20 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165F.
- During final 5 minutes, uncover and baste chicken with sauce multiple times.
- Remove from heat and let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes to retain moisture.
- Sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley, sesame seeds, and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
- Pat the chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfect sear and crispy exterior.
- Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes to allow the spices to penetrate deeply and enhance the overall flavor profile.
- Use a cast iron skillet for the best browning and heat distribution, which creates a delicious caramelized surface on the chicken thighs.
- For a lower-carb version, replace honey with a sugar-free alternative like monk fruit sweetener and reduce the sauce’s overall sweetness.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 23-29 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg