Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs
Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs are an easy and flavorful dish featuring juicy, tender chicken thighs coated in a tangy and sweet honey mustard glaze. Perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner, this recipe delivers a crisp skin and rich, balanced flavors with minimal effort, making it ideal for any season and versatile enough to suit many dietary preferences.
- Author: Mary
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 45-50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Chicken
- 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs
Honey Mustard Glaze
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Prepare the Marinade: In a bowl, whisk together honey, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to create a luscious glaze for the chicken.
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken thighs in a shallow dish or resealable plastic bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring each piece is well coated. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours to infuse flavors.
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) so it’s ready when the chicken has marinated, which crisps the skin while cooking thoroughly.
- Bake the Chicken: Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side up on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper. Spoon remaining marinade over the chicken, then bake for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden brown.
- Broil for Extra Crispiness (Optional): For extra crispy skin, place the chicken under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, watching closely to avoid burning.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute, ensuring tender meat before serving.
Notes
- Use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs for best juiciness and crispy skin.
- Marinating, even for 30 minutes, greatly enhances flavor and tenderness.
- Pat chicken skin dry with paper towels before baking to maximize crispiness.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
- Reserve some marinade before adding chicken if using as a finishing sauce (do not reuse marinade that touched raw chicken).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Honey Mustard Chicken, Chicken Thighs, Easy Dinner, Juicy Chicken, Gluten Free, Baked Chicken