Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

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Sweet, tangy, sticky honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs. Just a few simple ingredients but so much flavor!

These zesty and peppery honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs are pan-fried to get the skin crispy and then baked in the oven. An easy meal made with just a handful of simple ingredients and ready in about 40 minutes.

Cooking chicken thighs is always a great idea! The meat on the bone is juicy and tender and so flavorful that you don’t even need a lot of other ingredients to make it shine. But add something, and the thighs will be even better.

Today’s recipe combines honey, soy sauce, lemon pepper, and lots of garlic to make the most appetizing, sweet, and citrusy marinade and delicious sauce for your tender chicken thighs. This quick, delicious recipe for a busy weeknight will make your whole family lick their fingers.

For more chicken recipes that are quick and easy to make on a weeknight, check out our Hong Kong Style Sweet and Sour Chicken or the Chicken Cilantro Lime Tacos.

Recipe ingredients

• Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Depending on their size, you will need 1 or 2 per person. The thighs I had weighed about 9 oz (250 g) per piece.
• Oil: Vegetable or olive oil to sear the chicken skin.

• Honey, for the sweetness. Use your favorite brand of honey but ensure it’s clear and runny.
• Fresh lemon juice: About 3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice to balance the sweetness of honey.
• Light soy sauce adds saltiness.
• Lemon pepper seasoning: Store-bought mixture containing black pepper, lemon zest, and salt. It’s actually a pretty standard seasoning mix that should be easy to acquire at your local grocery store.
• Garlic: Quite a lot of grated fresh garlic cloves.

• Equipment: A cast-iron skillet would be perfect as it allows you to sear the thighs on the stovetop and then transfer them directly to the oven.
  • If you don’t have it, use another pan that’s safe to go into the oven. Or sear the honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs in a regular pan, and then place chicken thighs into a baking dish that will hold them snuggly in a single layer without too much space between the portions of meat.

How to make honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs?

• Mix marinade: Combine honey, soy sauce, lemon juice, lemon pepper, and grated garlic in a small bowl (1).
• Marinate the chicken: Dry the chicken portions with a paper towel and place them in a Ziplock bag or a flat container (bowl or plastic container). Add the marinade and turn the chicken into it to coat it. Marinate for at least 30 minutes to 3 hours (2).  

• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Sear: Remove the bone-in thighs from the marinade and shake gently to remove the excess. Don’t discard the marinade. Sear the skin side in a large hot skillet on medium-high heat for about 3 minutes or until golden (3).
• Flip the parts and arrange them in the skillet. Pour the reserved marinade on top (4).

• Bake the honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs for 35-40 minutes or until cooked through.
• Check the sauce after about 25 minutes.
  • If it has reduced too much and threatens to get too dark, add a small splash of water or stock and stir it into the skillet to combine it with the sauce.
  • This might not be necessary; it depends on your oven and the size of your skillet or baking dish; if the oven runs too high or the skillet is too large, the liquid will reduce a bit faster.

Expert Tips

• As mentioned above, check the honey garlic sauce after about 25 minutes and add a splash of water or chicken stock if you think it has reduced too much already.

• Use a skillet or baking dish large enough to fit all the pieces in a single layer without too much space between them. If the pan is too large, the sticky sauce will spread too much and probably start to burn before the chicken is cooked.

• According to USDA, you should never wash chicken. Washing will lead to spreading bacteria in your sink and on your kitchen surfaces. Bacteria will only be destroyed by heat during cooking, so washing is pointless.

• Large batch: If you want to cook more thighs this way, you will probably need a larger baking dish or a baking sheet. Sear the parts in the skillet, then transfer them to a baking tray that’s large enough to hold them all snuggly in a single layer.

Recipe FAQ

What to serve with lemon pepper chicken thighs?

• Sprinkle chicken pieces with parsley and serve them with lemon slices if desired.

• Plain basmati or Jasmine rice, brown rice, or any other rice dish you like. The honey garlic chicken thighs are also great with baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, fries, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts, Baked Sweet Potato Slices, or Spring Onion Potato Salad.
• You can also serve them with rice salad or macaroni salad, Simple Mac and Cheese without Flour, or Mascarpone Pasta.

• Make a green salad or coleslaw on the side, or serve the honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs with steamed or roasted vegetables like green beans, Asian greens, cauliflower or cauliflower rice, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, etc.
• Try our Quick Air Fryer Asparagus, the Beet Apple Salad, Cooked Canned Corn, or Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts.

Check out the short story for this recipe: How to Bake Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

More lemon pepper chicken recipes

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