Description
This Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken delivers juicy, caramelized chicken thighs with the perfect balance of sweet heat and umami. It’s a bold, flavorful dinner you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
2.5 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
1. In a bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and sesame oil until well combined.
2. Place the chicken thighs in a large zip-top bag. Pour the marinade over the chicken, seal the bag, and massage to coat evenly. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
4. Arrange the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer in a baking dish. Pour the leftover marinade over the chicken.
5. Bake for 35–45 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the skin is golden and slightly crisp.
6. Garnish with chopped green onions. Serve hot over rice, with veggies, or your favorite side dish.
Notes
You can broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes at the end for extra caramelization.
This recipe also works great with boneless thighs or drumsticks—just adjust cooking time accordingly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (+ marinating)
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Chicken Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 thighs
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
Keywords: sweet and spicy chicken, honey pepper chicken, baked chicken thighs, easy chicken dinner