Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring crispy skin-on chicken thighs roasted in a sweet and tangy honey balsamic glaze. This forgiving recipe requires minimal effort but delivers restaurant-quality flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 medium red onion, sliced (optional)
- 1 bunch asparagus (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until golden brown, then flip and sear for 2 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Add balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, Dijon mustard, thyme, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Whisk to combine, scraping up brown bits from the bottom. Simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Return chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Spoon some sauce over the chicken.
- Roast in the oven for 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving with remaining sauce.
Notes
Patting the chicken dry is crucial for crispy skin. Do not crowd the pan when searing. The sauce should reduce slightly on the stovetop before roasting to prevent a watery glaze. Chicken thighs are forgiving, but use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach 165°F. Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 4 days but do not freeze well due to sauce texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 22
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Protein: 35
Keywords: honey balsamic chicken, one pan dinner, easy weeknight meals, chicken thighs, balsamic glaze, quick dinner