Honey chipotle chicken thighs are a hint of smokey heat paired with sweet, sticky honey. There won’t be any seconds when serving these!
Indulge your taste buds in the perfect fusion of sweet and smoky with these honey chipotle chicken thighs. Succulent and full of flavor, these tender chicken thighs are seasoned with a blend of honey and chipotle, creating a harmonious balance.
This recipe combines the natural sweetness of honey with the smoky heat of chipotle peppers. Each bite is an explosion of flavors, as the honey caramelizes and the chipotle infuses the meat with a subtle kick.
Whether you’re hosting a barbecue, planning a weeknight dinner, or simply looking to elevate your culinary repertoire, honey chipotle chicken thighs are the perfect choice. Impress your guests with this irresistible dish that effortlessly combines the richness of smoky chipotle and the delicate sweetness of honey.
How To Make Honey Chipotle Chicken
Ingredients needed
- Chicken thighs
- Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- Honey
- Hot sauce
- White vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Salt & spices (listed below)
Making the honey chipotle chicken thighs
- First, you’ll need to mix together the marinade then cover all the chicken thighs in the marinade. Cover then allow them to marinade minimum 1 hour to a max of 4 hours.
- I recommend a oven safe pan to lower the number of dishes.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Once the thighs are marinaded, turn a pan on medium heat with a little oil and sauté the outside of the chicken thighs. You’re only sautéing them with a little heat to add flavor, they will cook in the oven.
- When all chicken has been sautéed place the pan in the oven. If you need to you can also use a baking dish but not a sheet pan.
- Bake the chicken for 15 minutes. While the chicken is baking make the honey chipotle sauce.
- After 15 minutes, pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Bake a remaining 10 minutes then the thighs will be done. If using boneless chicken thighs adjust the time.
- Lastly, allow them to cool a bit then serve.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use boneless chicken thighs, wings, legs or breast?
Yes, this recipe will work fine with any part of the chicken. Please note, cooking times will vary for each part of the chicken. This recipe was made with bone-in chicken thighs.
Can this recipe be cooked on the grill?
Yes but that will require a little skill to do. This is not a chicken recipe to cook directly over fire then entire time. You’ll need to cook them direct for color and flavor then in-direct to finish cooking all the way through. Then, make the sauce in a sauce pan and toss the chicken afterward.
What to serve with honey chipotle chicken?
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Honey Chipotle Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 2 pounds bone in chicken thighs
Marinade
- 2 chilies from adobo sauce, minced
- 2 tablespoon adobo sauce
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Honey sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Instructions
- Note: this recipe is made for 2 lbs of bone-in chicken thighs. Any changes can and will alter the end result in flavoring the chicken. Make adjustments where needed.
- First, you'll need to mix together the marinade then cover all the chicken thighs in the marinade. Cover then allow them to marinade minimum 1 hour to a max of 4 hours.
- I recommend a oven safe pan to lower the number of dishes.
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Once the thighs are marinaded, turn a pan on medium heat with a little oil and sauté the outside of the chicken thighs. You're only sautéing them with a little heat to add flavor, they will cook in the oven.
- When all chicken has been sautéed place the pan in the oven. If you need to you can also use a baking dish but not a sheet pan.
- Bake the chicken for 15 minutes. While the chicken is baking make the honey chipotle sauce.
- After 15 minutes, pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Bake a remaining 10 minutes then the thighs will be done. If using boneless chicken thighs adjust the time.
- Lastly, allow them to cool a bit then serve.
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.