This easy recipe for honey garlic chicken thighs produces an incredibly juicy and flavorful entree that pairs so well with many things. The marinade is so convenient because it comes together in minutes and is perfect for meal prep.

Everyone needs some easy, winning chicken marinade recipes and this Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is such a versatile option. It’s really simple to prepare – just whisk all the marinade ingredients together, pour it over the chicken and let it all come together until you’re ready to cook it. The beauty of this recipe is that you can prepare this chicken on the grill (what we do most often), in the oven or on the stove. (I especially like using this recipe to roast bone-in, skin on chicken thighs.)

The sweet and savory marinade combines both flavors, with the addition of plenty of garlic. Serve this over some fluffy white rice and some green beans or roasted Balsamic and Soy Vegetable Medley.

Ingredients

chicken

I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They are really juicy and tender and easy to work with. I have also used chicken breast (cut into smaller pieces). Bone-in, skin on chicken thighs will work great here too.

Marinade:

honey
soy sauce
garlic
cornstarch
mirin
- mirin is a type of rice wine. It’s sweet and adds a wonderful flavor and acidity. I use it a lot in Asian recipes, especially stir fry sauces.If you don’t have mirin, you can substitute it with dry sherry, sweet marsala wine. You can also use dry wine wine, white or red wine vinegar.
oil (avocado or olive)

Fresh cilantro and green onions, for serving, optional

Ingredients for honey garlic chicken thighs - easy marinade recipe for chicken.

How To Make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Prepare the chicken. Trim the chicken, cutting away any unwanted parts. If you want boneless, skinless chicken thighs, here’s a tutorial on how to debone chicken thighs.
Make the marinade. Whisk together all the marinade ingredients (honey, soy sauce, mirin, garlic, oil and cornstarch) in a bowl until smooth.
Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken to the marinade and mix to combine. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes or even overnight. (If you want to marinate it longer than 30 minutes, store it in the refrigerator.)
Grill the chicken. Preheat the grill for about 15 minutes, then grill the chicken until it reaches 165-170 degrees Fahrenheit in the center. (Discard all the excess marinade.)
You can also roast the chicken in the oven. It works the best with bone-in, skin on chicken thighs. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Roast the chicken until it reaches 165-170 degrees Fahrenheit in the center using an instant read thermometer.
For cooking the chicken on the stove, heat some oil in a skillet, add the chicken in batches, cook until golden brown on both sides.

Meal Prep

This recipe is wonderful for meal prep. Marinate the chicken up to a day in advance. It’s so convenient for busy weeknights or when you have company.

You can even FREEZE this chicken. Combine the chicken and the marinade, mix to combine and place it all in a freezer ziplock bag or an airtight container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw and grill. You don’t even need to wait for it to marinate, since it’s had plenty of time to do that.

What to Serve With the Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

I usually serve this with fluffy, white rice or rice noodles. Ramen or lo mein would also be delicious.

How To Cook Long Grain White Rice Perfectly
Orange Braised Carrots and Parsnips (don’t like parsnips? Skip them and just use carrots – this recipe is so good!)
Garlic Green Beans – such a simple and delicious side dish.
Balsamic and Soy Roasted Vegetables – I saved the best for last – the flavors complement each other so well.