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    Home » Main Course » Honey Ginger Chicken Thighs

    Honey Ginger Chicken Thighs

    Published: Jan 9, 2024 · Modified: May 23, 2024 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This super easy, oven baked honey ginger chicken is made with bone-in chicken thighs for the juiciest flavor!  But the sweet and savory garlic soy marinade is the star of this dinner show!

    Chicken thighs are marinated in honey, ginger paste, low sodium soy sauce, lots of fresh garlic, sesame seed oil, and avocado oil. Oven-baked, tender, juicy, and flavorful.

    For the best flavor experience, marinate the chicken thighs overnight!

    Two baked chicken thighs on a white plate with cooked white rice and steamed broccoli on the side.
    Honey ginger chicken thighs go great with all kinds of side dishes - especially rice and steamed broccoli.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love It
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Ingredients for Honey Ginger Chicken
    • How to Make Honey Ginger Chicken
    • Recipe Tips
    • Slow Cooker Directions
    • Storing and Reheating
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Chicken Thigh Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why You'll Love It

    If you're looking for amazing, flavorful, honey-baked chicken thighs - stop right now, you've found the best!

    These easy, honey ginger chicken thighs start with a marinade made with honey, low sodium soy sauce, lots of fresh garlic, sesame seed and avocado oils, seasonings, and of course, sesame seeds.

    I recommend marinating the chicken at least 30 minutes before baking.  If you can spare a few hours for it to marinate, then that's even better. Overnight works great, too.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • The best honey ginger chicken marinade! These honey garlic ginger chicken thighs are sweet and finger-licking sticky!  The whole family will love this chicken.  If you have a large family, go ahead and double the recipe.  
    • Meal Prep! Leftovers are particularly great the next day; making tomorrow's meal prep a breeze!
    • Juicy and Tender! Bone-in, skin-on chicken has more flavor and is juicier.  You can always pull the skin off after baking the chicken if you don't want to eat it.

    Ingredients for Honey Ginger Chicken

    These chicken thighs are so juicy and flavorful thanks to the marinade!

    Ingredients measured out in individual containers.
    Honey-baked chicken thighs get their delicious flavor from 7 simple ingredients.

    The honey ginger chicken marinade is the key to perfectly flavored chicken, so try not to substitute any of its ingredients, if possible.

    Honey - use store-bought or buy local honey from your farmer's market.

    Low sodium soy sauce - use your favorite kind of soy sauce (or coconut aminos or tamari).

    Avocado oil - use olive oil if you can't find avocado oil.

    Garlic - my favorite is the kind you buy in the jar, that's already minced.  It's super convenient.  Use fresh garlic if you prefer.

    White vinegar - a common ingredient in Asian recipes, vinegar adds a little bit of zing.

    Sesame oil - this oil is essential to this recipe so don't leave it out.  Its nutty flavor adds to the Asian flair of this recipe.  

    Ground ginger - I recommend the ginger paste in your fresh produce section.  There is no waste and it's handy to use again for your next recipe that calls for ginger.

    Chicken thighs - for best results, use bone-in, skin-on.  If you use boneless, skinless thighs you'll need to reduce the cooking time!

    Black pepper - fresh ground is more flavorful, but use regular pepper if that's all you have.

    Red pepper flakes - optional!  Add a teaspoon to the marinade for a spicy kick.

    How to Make Honey Ginger Chicken

    For best results, marinate the chicken thighs for at least 2-3 hours before baking (overnight is best).

    Make the honey ginger chicken marinade:  Add honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, avocado oil, vinegar, sesame oil, and ground ginger to a small bowl. Stir well with a whisk to combine.

    Blended marinade in stainless steel bowl.

    Marinate:  Put the chicken thighs in a large Ziplock bag. Pour the marinade into the bag, release excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (preferably for 2-3 hours).

    Four raw chicken thighs in marinade in a gallon ziplock bag.

    Place chicken in casserole dish:  After the chicken has marinated, preheat your oven to 425 F.  Remove the thighs from the Ziplock bag and place them in a 2-quart baking dish. Pour the marinade on top of the thighs and sprinkle with pepper. 

    Four marinated chicken thighs in a white baking dish.

    Bake then broil:  Bake for 35 minutes, flipping the chicken twice to keep it juicy in the glaze. Set the oven to broil and allow the chicken to bake for an additional 5 minutes.

    Four baked chicken thighs in white casserole dish.

    Remove from oven.  Let rest 5 minutes.  Serve warm with a spoonful of the sauce poured over the top. Garnish with parsley and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.

    Two baked chicken thighs on a white plate with cooked white rice and steamed broccoli on the side.
    The longer you marinate the chicken thighs, the better they taste! Aim for overnight marinating.

    Recipe Tips

    My top recipe tips for honey ginger chicken!

    • This recipe makes 5-6 servings.  Double the recipe for a larger crowd or if you want to have leftovers for another meal.
    • If you find yourself out of honey or want an alternative, rest easy because there are many great options for you to substitute for honey.

    Looking for another recipe for honey chicken? Check out my Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken. It has a few more ingredients and is conveniently made in a slow cooker.

    Slow Cooker Directions

    Place the chicken thighs in your slow cooker. Pour the marinade/sauce on top. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6 hours. The internal temperature of the thighs should be 165F.

    Storing and Reheating

    Store any leftover honey-baked chicken thighs in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I prefer to use BPA-free glass containers with locking lids.  Check out this 18-piece set of glass food storage containers with locking lids from Bayco, available now on Amazon.

    To reheat leftovers, I recommend 2-3 minutes in the microwave at 50% power. A gentle reheat won't make the chicken tough or dry!

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use boneless skinless chicken breasts instead?

    Yes, no problem!  Bake at 350F for about 25 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink.

    Can I make honey ginger chicken the night before?

    Yes, you can make the marinade the night before and let the chicken marinate in it overnight.  Baked as directed. P.S. the chicken will be extra flavorful when marinating overnight!

    What goes with baked honey chicken thighs?

    Serve with cooked white rice, fried rice, side salad, or broccoli.  My roasted parmesan potatoes would pair nicely with this chicken.

    More Chicken Thigh Recipes

    • cooked chicken thighs on top of cauliflower rice on brown plate with fork
      Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Thighs
    • Baked chicken breast on brown plate with a side of Mexican rice.
      Mexican Marinated Chicken
    • cooked chicken and rice in skillet
      Southern Chicken and Rice (One Pot)
    • Two baked chicken thighs on a brown plate with roasted potatoes on the side.
      3 Ingredient Chicken Marinade

    If you tried this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear from you.

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    Recipe

    Honey Ginger Chicken Thighs

    If you're looking for a flavorful chicken thigh recipe, then you've found it!  These tasty baked honey chicken thighs are kid-approved so the whole family will love them.  The garlic soy chicken marinade is the star of this dinner show!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Chinese
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes minutes
    Marinate Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 395kcal
    Author: Anne Clark | My Kitchen Serenity

    Ingredients

    • ⅓ cup honey
    • ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoons avocado oil
    • 4 cloves garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
    • 2 pounds bone-in skin on chicken thighs about 5 medium chicken thighs
    • pepper to taste
    • parsley and sesame seeds for garnish
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Add honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, avocado oil, vinegar, sesame oil, and ground ginger to a small bowl. Stir well with a whisk to combine.
    • Put the chicken thighs in a large ziplock bag. Pour the marinade into the bag, release excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (for maximum flavor, marinate 6-8 hours).
    • After the chicken has marinated, preheat your oven to 425 F.  Remove the thighs from the ziplock bag and place them in a 2-quart baking dish.
    • Pour the marinade on top of the thighs and sprinkle with pepper.  Bake for 35 minutes, flipping the chicken twice to keep it juicy in the sauce. Set the oven to broil and allow the chicken to bake for an additional 5 minutes. (Chicken thighs should be fully cooked or until they reach 165F on a food thermometer).
    • Remove from oven.  Let rest 5 minutes.  Serve warm with a spoonful of the sauce poured over the top. Garnish with parsley and a sprinkle of sesame seeds if desired.

    Notes

    Side Dishes to Enjoy with honey garlic ginger chicken
    Serve with white rice, side salad, steamed broccoli, or green beans.  My roasted parmesan potatoes would compliment this chicken nicely.
    Storage/Shelf Life/Reheating
    Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.  Reheat in the microwave at 50% power until warmed through.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 454mg | Potassium: 302mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 100IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.

    This honey-baked chicken thighs recipe was originally published in 2021 and was updated in 2023.

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    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Butch

      September 25, 2021 at 6:58 pm

      First off, thanks for the recipe! I am just a dumb@$$ man and I need a good recipe to make me look good. I have been looking for something different as we love chicken thighs. The marinade is AWESOME. I put it in the fridge for 6 hours too. When I showed this recipe to my wife (the greatest cook in the world he says without any bias) the first thing she said was it was not long enough or hot enough. The internal chicken temperature was 125 degrees at 30 min on 325 degrees. Chicken is supposed to be 165 degrees when served or you risk Salmonella food poisoning. I recommend 350 degrees for 45 minutes and then follow it up with the 5 minute broil. If you want that is. I did! Do turn it every 10 min. though to keep it juicy. If you use a larger pan you can add your favorite vegetables, like onion, mushrooms, and yellow squash.

      Reply
      • Anne Clark

        September 27, 2021 at 12:12 pm

        Thanks, Butch! That oven temp was most definitely a typo. I have corrected my recipe post and recipe card. I'm so glad you liked the marinade 🙂 Definitely the longer it marinates, the better. I hope the recipe made you "look good"! Have a great week!

        Reply
    2. Brendolynn

      June 21, 2025 at 7:02 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this! It was great with long grain rice. Will be cooking this often.

      Reply
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at Anne@mykitchenserenity.com. 

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