Honey Soy Marinated Baked Chicken Thighs Recipe

Gather the ingredients for the honey soy marinated baked chicken thighs

For this recipe, you'll require chicken thighs along with soy sauce and honey for the marinade. Other ingredients for the marinade consist of rice wine vinegar (cider vinegar can be used as a substitute), sesame oil, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper. Additionally, you'll need sesame seeds and scallions for garnishing.

Step 1: Make the marinade

In a spacious bowl, mix together honey, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, salt, and pepper using a whisk.

Step 2: Cover the chicken with the marinade

Incorporate the chicken thighs and mix to ensure they are evenly coated.

Step 3: Marinate the chicken

Wrap and chill for a minimum of 1 hour or overnight.

Step 4: Put the chicken in a pan

Place the chicken in an 8-inch baking dish. Pour the sauce over it. Allow it to sit at room temperature while the oven heats up.

Step 5: Heat up the oven

Set the oven temperature to 425°F.

Step 6: Bake the chicken

Cook the chicken in a preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature hits 165°F and the tops are nicely caramelized.

Step 7: Put the chicken on a plate and the sauce in a pot

Move the chicken to a serving platter and pour the sauce into a small saucepan.

Step 8: Simmer the sauce until it thickens

Simmer the sauce over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until it thickens and becomes syrupy.

Step 9: Top the chicken with sauce

Drizzle sauce over the chicken.

Step 10: Garnish the chicken before eating

Top the chicken with sesame seeds and scallions. Serve it hot over a bed of rice.

Can I make any ingredient swaps in this honey soy marinated baked chicken thigh recipe?

If chicken thighs aren't your preferred cut, don't worry—this recipe can easily be adapted for drumsticks or breasts. As Rosenhouse mentions, "It's one of my favorite ways to prepare wings." Just keep in mind that you may need to modify the cooking time, especially if you choose boneless pieces or cuts that are significantly smaller or larger than thighs. For chicken wings, Rosenhouse advises adding the sauce towards the end of cooking, as it "will thicken and caramelize in the oven, especially when baked in a thin layer."

You can use gluten-free tamari in place of soy sauce, but you might want to add a bit more salt to the marinade in that case. Rosenhouse also suggests that you can replace fresh ginger with an equal amount of powdered ginger, though you may need to increase the quantity slightly, as "powdered ginger is much less potent than fresh ginger."

Regarding suggested sides and garnishes, Rosenhouse mentions that rice is optional, as she believes "this chicken would be delightful served over noodles, potatoes, or any other simple side." She also notes that you can omit the sesame seeds if you prefer, as they mainly serve to add color and a subtle nutty flavor.

What can I do with leftover honey soy marinated baked chicken thighs?

If you don't consume all the chicken in one sitting, the leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to three days and can also be frozen. While reheating leftover chicken in the microwave is always an option, Rosenhouse recommends a different approach: thawing the chicken in the refrigerator overnight if it's frozen. She then wraps the leftovers in aluminum foil and bakes them at 350°F until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F on a meat thermometer. This ensures the chicken is heated thoroughly, and since it’s already cooked, there's no risk of foodborne illness even if the thermometer doesn’t reach the full temperature. As Rosenhouse notes, leftover cooked chicken can also be quite delicious when eaten cold.

Leftover honey soy marinated chicken can be repurposed in various dishes, similar to how you would use leftover rotisserie chicken. Rosenhouse shares, "I enjoy slicing up leftovers and incorporating them into salads for a quick lunch," and you can also use the chicken to prepare chicken salad sandwiches. Other ideas include adding it to macaroni and cheese or using it as a filling for burritos or enchiladas.

What should I serve with honey and soy marinated chicken thighs

Chicken marinated in a delicious honey soy sauce doesn't require much to complement it, allowing you to keep the side dishes straightforward. To make the most of the extra marinade, serve the chicken over rice. You can follow a simple stovetop recipe for steamed white rice or opt for steamed brown rice for a nuttier flavor. Layer the chicken on top of the rice to ensure you capture every drop of that sticky honey soy sauce.

A crunchy vegetable stir-fry makes for another fantastic side to round out the meal. Sauté broccoli or bok choy in a wok with sesame oil, removing the vegetables from the heat quickly to preserve their crispness. Lightly charred snap peas or green beans are also great options, adding a nutritious touch without overshadowing the main dish. Keeping the vegetables uncomplicated allows them to soak up the sweet and salty marinade as well. Lastly, for a fresh element, consider a simple cucumber salad dressed with rice wine vinegar or a zesty Napa cabbage kimchi.