Description
This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs recipe features juicy bone-in chicken thighs coated in a flavorful honey mustard sauce with garlic, lemon, and thyme. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this easy oven-baked dish is perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (divided)
- 1 ¼ teaspoons salt (divided)
Honey Mustard Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 4 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- ½ small lemon (juice and zest)
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh thyme (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the chicken thighs.
- Prep chicken thighs: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place them skin side up in a 9×9-inch or 13×9-inch baking dish, leaving some space around each piece. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of olive oil over the chicken and rub it evenly onto the skin. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt over the thighs for seasoning.
- Make sauce: In a medium bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, minced garlic, lemon juice and zest, honey, dried thyme, black pepper, red pepper flakes if using, and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt until well combined.
- Season chicken: Using a pastry brush, spread the honey mustard sauce evenly over the skin of each chicken thigh, coating them thoroughly for maximum flavor.
- Bake in oven: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (75°C). For extra crispy skin, switch the oven to broil for 2-3 minutes at the end, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and allow the thighs to rest for 5 minutes to settle the juices. Garnish with fresh thyme if desired and serve hot for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Make sure the chicken thighs are dry before applying the sauce to help the skin get crispy when baking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check doneness for safe and juicy chicken.
- Broiling at the end is optional but recommended for extra crispy skin.
- You can serve these chicken thighs with your favorite sides like roasted vegetables, rice, or a fresh salad.
