Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs
With all of this extra time that we all have had, it seems like food has gotten repetitive. For me, I was tired of simple baked chicken. I had thawed some chicken thighs the other day, but I wanted to switch it up a little bit. I wanted some extra flavor, but refused to go to the grocery store to get any new ingredients. I began scrambling through my fridge and cabinets. I finally decided to go with something spicy and sweet. This Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken was an experiment that actually turned out great!
The glaze that goes on the chicken is full of great spices. The brown sugar and honey help to balance the spiciness of the dish. The lemon juice and apple cider vinegar gives a nice hint of acidity at the end. After making the glaze I realized that I could keep it on hand in my refrigerator. It is perfect for pork, chicken, and seafood, especially if you decide to grill with it. The key to getting a consistent coating of the glaze on the chicken is by basting it. Letting the sugars caramelize on the chicken will create this beautiful golden orange color.
The glaze will also thin out as it cooks. I added some of the sauce over some garlic mashed potatoes, and it was a great combo! I love dishes that I can get multiple uses out of. The juiciness of the chicken mixed with the sweet and spicy glaze gave me the switch up I needed. Plus, it didn’t end up being a heavy meal. It was the perfect amount of spice, smoke, and sweetness.
Now the glaze is good on its own, but please remember to season your chicken well before searing it. Season both sides of each thigh and underneath the skin. Layering your flavors throughout the cooking process is key for making any dish. Salt and pepper is not enough! Allowing the thighs to marinate will also add some dimension to the dish.
Always remember that you can take something as simple as chicken thighs, and turn it into an amazing new meal. There are probably so many ingredients that you are not utilizing. Venture out and try some new combos! You never know, you might end up creating something good! I hope you enjoy it!
Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp - onion powder
- 1 tsp - garlic powder
- ½ stick - butter
- 1 clove - garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp - chili powder
- ¼ tsp - cumin
- 1 cup - lemon juice, fresh
- 1½ tbsp - salt
- 1 tsp - black pepper
- ½ cup - apple cider vinegar
- 2 tsp - liquid smoke
- 1 cup - brown sugar
- ¼ cup - honey
- 2 lb - bone-in chicken thighs, skin on
- 1 - lemon, sliced and cut into ½s
- 2 tbsp - fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 tbsp - seasoning salt
- 1 tsp - black pepper
- 1½ tbsp - garlic powder
- 1½ tbsp - onion powder
- 2 tsp - Cajun seasoning
- 2 tsp - poultry seasoning
- 3 tbsp - vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Heat a medium sauce pan on medium heat.
- Add butter and let melt.
- Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute or so.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the sauce pan.
- Turn heat to medium low and and reduce by half (approximately 30 minutes).
- Heat a skillet with vegetable oil on medium-high
- Mix seasoning together.
- Trim any excess fat off of the chicken thighs.
- Season the chicken thighs with seasoning mixture (make sure to get under the skin as well).
- Once the oil is ready, sear the chicken thighs on both sides until brown.
- Remove thighs and place on a sheet tray.
- Place chicken thighs in the oven.
- In 5-7 minute increments, baste the thighs with the glaze using a pastry brush.
- Let the glaze caramelize on the chicken. When the chicken reaches 165 degrees remove from oven.
- Top with more glaze, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon slices.
- Enjoy!
