Soy Glazed Chicken Thighs (Printable)

Oven-baked, sticky soy and garlic glazed chicken thighs—caramelized, savory-sweet, ready in 45 minutes.

# What Goes In:

→ Chicken

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 1.2 kg / 2.5 lbs)
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Soy Glaze

04 - 1/3 cup (80 ml) soy sauce (regular or low-sodium)
05 - 1/4 cup (60 ml) honey
06 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
07 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
08 - 1 tbsp sesame oil
09 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
10 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
11 - 1 tsp cornstarch
12 - 1 tbsp water

→ Garnish (optional)

13 - 2 tbsp sesame seeds
14 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with foil or parchment paper.
02 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Arrange on the prepared tray, skin side up.
03 - In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.
04 - In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water to make a slurry. Stir into the saucepan and simmer for 2-3 minutes until the glaze thickens. Remove from heat.
05 - Brush half the glaze over the chicken thighs.
06 - Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, brush with remaining glaze, and bake for another 10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through (internal temperature 175°F/80°C) and skin is sticky and caramelized.
07 - Transfer chicken to a serving platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • This glaze is like a little secret that slips sweet, salty magic into every bite.
  • The bake-and-brush method means hands-off time, and your kitchen will smell like you've worked far harder than you did.
02 -
  • If you don't dry the chicken thoroughly, the glaze won't stick and the skin won't crisp.
  • A quick broil at the end makes the sauce bubbly and caramelized, but don't walk away or it scorches fast!
03 -
  • Use foil or parchment—scrubbing stuck glaze is no one's idea of fun cleanup.
  • For the juiciest chicken, opt for bone-in thighs and never rush the bake time.
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