Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken Thighs

It’s rare that a recipe works its way into my weekly rotation on the very first try.  But MAN, these spicy honey-glazed chicken thighs jumped to the top of the list immediately. 

The only sound I could hear while eating them was my inner dialogue going nom mmm nom GRMMM NOM.  Or something like that.  It was gibberish, but it was extremely happy.

The sweet-and-spicy combo here is *chef’s kiss*.  I love making this honey glazed spicy chicken on my grill, but you can do it in the oven (with an assist from the broiler) or in the air fryer as well. 

I prefer on the grill because the high heat and char really add to the flavor.  Plus, it’s faster not waiting for my oven to heat up and there’s no clean-up.

Heat up your grill to around 500 F.  I prefer to make these on the grill, but you can do air fryer with similar instructions or oven if you prefer (either entirely broiler, or 425F then broiler). 

Un-tuck the chicken thighs so they are flat.  Pat dry with paper towel. 

In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, kosher salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and dried oregano. 

Cover both sides of the chicken with the seasoning, then set flat onto a plate (or sheet pan if you’re using the oven).

Add the chicken to the grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes.  While it’s cooking, whip up the glaze by stirring together the honey and apple cider vinegar. 

Once the chicken is pretty much done, use a silicone basting brush to glaze the chicken, flip, and glaze the other side.  Then cook for another minute before removing from the grill (you want the thickest part of each piece to hit 165F).

Let them rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve. 

While I love them hot and fresh, these spicy honey-brushed chicken thighs make a pretty great leftover lunch as well!

Other healthy chicken dinners you’ll love:

• The Crispiest Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
• Easy Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Paleo, GF, Keto, Whole30, etc.)
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Amazing & Easy Chicken Shawarma
• Maple-Glazed Chicken with Sweet Potato Hash
• Apricot Balsamic Rosemary Chicken
• Delicious & Easy Walnut-Crusted Chicken
• Healthy Honey Sesame Chicken Meal Prep Bowls

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Spicy Honey-Glazed Chicken Thighs

Yield: 4-6 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

These delicious spicy honey-glazed chicken thighs are healthy, super easy to make, and absolutely PACKED with flavor. They're a great dinner any night of the week!

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Ingredients

• 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (1 1/2 to 2 lbs, amount is flexible)
• 2 teaspoons of chili powder
• 2 teaspoons of smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon of fresh cracked pepper
• 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes (this is a bit spicy for me)
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano
• 1/4 cup of honey (use more if you want)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Instructions

1. Heat up your grill to around 500 F.  I prefer to make these on the grill, but you can do air fryer with similar instructions or oven if you prefer (either entirely broiler, or 425F then broiler). 
2. Un-tuck the chicken thighs so they are flat.  Pat dry with paper towel. 
3. In a small bowl, mix together all the spices.  Use your hands to cover both sides of the chicken with the seasoning, then set flat onto a plate (or sheet pan if you're using the oven).
4.  Add the chicken to the grill and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes. 
5. While it's cooking, whip up the glaze by stirring together the honey and apple cider vinegar.
6. Once the chicken is pretty much done, use a silicone basting brush to glaze it, flip, and glaze the other side.  Then cook for another minute before removing from the grill (you want the thickest part of each thigh to hit 165F).
7. Remove from the grill onto a plate, let it rest for 5-10 minutes, then serve.  

Notes

1. These amounts are very flexible overall, if you only have one package and it's around 1 lb, just halve the spices but make about the same amount of glaze

Recommended Products

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  Silicone Tipped Kitchen Tongs
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  Silicone Basting Brushes (BBQ, Pastry, and Oil Brush)