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    Home » Recipes » Chicken

    Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Published: Sep 9, 2022 · Modified: Sep 9, 2022 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. 6 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs are as sweet and zippy as their name sounds. They're tender and juicy and loaded with sweet and tangy flavors.

    Overhead photo of a Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thigh served onto a white plate with a fork. The thigh is garnished with chopped parsley. The chicken thigh is topped with a slice of lemon.

    Chicken thighs are one of my favorite proteins to make. They're always tender and juicy thanks to their slightly higher fat content, and their rich flavor works well with so many flavors.

    This recipe takes that rich, tender cut of chicken and combines it with some of my favorite sweet and tangy flavors to make a main course that everyone loves.

    Why This Recipe Works

    • Simple Ingredients: It only takes a handful of ingredients that you can easily find at your local grocery store.
    • Simple to Make: It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps to make.
    • A Classic Protein: Chicken is one of those proteins that almost everyone loves, and it pairs well with almost anything.

    Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    The thing that makes chicken thighs so great is that they're full of flavor, but it's a mild flavor. Chicken thighs are rich and almost buttery, in my opinion, but their mildness lends to pairing them will all kinds of great flavors.

    This recipe combines the sweetness of honey with the saltiness of soy sauce and the tangy, zippy flavor of lemon pepper seasoning to create a rich, flavorful recipe that melts in your mouth.

    If you're a fan of chicken skin I can't wait for you to try this recipe.

    Ingredients

    Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs on the table.

    It only takes a handful of simple ingredients to make this recipe. You'll find them all easily at your local grocery store. There's nothing fancy here, it's all about simplicity.

    • Chicken Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs deliver rich chicken flavor.
    • Honey: Honey is a classic sweetener that pairs well with the other ingredients.
    • Soy Sauce: Soy sauce adds a salty kick of flavor.
    • Minced Garlic Cloves: Honey and garlic are a classic combo.
    • Lemon Pepper Seasoning: Lemon pepper seasoning adds a tangy, zippy flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the honey.
    • Garlic Salt: Garlic salt adds a bit more flavor to the dish.
    • Lemon, Divided: Fresh lemon juice adds even more zip.

    How to Make Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Aside from how delicious this recipe is, the best part about it is how easy it is to make. Even beginning cooks can make this recipe with ease.

    Step 1: Prep

    Preheat your oven, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Set aside.

    Step 2: Make the Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Sauce

    Combine the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and juice from half a lemon in a large mixing bowl and whisk them together. Then, place the chicken thighs in the bowl and mix until coated. Marinade for 30 minutes.

    Step 3: Bake

    Cut the other half of the lemon into 6 thin slices and place each slice on top of each chicken thigh and bake the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes cooking time.

    Step 4: Serve

    Enjoy every bite!

    Overhead photo of Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs served onto a white platter. The thighs are garnished with chopped parsley.

    Equipment

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • Mixing bowl
    • Aluminum foil
    • Baking sheet

    Substitutions and Variations

    • Chicken Thighs: You can use chicken breasts in place of thighs if you like.
    • Lemon Pepper: If you don't have lemon pepper seasoning, just add extra lemon juice and cracked pepper.
    • Heat: Consider adding a teaspoon of cayenne, jalapeno powder, smoked paprika, hot sauce or sriracha.
    • No Garlic Salt: Use 1 teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon salt.

    What to Serve with Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    These delicious chicken thighs have a sweet and tangy flavor profile that makes them pair well with almost anything you can think of. From rice to vegetables, you can't go wrong with your choice of sides.

    • Cheesy Broccoli Rice
    • Red Red Rice
    • Broccoli Cornbread with Cheese
    • Instant Pot Asparagus
    • Cheesy Sweet Corn Casserole

    As you can see from the cross-section of recipes above, there's really nothing that you can't pair with this delicious recipe. Choose any of these or your own favorites!

    Expert Tips

    This is an extremely easy chicken recipe, using only a few ingredients to make and taking only a few easy steps. However, even easy recipes do have their little tricks, and I'm sharing those with you today.

    • Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature is 170 degrees F.
    • Rotate your baking sheet at the 20 minute mark to promote even cooking.
    • While you can make this recipe without marinating the chicken, you'll get the most flavor by letting it sit in the honey lemon pepper mixture for at least 30 minutes.
    • Let your chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
    Closeup photo of a Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thigh served onto a white plate. The chicken thigh is topped with chopped parsley and a large slice of lemon.

    FAQ

    How long is cooked chicken good?

    You can store this chicken in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.

    Why are chicken thighs so popular?

    They're cheaper than chicken breasts and they have more flavor. They're a fattier cut of meat which means they offer a more intense, rich flavor.

    How do you reheat chicken thighs?

    Place a cooking rack over a baking sheet. Then, bake the thighs on the rack at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

    More Delicious Chicken Thigh Recipes

    • Bacon Wrapped Chicken Thighs
    • Easy Honey Chicken Thighs
    • Air Fryer Fried Chicken Thighs

    Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

    Karin and Ken
    These honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs, are tender, juicy, and loaded with zippy, sweet flavor. They're so easy and so good!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 35 minutes mins
    Optional Marinating Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 375 kcal

    Equipment

    • rimmed baking sheet
    • Aluminum foil for easy clean up
    • Large mixing bowl
    • whisk

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 bone-in chicken thighs
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 tablespoon soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon minced garlic
    • 1 tablespoon lemon pepper seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • 1 lemon divided
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions
     

    • Place honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon pepper seasoning, salt, and juice from half the lemon in a large mixing bowl. Whisk ingredients together.
    • Place chicken thighs in the large bowl and mix until they are coated with the honey garlic mixture.
    • If time allows, let thighs marinade covered, inside your fridge, for 30 minutes prior to baking.
    • Preheat oven to 400ºF.
    • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray.
    • Place chicken thighs on the lined baking sheet.
    • Slice remaining half of lemon into 6 slices. Place one slice on each thigh.
    • Bake for 35-40 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 160ºF.
    • Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes prior to serving.

    Notes

    • marinade chicken inside your fridge whenever possible

    Nutrition

    Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 25gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 836mgPotassium: 365mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 122IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thigh
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Comments

    1. Sue says

      March 11, 2025 at 2:48 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious!!! I was generous with the marinade so thickened it with a cornstarch slurry to serve with the chicken over rice. Will make again! Thanks for posting!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        March 11, 2025 at 3:11 pm

        As always you’re most welcome! I try my best. Take care. Karin

    2. Alyssa says

      April 27, 2023 at 11:11 am

      5 stars
      I think this is my favorite chicken ever. So good everything. All the ingredients compliment each other so well. The honey garlic with the lemon and pepper. Genius!

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        March 11, 2025 at 3:13 pm

        Im so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for letting me know. You just made my day. All the best. Karin

    3. Marg says

      September 10, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      5 stars
      Recipe was easy and tasted great. Perfect for weeknights Kids loved it and so did we You can’t go wrong with this recipe

      Reply
      • Karin and Ken says

        September 10, 2022 at 12:52 pm

        I could not agree with you more! Great minds think alike! 😉 Hopefully you find some other recipes you enjoy just as much! All the best. Karin

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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life, Ken.

    We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!

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