Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs

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These Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs are a delight! The molasses mixture makes a marinade that turns these chicken thighs into a delicious meal.

Baked chicken thighs on a cutting board.

The molasses combined with the soy sauce, lemon juice and garlic make a marinade that turns this molasses chicken recipe into a delicious meal. These thighs are one of my husband's favorites. They will be one of yours too!

If you are a follower of this blog you already know that we are big fans of baked chicken thighs. We are always looking for ways to change it up and incorporate new and different ingredients.

In this recipe for Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs that ingredient is the molasses! The molasses just adds that something special that makes this recipe stand out from others.

It goes so perfectly with all of the the other ingredients in the marinade. This is our favorite dinner recipe with molasses and it will be yours too.

The longer you can marinate the chicken the better it will be. I usually throw this together the night before and give it a good 24 hours in the fridge.

Now, I have a confession to make. I hate doing dishes. So the fewer dishes needed for a recipe, the happier I am.

Let's talk for a second about how easy this molasses chicken thighs recipe is to throw together. Instead of getting a bowl dirty, you throw all of the ingredients in a resealable plastic bag. Make sure to add the molasses last though! It tends to stick to the sides of the bag if you add it first. Mix those delicious flavors together right in the bag and add the chicken in last! So easy right?

When you are ready for dinner you take the chicken out of the bag and place it on the baking sheet. You crank the oven up to 425 degrees and wait for the chicken to cook!

Ingredients in Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs

All of the ingredients needed to make glazed olasses chicken thighs.

bone in skin on chicken thighs
soy sauce
olive oil
lemon juice
pepper
garlic
molasses
cooking spray

See recipe card below for exact quantities.

Substitutions and Variations

Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this recipe.

Bone in skin on chicken thighs - try using bone in skin on chicken breasts, boneless skinless chicken breasts, bone in skin on chicken thighs, chicken legs or chicken wings
Soy sauce - you could use tamari or even a teriyaki sauce to switch things up.
Olive oil - avocado oil, coconut oil or sesame oil
Lemon juice - apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar
Pepper - use cayenne pepper instead.
Minced garlic - use garlic powder or extra garlic for more garlic flavor.
Onion powder - a tablespoon adds a great layer of flavor.
Molasses - is essential to this recipe but can be substituted with honey, maple syrup or date syrup for a similar taste but not the same flavor that molasses provides.
Go Nuts - Add some chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, peanuts or your favorite nuts to the top of your chicken before baking.
Spicy - Add a teaspoon of chili pepper flakes, jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the sauce mixture to imbue heat into the dish. I will also occasionally add a teaspoon of our homemade hot pepper sauce, or use your favorite hot sauce, to the mixture instead.

How to make Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs

Now make your molasses marinade for chicken.

All marinade ingredients placed inside a large resealable bag.

Chicken thighs placed inside resealable bag with marinade.

Combine soy sauce, olive oil, lemon juice, pepper and garlic in a large resealable bag. Add the molasses last as it tends to stick to the outside of the bag. Seal and shake. Add your chicken thighs.

The chicken inside the bag with marinade.

Marinated chicken thighs on rack on top of rimmed baking sheet.

Seal, and chill 8 to 24 hours adjusting thighs periodically. When you are ready to bake remove chicken from marinade, and discard. Prepare a foil lined baking sheet with a rack coated in cooking spray. Place chicken thighs on the rack, evenly spaced.

Baked chicken thighs missing a bite on a plate.

Bake at 400 degrees for between 30-40 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

Marinate the chicken up to 24 hours to guarantee full flavor penetration.
When cooking bone-in and skin-on thighs, use a thermometer to check internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving.
Baste your chicken frequently with marinade while its cooking to help keep your chicken moist and more flavorful.
Use wire rack on the baking sheet so the molasses glaze doesn’t burn and stick to the bottom of the pan while cooking.
Brush some additional molasses on top of your thighs during last 10 minutes of baking to add more molasses flavor.
Always preheat your oven to evenly distribute heat resulting in juicier chicken.
Use a foil lined baking sheet for easier cleanup.

FAQ's

Do you have questions about Molasses Glazed Chicken Thighs? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Molasses Chicken.

How long should I marinate my chicken?

It’s best to marinate your chicken for 8-24 hours, adjusting it periodically so all chicken is coated and can absorb flavors from marinade.

Can I substitute molasses in this recipe?

You can try substituting honey, date syrup or maple syrup instead of molasses but these substitutes will change the main flavor of the recipe.

Do I need to use a rack?

Yes! It’s important to use a rack so that the air can circulate around the chicken evenly while baking. The rack should be sprayed with cooking spray before adding your chicken to ensure that it doesn’t stick.