Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

Name: Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs); 2 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp garlic powder; 1 tbsp onion powder; 1 tbsp smoked paprika; 3 tbsp olive oil; 3 tbsp butter; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup honey; 1/4 cup water; 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 lemon, sliced; 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs are bone-in, skin-on thighs seasoned with a savory spice rub and baked until the skin crisps, then finished with a sweet and tangy honey-garlic-lemon glaze for a caramelized crust.

🌍American 🏷️Honey garlic chicken 🏷️Lemon pepper chicken 🏷️Chicken thighs 🏷️Baked chicken Sweet and savory

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight dinner

-0:00

royaleeatsonTikTok

Total

1h 5m

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$29–$48

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by royaleeats

-0:00

royaleeatsonTikTok

Ingredients

4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
2 tbsp lemon pepper seasoning
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp onion powder
1 tbsp smoked paprika
3 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 lemon, sliced
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnishoptional

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Instructions

1
In a small bowl, combine the lemon pepper seasoning, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
2
Add the olive oil to the spices and mix to form a paste.
3
Pat the chicken thighs dry. Rub the spice paste all over the chicken, making sure to get it under the skin.
4
Let the chicken marinate for at least 30 minutes, or up to a couple of hours in the refrigerator.
5
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the marinated chicken thighs on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet.
6
Bake for 30 minutes, then flip the chicken and bake for another 20 minutes, or until cooked through and the skin is crispy.
7
While the chicken is baking, prepare the glaze. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
8
Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
9
Stir in the honey, water, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Bring to a simmer.
10
Add the lemon slices to the pan and let the sauce simmer for 3-5 minutes to thicken slightly.
11
Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the oven and brush the glaze generously over each thigh.
12
Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 2-3 minutes to allow the glaze to caramelize.
13
Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh parsley and the caramelized lemon slices from the pan, and serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat chicken thighs completely dry before applying the spice rub to maximize skin crispiness.
Don't skip the caramelizing step: let the glazed thighs rest under the broiler for 1–2 minutes to deepen the color and seal in the glaze.
Use bone-in, skin-on thighs for the best texture; dark meat stays juicy and the skin renders fat for crispness.
Mince fresh garlic for the glaze rather than using powder—it adds brightness and prevents burning.

Substitutions

Lemon pepper seasoning → 1 tbsp lemon zest + 1 tbsp black pepper (more acidic, less salty)
Smoked paprika → regular paprika or cayenne (less smoky, spicier if using cayenne)
Butter → ghee or extra virgin olive oil (dairy-free option, slightly different richness)

Storage & make-ahead

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, about 10–15 minutes, to restore skin crispness.

Common Questions

How do you get crispy skin on baked chicken thighs?

Pat the chicken dry before seasoning, use a spice rub with paprika and garlic powder for browning, and bake at a high enough temperature to render the fat and crisp the skin.