Hot Honey Chicken Thighs

Name: Hot Honey Chicken Thighs with Crispy Skin
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 2 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 5 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs); 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp chipotle seasoning blend; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; 2 tbsp salted butter; 1/4 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce; 2 tbsp hot honey; 1/2 tsp garlic salt

Hot honey chicken thighs are bone-in, skin-on thighs seasoned with chipotle spices and finished with a sweet-spicy hot honey glaze. The combination of crispy skin and tender meat makes this an easy, crowd-pleasing weeknight meal.

🌍American 🏷️Hot honey chicken 🏷️Chicken thighs 🏷️Spicy chicken 🏷️Sweet and spicy Easy dinner

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight meal

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TikTok

Total

40 min

Servings

2

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$19–$31

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

5 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 lbs)
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp chipotle seasoning blend
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp salted butter
1/4 cup cayenne pepper hot sauce
2 tbsp hot honey
1/2 tsp garlic salt

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Instructions

1
In a large bowl, coat the chicken thighs with olive oil.
2
Season generously with chipotle seasoning, salt, and pepper. Toss to ensure the chicken is evenly coated.
3
Arrange the chicken thighs skin-side down on an air fryer tray or basket. Sprinkle with a little more seasoning if desired.
4
Cook at 350°F for 20 minutes.
5
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter.
6
To the melted butter, add the hot sauce, hot honey, and garlic salt. Stir until well combined.
7
After 20 minutes, remove the chicken from the air fryer and flip each thigh over.
8
Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for another 10 minutes.
9
Remove the chicken again and brush the hot honey sauce generously over the skin side of each thigh.
10
Return the chicken to the air fryer and cook for a few more minutes, until the sauce is caramelized and the skin is crispy.
11
Serve immediately.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning—this is key to achieving crispy, golden skin.
Start skin-side down in a cold pan, then gradually increase heat to render fat and crisp skin without burning.
Coat thighs with hot honey glaze only at the end so the sauce doesn't burn; toss gently to coat evenly.
Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm doneness at 165°F in the thickest part without touching bone.

Substitutions

Cayenne pepper hot sauce → Frank's RedHot or any mild hot sauce (adjust heat level)
Hot honey → equal parts honey warmed with 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (homemade version)
Chipotle seasoning blend → 1 tbsp smoked paprika + 1/2 tsp ground cumin + 1/2 tsp chili powder
Salted butter → ghee or neutral oil (for dairy-free option)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooled chicken thighs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through, then drizzle with fresh hot honey before serving.

Common Questions

Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead?

Yes, but reduce cooking time by 5–8 minutes and watch closely to prevent drying out. Bone-in thighs stay juicier during cooking.

What's the best way to get crispy skin?

Pat thighs dry before seasoning, cook skin-side down first without moving them, and finish in a hot oven at 425°F until skin is golden and meat reaches 165°F internally.