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Juicy lemon-pepper seasoned chicken thighs are seared then cooked in a thick sweet and tangy sauce. It’s so zesty, fresh, and bright! If you’re looking for a quick and easy chicken recipe that will brighten up your tastebuds and those dreary days, look no further than these honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs!
I’m a huge fan of incorporating bold flavors in my recipes because I think seasoning a dish or ingredient is the key to making a successful meal. How many times have you cooked chicken and thought it was bland? Well, not today, folks. These honey garlic lemon pepper chicken thighs (a total mouthful to say, I know) are anything but bland.
The combination of sweet honey, fragrant garlic, zesty lemon pepper seasoning creates a mouthwatering thick sauce that coats every inch of the chicken. You get a burst of fresh flavor in every bite. Not only is it ridiculously delicious, but it’s also incredibly simple to make, making it the perfect choice for those hectic weeknights when time is of the essence.
Why You’ll Love This
- Bright and fresh flavors. This chicken is loaded with flavors. From the zesty lemon to the fragrant garlic to the sweet honey, this is a well-rounded dish with the best flavor combination!
- One pan is all it takes! We love a good one pan meal! There are just days where I don’t feel like cleaning multiple pans.
- Perfect protein for dinner or meal prep. Protein is one of the hardest macronutrients to get in but when you have a flavorful and easy chicken recipe such as this one, it’s much easier to incorporate this in your meals! Chop it up and serve over a salad for the week or some rice. Serve it as a main meal to accompany vegetable sides. The choice is yours!
Ingredients You’ll Need
It doesn’t take much to make a bold flavored recipe! Take a look at the ingredient list for lemon pepper chicken thighs. Make sure to scroll down to view the full recipe for exact measurements.
- Honey
- Garlic
- Soy sauce
- Lemon pepper seasoning
- Lemon
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
How To Make Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Here is a general overview of the steps involved to make lemon pepper chicken thighs. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for the full recipe.
Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, garlic, soy sauce, lemon pepper seasoning, and lemon juice.
Brown and cook the chicken. In a medium skillet (you want it to just fit the chicken thighs), heat cooking oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, season the chicken with salt and lemon pepper seasoning. Place seasoned side down into the skillet then season the other side. Allow chicken to brown on both sides and cook 90% through.
Add the sauce and allow to thicken. When the chicken is almost cooked through, reduce heat to medium-low and add some lemon slices then add the sauce. Gradually increase the heat until the sauce starts bubbling and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Spoon sauce over the chicken as the sauce is simmering, kind of like basting it.
Finish the chicken. After about 5 minutes, remove skillet from heat and allow the sauce to cool. Spoon extra sauce over the chicken before serving. Remove the lemon slices as well!
Recipe Tips, Substitutions, and Variations
- Don’t use too large of a skillet. If you use too large of a skillet, the sauce will spread out and instead of thickening, it will just burn from too large of a surface area.
- Use a meat thermometer. A meat thermometer is super handy in the kitchen and always ensures you are cooking your meats to a safe temperature. In this instance, chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Basting the chicken helps keep it juicy. Spooning the sauce over the chicken while it cooks keeps it juicy but also allows the flavor to cook into the chicken.
- Don’t use chicken breasts. They take longer to cook and therefore can be really dry.
- Make it spicy. Adding red pepper flakes to the sauce or using half hot honey and half regular honey will really turn up the spice on this if you like that heat!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Allow chicken and sauce to come to room temperature then store both in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.
To reheat, you can do so on the stovetop or in the microwave until the chicken and sauce are warmed through.
What to Serve with Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken
There are so many delicious side dishes to serve with lemon pepper chicken, especially since the sauce can do double duty and be slathered over rice or veggies! Or, sandwich it between a Bao Bun as the new trendy thing. If you’re looking for some side dish ideas, here are some ideas:
Honey Garlic Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Salt and pepper
- 5 slices of lemon
For the sauce:
- ½ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, plus more for seasoning chicken
- Juice of half a lemon
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together honey, garlic, soy sauce, lemon pepper seasoning, and lemon juice.
- In a medium skillet, heat cooking oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, season the chicken with salt and lemon pepper seasoning. Place seasoned side down into the skillet then season the other side. Allow chicken to brown on both sides and cook 90% through.
- When the chicken is almost cooked through, reduce heat to medium-low and add lemon slices then add the sauce. Gradually increase the heat to medium until the sauce starts bubbling and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. Spoon sauce over the chicken as the sauce is simmering, kind of like basting it.
- After about 5 minutes, remove skillet from heat and allow the sauce to cool. Spoon extra sauce over the chicken before serving. Remove the lemon slices as well!
We LOVED it! Fresh lemon and honey FTW
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