Easy Asian Baked Chicken Thighs
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Looking for a quick and fuss-free family dinner? Try our Asian Baked Chicken Thighs. These delicious thighs are a breeze to make and sure to please everyone at the dinner table. Whether you’re a busy parent or just want a tasty Asian-inspired dish, this recipe is a winner!
The post has extra tips to make sure the recipe comes out amazing on your first try. If you're in a rush, use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end! 👩🍳🔝
Asian chicken thighs recipe
I’ll keep this post brief today as it’s Wednesday, and we have basketball training, which seems to be a daily routine in our household (typical boys’ mom, right?).
That’s precisely why this meal is an ideal weeknight dinner solution. You can prepare it in advance and simply reheat it when it’s time to eat. For tonight’s dinner, I’ve decided to pair it with quinoa since we’ve been enjoying rice a lot lately. I’ll also be adding some nutritious bok choy to the mix.
Five reasons you will love this recipe
One thing you should know about me and it is that I am always trying to create recipes that are:
- Gluten-free (due to my gluten intolerance condition).
- Healthy; I only cook from scratch with the best ingredients available to me.
- Family-friendly; my kids should eat it without fuss at the table.
- Quick! Yes, it has to be quick. Who wants to spend hours and hours in the kitchen? Unless you are running a recipe blog, of course 🙂
- Budget-friendly.
These Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs are exactly all of the above and more. They are super easy to make, and you don’t even need to fry the chicken thighs in a frying pan. It’s all done in one baking dish. The perfect family chicken dinner.
Ingredients
For the main ingredients of this recipe, you’ll need:
- Free-range or organic chicken thighs (skin-on, bone-in). If you prefer, you can also use chicken breast or skinless chicken thighs.
Asian chicken thighs marinade Ingredients
- Rice vinegar
- Tamari sauce (gluten-free soy sauce)
- Honey
- Optional: Chili flakes (not recommended if preparing for kids)
- Sesame oil
- Garlic (pressed)
- Fresh ginger (finely grated)
Garnish
- Vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, or green beans for serving
- Fresh coriander
See the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below👇
How to cook chicken thighs Asian style
Here’s the step-by-step process for preparing this dish:
- Begin by preheating your oven to 200°C (390°F).
Make Asian Chicken Marinade:
- In a small saucepan, combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, and ginger. If you’re using dry chili, add it as well. Bring this marinade to a boil.
- Once the marinade is boiling, reduce the heat to the minimum and let it simmer for 5 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
Bake the chicken:
- In a large bowl, place your chicken and pour 2/3 of the marinade over it. Ensure the chicken is thoroughly coated with the marinade. If you have some extra time, you can let the chicken marinate. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can proceed to the next step without marinating.
- Arrange the chicken thighs, skin-side down, in a baking dish. Bake them in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
- After 25 minutes, carefully remove the chicken from the oven and flip the chicken thighs, placing them skin-side up. Use a kitchen brush to generously spread the remaining marinade over the chicken thighs.
- Return the baking dish to the oven and continue baking for another 15 minutes or until the chicken turns a beautiful golden color.
With these simple steps, you’ll have delicious baked Asian chicken thighs ready to enjoy!
Top tips to make baked chicken thighs
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: To intensify the flavor of your chicken thighs, marinate them for an extended period. After coating the chicken with the marinade in the bowl, cover it and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or even better, let it marinate for a few hours or overnight. This allows the chicken to absorb the flavors, resulting in a more flavorful and tender dish.
- Baste During Baking: While the chicken thighs are baking, baste them with the marinade from the baking dish every 10-15 minutes. This not only enhances the flavor but also keeps the chicken moist and prevents it from drying out. Be cautious when opening the oven to maintain the cooking temperature.
What to serve with Asian chicken thighs
Serve your chicken thighs with a honey-sesame glaze over a bed of fragrant basmati rice, alongside a refreshing Japanese gomae spinach salad dressed in nutty sesame sauce and zesty Asian pickled cucumbers for a harmonious and satisfying meal.
How to store
To store your leftover chicken thighs with honey-sesame glaze, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 3-4 days. When reheating, use an oven or toaster oven to maintain the crispy skin.
To freeze your chicken thighs with honey-sesame glaze, cool them to room temperature, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or an airtight container, label them with the date, and store them in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQ
Yes, you can substitute the thighs with chicken breasts, drumsticks, or chicken quarters. Adjust the cooking time as needed to ensure the chicken is cooked through.
The chicken is cooked when its internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). You can use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.
These Asian Glazed Chicken Thighs are gluten-free thanks to the use of tamari sauce, making them a safe and delicious option for those with gluten intolerance or dietary preferences.
Yes, you can prepare the chicken thighs with honey-sesame glaze in advance and reheat them when ready to serve. Keep the glaze separate until you’re ready to reheat to maintain the crispy texture.
Check out my other quick and easy chicken recipes
If you like chicken dinners as much as we do, make sure to explore our chicken dinner collection. Our reader’s favorites are QUICK CHICKEN THIGH TRAY BAKE and ONE PAN MEXICAN CHICKEN AND RICE RECIPE
Have you tried this recipe? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could leave a star rating and share your thoughts in a comment. Your feedback means a lot to me, and it can also help others who are interested in trying it out. Thank you! 🌟👩🍳
The Best Asian Baked Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 free-range or organic chicken thighs skin-on and bone-in
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce use tamari for gluten-free sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes optional; omit for a kid-friendly version
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 cm fresh ginger finely grated
- Fresh coriander for garnish.
- Bunch of bok choy, or substitute with broccoli or green beans.
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (390°F).
- Prepare the Marinade:In a small saucepan, combine rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, dry chili flakes (if using), honey, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Bring the marinade to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a simmer. Let the marinade simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Marinate the Chicken:Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl. Pour 2/3 of the marinade over the chicken. Mix thoroughly to ensure the chicken is evenly coated. If time allows, let the chicken marinate for extra flavor. If not, proceed to the next step.
- Bake the Chicken:Arrange the marinated chicken thighs skin-side up in a baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.
- Glaze and Finish:After 25 minutes, carefully remove the chicken from the oven. Using a kitchen brush, generously coat the chicken with the remaining marinade. Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the chicken skin becomes golden brown and crispy.
- Serve: Your flavorful Sesame-Ginger Chicken Thighs are now ready to be enjoyed!
Wow, it looks great! I love quick and healthy chicken recipes. I look forward to making it. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the lovely comment Jeff! Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.