Chipotle Honey Chicken Thighs (Print View)
Tender chicken thighs glazed in chipotle-honey and topped with melted smoked Gouda.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
→ Marinade and Sauce
02 - 2 tablespoons chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped
03 - 3 tablespoons honey
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
06 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Cheese
10 - 4 oz smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
→ Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
12 - Lime wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
02 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine chipotle peppers, honey, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, minced garlic, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
03 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels and arrange them skin-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Brush the chipotle honey mixture generously over each chicken thigh, ensuring even coverage. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of the glaze for finishing.
05 - Bake for 30 minutes until the juices run clear and the skin is golden brown and crisp.
06 - Remove from oven and brush the thighs with the reserved glaze. Sprinkle shredded smoked Gouda evenly over each piece.
07 - Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbling.
08 - Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve alongside lime wedges.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chipotle honey glaze caramelizes in the oven and creates this sticky, charred skin that is genuinely hard to stop eating.
- Smoked Gouda melting over the top turns simple baked chicken into something that feels like you ordered it at a restaurant.
02 -
- Do not crowd the chicken on the baking sheet or the skin will steam instead of crisping. Give each thigh breathing room.
- Reserving a bit of glaze for the second brush is the step I forgot the first several times and the result was noticeably less sticky and glossy.
03 -
- Shred the Gouda while the chicken is in the oven so it is ready the moment you need it and the cheese does not cool down the thighs.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment or foil because that sticky honey glaze will burn onto the pan and you will be scrubbing for days otherwise.