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Smoky Charred Honey-Chipotle Chicken Thighs

Charred, smoky chicken thighs glazed in a sticky honey-chipotle sauce - ready in about 40 minutes, no fancy footwork required.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Seasoning Rub
  • 1.5-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • 1.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
Honey-Chipotle Glaze
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 2-3 chipotle peppers finely minced (optional - deseed for milder heat)
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tbsp fresh lime juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or water
  • 1 tbsp oil for searing

Equipment

  • Large Skillet

Method
 

  1. Pat the chicken thighs completely dry, then toss thoroughly with all the seasoning rub ingredients. Let sit for 15-30 minutes (up to 4 hours in the fridge for deeper flavor).
  2. In a separate bowl, whisk together all the glaze ingredients except the oil. Set aside.
  3. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for 4-5 minutes per side without moving them, until you get a deep, charred spice crust. Transfer the chicken to a plate and let it rest for 5-10 minutes - don't skip this, it's what keeps the juices in instead of on your cutting board.
  4. While the chicken rests, drop the skillet to medium heat and pour the glaze straight into the pan, scraping up the browned bits. Whisk continuously as it simmers, 3-4 minutes, until it's reduced just enough to stay fluid but thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
  5. Slice the rested chicken, return it to the skillet, and toss to coat in the glaze. Serve over rice with extra sauce spooned on top.

Notes

Leftovers keep in the fridge for about 4 days and reheat best in a skillet over medium-low heat - the microwave works too, just add a splash of water so the glaze doesn't dry out.
You may want to start with one chipotle, taste the glaze, then add more until your desired heat level is achieved.
Don't skip resting the chicken before slicing - it keeps all that char-seared juice inside the meat instead of pooling on the cutting board.
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