Description

A family-friendly weeknight dinner featuring crispy, bone-in chicken thighs tossed in a homemade sticky ginger-soy glaze. This one-pan meal is easy to make, forgiving for beginners, and perfect for getting kids involved in the kitchen.

Ingredients

Scale

2.5 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado, grapeseed, or vegetable)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons sesame seeds (plus more for garnish)
¼ cup soy sauce (low-sodium or regular)
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a half-sheet baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels to ensure crispiness.
Place chicken skin-side up on the prepared baking sheet.
Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds.
Toss chicken to coat evenly.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until skin is crispy and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
While chicken bakes, whisk together soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, ginger, garlic, cornstarch, water, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl until smooth.
Remove chicken from oven. Heat the sauce in a small saucepan over medium heat or microwave in 30-second intervals until thickened and bubbling.
Pour the thickened sauce over the hot chicken and toss to coat evenly.
Broil for 2-3 minutes, watching closely, until the sauce caramelizes and gets slightly charred.
Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds and serve hot.

Notes

Patting the chicken dry is crucial for crispy skin. If using boneless thighs, reduce baking time to 20 minutes. For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of soy sauce. Do not broil chicken breasts as they will dry out. The sauce must be heated to activate the cornstarch; otherwise, it will remain watery.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken thigh with
Calories: 450
Sugar: 15
Sodium: 800
Fat: 25
Saturated Fat: 7
Carbohydrates: 20
Fiber: 1
Protein: 35

Keywords: sticky sesame chicken, baked chicken thighs, kid-friendly dinner, weeknight meals, one pan dinner, homemade takeout, ginger soy sauce, crispy chicken