Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this Honey Chipotle Chicken is air-fried to perfection and brushed with a bold, sweet and smoky glaze. It's a quick and flavorful main dish that brings just the right amount of heat to your weeknight dinner table.
I love a good, crispy, air fried chicken thigh and I also love the sweet, spicy combination of honey and chipotle. I knew it would be a great flavor and texture combination, similar to my Sweet Chili Chipotle Wing recipe!
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Why You'll Love Honey Chipotle Chicken
Crispy without deep frying: the air fryer gives you crispy chicken skin with no mess or excess oil.
Big flavor, simple ingredients: pantry staples like chipotle peppers, honey, and garlic make a bold, restaurant style glaze.
Fast and easy dinner: ready in about 30 minutes and perfect for weeknights.
Key Ingredients
Chicken thighs (bone in, skin on): stays juicy while the skin crisps up in the air fryer.
Chipotle peppers in adobo: brings the smoky heat and rich flavor.
Honey: balances out the spice with sweetness.
Light brown sugar: adds a hint of caramel depth to the glaze.
Hot sauce: gives the glaze a little extra kick.
Chicken broth: loosens up the glaze to brush over the chicken
Fresh garlic and green onion: adds bold, savory flavor to the sauce.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Use boneless chicken thighs if preferred. Just reduce cook time slightly.
- Swap fresh garlic with garlic powder in a pinch (½ teaspoon)
- Replace chicken broth with apple cider vinegar for a tangy twist.
Recipe Variations
- Make it milder: use less chipotle pepper or skip the hot sauce.
- Taco style: shred the chicken and serve in homemade tortillas with avocado and slaw.
- Oven-baked option: bake chicken at 400°F for 35-40 minutes, then glaze and broil for 3-5 minutes.
Top Tips
- Use a meat thermometer. Chicken thighs are done at 165°F.
- Brush the glaze on at the end to avoid burning the sugars during air frying.
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerate: store leftovers in an airtight container up to 4 days.
Reheat: return to the air fryer or oven at 350°F for 7-10 minutes, until hot and crisp.
Serve With...
Serve over jasmine rice with a side of honey-glazed carrots or turn leftovers into tacos with warm homemade flour tortillas. A crisp green salad with Italian Vinaigrette also pairs well to cool off the heat.
More Easy Dinner Ideas
Here are a few more easy dinner ideas ready in 30 minutes!
When you make this recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Honey Chipotle Chicken
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Ingredients
- 1½ pounds bone in, skin on chicken thighs
- salt , to taste
- black pepper , to taste
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 large garlic cloves , minced
- 2 tablespoons canned chipotle in adobo sauce , finely minced
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 3 green onions , sliced, whites and greens divided
- 2 cups jasmine rice , prepared according to packaging
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer on 400 degrees for 5 minutes.
- While air fryer is preheating, place chicken thighs on air fryer tray or basket and season with salt and pepper.
- Place chicken in air fryer and cook for 25 minutes at 400 degrees, until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165 degrees. The skin will be browned and crispy.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the honey chipotle glaze. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, heat the butter or oil until hot. Add the white parts of the green onion and garlic. Saute for 2 minutes, until softened.
- Whisk in the chipotle chiles, honey, light brown sugar, hot sauce, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, or until glaze has thickened.
- Brush ½ of honey chipotle glaze on cooked crispy chicken thighs using a barbecue mop. Return to the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes, until glaze starts to caramelize.
- Serve with steamed white rice, drizzled with a portion of the remaining honey chipotle sauce.
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