Jun 22, 2023
Why You’ll Love this Honey & Mustard Chicken Recipe
Bone-in chicken thighs are made ultra juicy thanks to a tasty, powerful tenderizing ingredient, and the taste of this honey dijon mustard chicken marinade is second to none. Here’s why you’ll love this recipe:
Juicy and Flavorful: Say goodbye to dry, bland chicken and hello to juicy, tender chicken thighs that you’ll want to eat all year round. It’s golden brown and caramelized with a mouthwatering glaze. They are totally packed with flavour with lots of irresistible crispy bits. Easy and Versatile: With only a handful of ingredients and simple steps, this recipe is perfect for the grill OR the oven. Serve leftovers in chicken sandwiches. Satisfying and Crowd-Pleasing: Whether you’re feeding your family on a weeknight or hosting a backyard BBQ with friends, this dish is sure to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters and leave everyone asking for seconds (and thirds!).
Ingredients for This Easy Honey Mustard Chicken
Chicken Thighs: Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs are the star of this dish. They’re juicy and flavorful, forgiving to distracted cooks (as they don’t dry out quickly), and the skin crisps up beautifully in the honey mustard marinade. Oil: Use a neutral-tasting oil with a high smoke point, like avocado or canola oil, to prevent the chicken from sticking to the grill and to help it cook evenly. Kosher Salt: Kosher salt is the best salt for seasoning meat. It adheres well to the surface of the chicken and helps to tenderize the meat.
Grab these Tools
Ready to cook up a storm? Here are the tools you’ll need to make this mouthwatering honey mustard chicken. This glaze and marinade honey mustard chicken combination is so incredible. Expect the best honey mustard chicken of your life.
Ingredients for the honey mustard marinade and glaze:
Dijon Mustard: The base of both the marinade and the honey mustard glaze, dijon mustard adds tanginess and depth of flavor to the dish. Mustard with chicken is so yummy. Honey: The sweetness in the honey mustard sauce comes from, you guessed it, honey! Use a good quality honey for the best flavor. Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is the secret to a creamy and tangy marinade that keeps the chicken moist and flavorful. Lemon Juice: Lemon juice adds brightness and acidity to the marinade, balancing out the richness of the yogurt and the sweetness of the honey. Garlic: A generous amount of minced garlic adds aromatic flavor to the marinade. Paprika: Paprika adds a smoky and slightly sweet flavor to the marinade. Cayenne Pepper: A touch of cayenne pepper adds a subtle heat to the dish.
If mustard and yogurt sounds like an odd combination, trust me. Mustard pairs so well with chicken and dairy ingredients like cream and butter, and yogurt is no different. I love to use dijon in this recipe but basic yellow mustard or grainy mustard would work, too.
Ingredients for the rest of the recipe
A sharp chef’s knife: for trimming any excess fat from the chicken and mincing garlic like a pro. Mixing bowls: at least two mixing bowls – one to marinate the chicken in, and another to mix up the honey mustard sauce. Whisk: for mixing the ingredients of the honey mustard sauce until smooth and silky. Baking sheet: to cook the chicken on if baking. Make sure it’s large enough to hold all the chicken pieces without overcrowding. Parchment paper: to line the baking sheet before adding the chicken. This will prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan and make clean-up a breeze. Cooking thermometer: to ensure the chicken is cooked through and safe to eat. No guesswork needed!
How to make Honey Mustard Chicken: Grilled or Oven Baked
Whether you prefer to fire up the grill or bake this honey mustard chicken in the oven, the first marinating steps are the same.
To Grill the Honey Mustard Chicken
To Oven Bake Your Honey Mustard Chicken
And there you have it – perfectly cooked and delicious honey mustard chicken thighs on the grill or baked in the oven.
Cook Chicken Thighs to a Higher Temperature for Tender Results
Now here’s the pro tip you’ve been waiting for: you are going to want to overcook the chicken. Pardon me, WHAAAT did she just say?
Let me explain.
While poultry needs to reach 165ºF for food safety (so you could call it done at that point), a higher temperature is required for the dark meat’s tough collagen to melt.
Ever notice how quickly-cooked chicken thighs have a firm, rubbery texture, while slow-cooked chicken thighs (like in my Crockpot Chicken Tacos) are silky and so incredibly tender they fall apart?
That’s because the collagen has reached the temperature it needs to break down. When grilling chicken thighs, aim for at least 175ºF for that fall-apart tender texture everyone loves.
Trust me. Do this, you’ll be shocked at the difference.
Sugars burn quickly making it very difficult to cook the chicken through without charring it black. When you’re grilling chicken, it is best to save the sweet ingredients until the very end.This is why we mop the honey part of the sauce over the chicken at the end instead of making a honey mustard marinade. This logic is also the reason you should not actually marinate chicken in BBQ sauce.When brushed on in the final few minutes, a sweetened sauce like this one (or BBQ sauce) will cook down to a glossy, delicious glaze without burning unpleasantly. You can get away with a quick 30-minute marinade, but (up until a certain point), the longer you let the chicken marinate, the more flavorful the results will be. Chicken that’s marinated for 24-48 hours is perfect. Longer than that and the acid can start to break down the proteins, resulting in a mushy texture.
Make Ahead and Storage Tips
Can’t get enough of this mouth-watering honey mustard chicken? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these make-ahead and storage tips:
Marinate Ahead: If you’re short on time, you can marinate the chicken thighs in the fridge for up to 48 hours before cooking. This will give the flavors plenty of time to meld together, and the marinade will help tenderize the meat even more!
Freezer-Friendly: Did you know that you can freeze marinated chicken thighs for up to 3 months? Simply place them in airtight freezer bags or containers and store them in the freezer until you’re ready to cook. Just make sure to thaw them completely before grilling or baking.
Leftover Love: Save any leftover chicken thighs in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’re delicious cold straight out of the fridge, or you can reheat them in the oven or microwave for a quick and easy meal.
Meal Prep Magic: Looking to meal prep like a pro? Grill up a batch of these honey mustard chicken thighs ahead of time and portion them out into meal prep containers with your favorite sides. They’re perfect for a healthy and satisfying lunch or dinner on-the-go.
Saucy Solutions: Have some leftover honey mustard sauce? Try using it as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders or fries, or drizzle it over roasted vegetables for a burst of flavor. It’s also great as a salad dressing or marinade for other proteins like pork or tofu.
So go ahead and enjoy this delicious honey mustard grilled chicken any time you want – whether you’re making it ahead, freezing it for later, or storing leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch. You’ll never get tired of its irresistible flavor and juicy tenderness!
Honey Mustard Chicken Variations and Substitutions
Switch up the sauce: try using whole grain mustard instead of dijon for a more textured sauce, or add a splash of hot sauce to give it some kick.
Chicken swaps: not a fan of thighs? No problem! Boneless skinless chicken breasts will work, too, but they tend to dry out more easily. You could swap in wings or drumsticks if you prefer a different cut of chicken.
Marinate with a twist: swap out the yogurt for buttermilk or sour cream (for an even creamier marinade) or use plant yogurt if you avoid dairy. Feel free to use apple cider vinegar in place of the lemon if you prefer.
Spice it up: if you’re a heat-seeker, double the amount of cayenne in the marinade for some extra fiery flavor. Want something milder? Simply leave it out altogether.
What Should I Serve with Honey Mustard Chicken?
If I’m having people over for a BBQ, I love to keep the sides pretty simple with a crisp green salad, my tried-and-true Classic Macaroni Salad or my Ultimate Creamy Potato Salad (or both, depending on the size of the group), plus store-bought fluffy dinner rolls (to pacify my anxiety that I haven’t made enough food – and honestly, they always get eaten).
Some steamed broccoli or green beans are nice.
Use up leftovers in sandwiches or make honey mustard chicken wraps with lettuce and bacon.
