These 5-ingredient honey mustard chicken thighs are so flavorful and easy to make, they will be one of those recipes that will be your new healthy basics. Just mix the ingredients together and bake them on a sheet pan and you have dinner ready just like that! 

overhead of white platter with six honey mustard chicken thighs on it

This post contains affiliate links. I originally shared this post on Jan 6th, 2015. I have updated the images and some of the text today. 

Why We Love This Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipe

No matter what life throws at us, I wanted to make sure you knew I got your back when it comes to getting dinner on the table. So amidst all the noise and chaos, if you’re struggling with “what’s for dinner?” I am here to say: This healthy chicken thigh recipe is what’s for dinner!

And who isn’t psyched to see a 5-ingredient recipe showing its pretty face around here today? I know I am! You may even be thinking it could be a contender for your weekly menu rotation. Maybe, just maybe it will become one of those family-pleasing dinner staples. I hope so.

Love this flavor combo!  Have made these dozens of times! Never disappoints!  Most times I make half for dinner and freeze the other half to cook another night.  The “marinade” still tastes great even from the freezer! 

~Jackie

Recipe Highlights

5 Key Ingredients

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

If you are not yet a fan of chicken thighs, this recipe may be the way you’ll be converted. I mean I love boneless skinless chicken breast too, but chicken thighs are wonderful because they are so juicy and it is nearly impossible to overcook them.

If yours has a lot of excess fat, feel free to cut it off with a sharp knife before adding to the honey mustard mixture.

Honey

Since this recipe is so very simple I love using a really good honey for the most flavor. Orange blossom honey is my all time favorite. But if you happen to have locally produced honey that is great too. If your raw honey has gotten granular, simply warm it up in the microwave to make it melted and liquid again, or you can place the jar into a bowl of warm water.

Mustard

I use brown deli mustard for mildly peppery mustard flavor. You could make this more spicy by choosing a Dijon mustard.

Thyme & Salt

To season I add fresh chopped thyme and salt to the mixture. You can use 1 teaspoon dry thyme too. And feel free to add in fresh pepper too here if you like.

How to Make Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs

Make the honey mustard sauce

mustard, honey, thyme and salt in a large bowl

The healthy honey mustard marinade is a simple combination of mustard, honey, fresh thyme, and salt. I used brown deli mustard to really amp up the mustard flavor, but feel free to use whatever is in your pantry.

Coat the chicken

chicken thighs in a bowl coated in honey mustard

Fully coat the chicken thighs in the honey mustard sauce, making sure to get it into all the crevices (you may need to use your hands to really work it in!).

How Long To Roast Boneless Chicken Thighs at 375

  • After the chicken thighs are fully coated in the honey mustard, arrange them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet (the parchment paper makes for easier cleanup).
  • Roast the honey mustard chicken thighs for 30 to 40 minutes. I use a digital instant-read thermometer to check that they’ve reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
  • To make sure they stay juicy once they come out of the oven, let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Chicken thighs on a plate from the side with a black faux bone handled knife in the foreground

Can You Make This Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Recipe Ahead?

  • Yes! You have two options. You can mix the chicken with the honey mustard mixture up to 1 day ahead and then bake them.
  • Or they reheat really well. You can do so in the microwave, until they are steaming hot. Or you can set them in a pyrex baking dish and cover them with foil. Then just bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until they are steaming hot. 

What To Serve With Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs

FAQs

Can you use honey mustard for this recipe?

Absolutely! I love Honey Cup brand and it is awesome. Use 1/3 cup mixed with the thyme and salt.

Can you use bone-in chicken thighs.

Yes! They will take a little longer to roast and the honey mustard coating will brown, but they will still be juicy and delicious. Make sure to use an instant-read thermometer to check that they are at least 165 degrees in the center (about 40 minutes.)

Can the chicken be frozen?

Yes! You can freeze the chicken before or after roasting.

Can I use foil instead of parchment?

Yes but foil is reactive with mustard (which has acidic element to it and cause pitting of the foil.) To prevent the chicken from reacting with the mustard mixture, brush the foil with oil before placing the chicken on top. This will help create a barrier to prevent the reaction.

What is the best way to re-heat?

Chicken thighs are great for reheating. Place them in a small casserole dish and cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees until heated to 165 degrees F, about 25 minutes. You can also heat through in the microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per chicken thigh on high power.

close-up of chicken thigh on a platter with fresh thyme sprigs

More Healthy Chicken Thigh Recipes:

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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chicken thigh close up

5-Ingredient Honey Mustard Chicken Thighs


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 23 reviews

  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 6 thighs 1x

Description

These 5-ingredient honey mustard chicken thighs are so flavorful and easy to make, they will be one of those recipes that will be your new healthy basics. Just mix the ingredients together and bake them on a sheet pan and you have dinner ready just like that!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 tablespoons brown deli mustard
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 2 pounds

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment.
  2. Whisk honey, mustard, thyme and salt in a medium bowl. Add chicken thighs and turn to coat. Arrange chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet, tucking them into neat thigh shapes.
  3. Roast chicken until cooked through and browned in spots, 30 to 40 minutes *See note. Let rest 4 to 6 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • I use a digital instant read thermometer to check that they’ve reached an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.

To Make Ahead

  • You can mix the chicken with the honey mustard mixture up to 1 day ahead and then bake them.
  • Or they reheat really well. You can do so in the microwave, until they are steaming hot. Or you can set them in a pyrex baking dish and cover them with foil. Then just bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes until they are steaming hot.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 thigh
  • Calories: 230
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 685 mg
  • Fat: 9 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 6 g
  • Fiber: 0 g
  • Protein: 30 g
overhead of chicken on a platter with knife and fork with text overlay