Baked balsamic chicken thighs are a perfect example of how I approach cooking: simple, easy, and done within an hour. By now, you know I’m not a complicated cook. I like my recipes to have familiar ingredients and be hassle-free. So when I find something that checks all those boxes, you can bet it goes straight to the front of my recipe book. And yes, I have a recipe book—an actual 3-ringed binder you can physically open, close, and even write in!
In this digital age, hardcopy cookbooks are becoming less common, but I still love the smell of book covers and the feeling of holding something in my hand. And really, should we be standing by the fire with our faces buried in our phones, reading a recipe? Anyway, I’m getting carried away now. 🙂 These baked balsamic chicken thighs made it to the front of my folder because they are not only delicious but incredibly simple. Check them out:
Making Baked Balsamic Chicken Thighs
I originally found this baked balsamic chicken thighs recipe from RecipeTin Eats. She has some amazing stuff and is one of the few bloggers I know who meticulously checks and re-checks her recipes. I have made several of her dishes, but my favorite is her Crockpot bolognese sauce.
Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Pan
First, heat your oven to 350 degrees. Second, cover a 13×9 baking pan with foil or parchment paper.
Step 2: Prepare the Baked Balsamic Chicken Thighs
Place 2 pounds (or about 5-6 pieces) of chicken thighs upside down so that the meaty part is touching the foil. Use chicken thighs that still have the bone and skin attached. This recipe also works with drumsticks or wings. It doesn’t work with chicken breasts, however. Breast meat secretes more juice when it cooks, so the balsamic sauce gets watered down.
Step 3: Make the Balsamic Sauce
Now for the balsamic sauce! You need a high-quality balsamic vinegar. Pour 1/4 cup into a small bowl and add 2 1/2 Tablespoons of soy sauce.
Step 4: Add Sweetness and Garlic
Now add a 1/4 cup of honey, a 1/4 cup of brown sugar, and 1/2 Tablespoon of minced garlic. Use a sturdy whisk to distribute the honey and sugar evenly.
Step 5: Pour the Sauce Over the Baked Balsamic Chicken Thighs
Pour the sauce over the chicken thighs. Make sure there is a little bit of space between each chicken thigh. If the chicken thighs are too close together, it affects how the sauce reduces and thickens. So, if you want to bake more than 4-6 baked balsamic chicken thighs, use your largest dish.
Step 6: Bake the Chicken
Bake the baked balsamic chicken thighs for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.
Step 7: Flip and Finish Baking
When that is finished, turn the baked balsamic chicken thighs over and spoon the sauce on top. Bake them for another 20 minutes and make sure the sauce has thickened.
Step 8: Rest and Serve
Pull the baked balsamic chicken thighs out of the oven and let them sit for 5-10 minutes before serving. When plating, pour some of the balsamic sauce over the top for a finishing touch.
Serving Suggestions
This baked balsamic chicken thighs dish has a lot of flavor, so it is best to serve it with mildly flavored sides. I chose a simple pecan and goat cheese strawberry salad and steamed green beans. These baked balsamic chicken thighs taste even better the next day. Simply reheat in the microwave or chop up leftovers and put them on top of a salad.
Need some other easy dinner ideas or something that doesn’t take more than 30 minutes? Check out my recipe index or follow my Pinterest boards below. Happy cooking, y’all!
