Ginger Garlic Chicken Bake (Printable)
Tender chicken thighs baked with fresh ginger, garlic, and aromatic spices for a comforting dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Poultry
01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
→ Marinade
02 - 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
03 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 2 tablespoons gluten-free soy sauce
06 - 2 tablespoons honey
07 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lemon juice
08 - 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
09 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
→ Garnish
10 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
11 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Position the rack in the center of the oven.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the grated ginger, minced garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, black pepper, and salt until well combined.
03 - Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Add them to the marinade and toss thoroughly to coat each piece evenly. Allow to marinate for at least 10 minutes at room temperature, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for deeper flavor penetration.
04 - Place the marinated chicken thighs in a single layer, skin side up, in a baking dish or on a rimmed sheet pan. Pour any remaining marinade over the top.
05 - Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the skin is golden brown and the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
06 - For extra-crispy skin, switch the oven to broil and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning.
07 - Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade doubles as a glaze, so every bite carries this sweet, savory punch that makes people close their eyes when they eat.
- Bone in, skin on thighs are forgiving and juicy, meaning you can practically forget about them in the oven and they still turn out gorgeous.
02 -
- If you skip drying the chicken before marinating, the skin will steam instead of crisp and you will wonder what went wrong when it should have been perfect.
- Broiling is optional but the difference between good and unforgettable is literally two minutes under direct heat.
03 -
- Grate the ginger directly into the marinade bowl using a microplane so you capture every drop of juice and none of the fibrous bits end up in the finished dish.
- Start checking the chicken at the 30 minute mark because ovens vary wildly and dry thighs are a tragedy that is entirely preventable.