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This balsamic and honey hen is pan-seared till golden, then simmered in a sweet-tangy glaze that adheres to each chew. Juicy, flavorful, and prepared in 20 minutes, it’s the proper simple weeknight hen recipe that tastes prefer it got here from a restaurant.
Honey Balsamic Hen
I first made this balsamic and honey hen on a kind of nights once I didn’t really feel like making a giant grocery run however nonetheless wished dinner to really feel just a little particular. There was a pack of hen thighs within the fridge, a bottle of balsamic vinegar that had been sitting on the shelf for weeks, and naturally, honey, the one ingredient I by no means run out of. I put them collectively, and what got here out of the pan fully stunned me. The hen was juicy and golden, and the sauce was thick and shiny with simply the fitting steadiness of candy and tangy.
Since then, it has change into a recipe I preserve coming again to every time I would like one thing fast however value slowing right down to savor. And because the title says, it’s honey balsamic hen, so this isn’t the time to carry again on the honey. It takes solely 20 minutes from begin to end, and you’ll pair it with nearly something. Scroll down for my ideas and some different methods you possibly can prepare dinner this. For extra honey hen recipes, try my Honey Hen, Honey Lime Hen, and Honey Orange Hen subsequent!
What Makes This Hen So Irresistible
- Golden, juicy hen each time. Boneless thighs prepare dinner up tender and moist, with simply sufficient sear to lock within the taste.
- Candy meets tangy in the easiest way. Honey rounds out the sharpness of balsamic vinegar, turning it right into a wealthy, shiny glaze that’s downright addictive.
- Dinner in 20 minutes. Quick sufficient for a Tuesday, however particular sufficient that you simply’ll need to linger over each chew.
- The sauce goes with all the things. Drizzle it over rice, spoon it onto Mashed Potatoes, or let roasted veggies like Garlic Roasted Asparagus to soak it up so nothing on the plate goes to waste.
Substances You’ll Want
- Hen thighs – You should utilize bone-in or boneless hen thighs.
- Honey
- Balsamic vinegar
You’ll discover the total ingredient record with precise quantities within the recipe card on the backside of this submit.
Professional Tip #1: Why I Use Hen Thighs
Hen thighs keep juicy and flavorful, even in case you prepare dinner them a couple of minutes longer. The additional fats within the meat means the sauce clings fantastically, providing you with that shiny, flavorful coating in each chew. You should utilize hen breast in case you favor, however preserve an in depth eye on the cooking time since it will probably dry out extra simply.
Professional Tip #2: Honey Makes It All Come Collectively
That is honey balsamic hen, so don’t skimp. Honey offers the sauce physique, balances the acidity of the vinegar, and provides that mellow sweetness that retains you coming again for one more chew.
Professional Tip #3: Why I Use Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic brings a deep, tangy taste with a contact of pure sweetness that pairs completely with honey. It additionally reduces right into a shiny glaze that makes the hen look pretty much as good because it tastes.
Professional Tip #4: The Olive Oil And Butter Combo
Olive oil offers you a pleasant sear with out burning, whereas butter provides richness and helps the sauce emulsify right into a silky glaze.
How To Make Balsamic And Honey Hen
Begin by giving the hen a superb sprinkle of salt and floor black pepper on either side, simply sufficient to carry out the flavour earlier than it hits the pan.
Heat up your skillet over medium warmth, then lay the hen in pores and skin facet down so it will probably slowly crisp up and switch golden. As soon as either side are fantastically browned and the pores and skin is good and crispy, take the hen out and pour off any extra fats from the pan.
Add the olive oil and butter to the identical skillet, then toss within the garlic and let it prepare dinner till it smells superb and turns just a bit golden. Pour within the honey, balsamic vinegar, and water, give it a fast stir, then pop the hen again in. Flip the warmth right down to low and let all the things simmer for about 2 minutes, simply till the sauce thickens barely and the hen is cooked by way of.
As soon as the hen’s prepared, take the pan off the warmth, sprinkle over some recent parsley for colour and freshness, and get it on the desk immediately whereas that shiny honey balsamic sauce remains to be heat and irresistible.
Different Methods To Cook dinner
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Season the hen with salt and pepper, then place it pores and skin facet up on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 30–35 minutes in case you’re utilizing bone-in thighs, or 20–25 minutes for boneless, till the pores and skin is golden and the hen is cooked by way of. Whereas it’s baking, make the sauce on the range as in the principle recipe, then brush or drizzle it over the baked hen earlier than serving.
- Grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high and flippantly oil the grates so nothing sticks. Season the hen, then place it pores and skin facet down first. Grill for about 6–8 minutes per facet for bone-in thighs, or 4–5 minutes per facet for boneless, till they’re totally cooked. Whereas the hen rests, make the sauce on the range as in the principle recipe, then brush or drizzle it over the grilled hen earlier than serving.
- Air Fryer (Boneless): Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F). Season the boneless hen thighs, place them within the basket, and air fry for 10 minutes. Flip them over and prepare dinner for one more 4 minutes till cooked by way of. Whereas they’re air frying, make the sauce on the range, then toss the hen within the sauce so every bit is coated.
- Air Fryer (Bone-In): Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Season the bone-in thighs and place them within the basket. Air fry for 12 minutes, flip, and prepare dinner for one more 6 minutes till the pores and skin is crispy and the meat is totally cooked. Put together the sauce individually on the range, then brush or drizzle it over the hen earlier than serving.
Often Requested Questions
Sure, however the pores and skin provides taste and helps preserve the meat juicy. In the event you go skinless, watch the cooking time carefully to keep away from drying them out.
Sure. The honey balsamic sauce might be made a day or two upfront and saved within the fridge. Simply reheat it gently on the range earlier than tossing it with the hen.
Sure, however don’t overcrowd the pan or air fryer. Cook dinner the hen in batches so it browns correctly and the sauce can scale back with out steaming.
Retailer leftover balsamic and honey hen in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet over low warmth or within the microwave, including a splash of water if the sauce will get too thick.
Sure. Let the cooked hen cool fully, then freeze it in an hermetic container for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge, then reheat on the range or within the oven till warmed by way of.
This recipe has 635 energy per serving.
What To Serve With This Recipe
For a straightforward and healthful weeknight dinner, I like to recommend the next recipes:
I hope you take pleasure in this submit as a lot as I do. In the event you strive my recipe, please go away a remark and contemplate giving it a 5-star ranking. For easier and scrumptious recipes, discover my Recipe Index, and keep up to date by subscribing to my publication and following me on Fb, Pinterest, and Instagram for brand new updates.
Different Hen Recipes You Would possibly Like
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Season the hen with salt and floor black pepper.
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Warmth a skillet over medium warmth and slowly pan-fry the hen, pores and skin facet down first, till either side are properly browned and crispy. Take away the hen and discard the fats.
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Add the olive oil and butter to the skillet and sauté the garlic till barely browned, adopted by the honey, balsamic vinegar, and water. Return the hen to the skillet, decrease the warmth to a simmer, and scale back the sauce till barely thickened and the hen is totally cooked, about 2 minutes.
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Take away from warmth, garnish with parsley, and serve instantly.
Serving: 3folks, Energy: 635kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 37g, Fats: 46g, Saturated Fats: 13g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 8g, Monounsaturated Fats: 20g, Trans Fats: 0.3g, Ldl cholesterol: 232mg, Sodium: 595mg, Potassium: 503mg, Fiber: 0.3g, Sugar: 15g, Vitamin A: 299IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 30mg, Iron: 2mg
Vitamin data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
