Sticky Maple Apple Chicken (Printer View)

Tender chicken thighs coated in a sweet maple-apple glaze baked to golden perfection.

# What You'll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (2.5 lbs)

→ Maple-Apple Glaze

02 - 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
03 - 1/3 cup apple cider or unsweetened apple juice
04 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
05 - 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
06 - 2 tbsp olive oil
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tsp fresh thyme leaves or 1/2 tsp dried thyme
09 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Apples

12 - 2 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Gala), cored and sliced into wedges

→ Garnish (optional)

13 - Fresh thyme sprigs

# Method Steps:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or grease lightly.
02 - Pat chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - Whisk together maple syrup, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, minced garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well blended.
04 - Place chicken thighs skin-side up in the baking dish. Nestle apple wedges evenly around the chicken.
05 - Pour glaze evenly over chicken and apples, turning chicken once to coat completely.
06 - Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, basting once or twice with pan juices, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and is golden and sticky.
07 - Broil on high for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely for additional caramelization.
08 - Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The glaze caramelizes into something almost addictive—crispy edges, sticky center, pure comfort.
  • Chicken thighs stay impossibly juicy while developing that gorgeous mahogany color.
  • The whole thing comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for when you want to impress without the fuss.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the chicken thighs—moisture is the enemy of crispy skin, and crispy skin is what makes this dish shine.
  • Basting isn't optional; it's what creates that sticky, glossy glaze that makes people fall in love with this dish the moment they see it.
03 -
  • If you're using boneless, skinless thighs, reduce the baking time by 5–8 minutes and watch them carefully so they don't dry out.
  • A pinch of chipotle powder in the glaze adds a subtle smokiness that deepens the whole flavor profile without overwhelming the fruit.
Return