Honey-Chipotle Braised Chicken

A sophisticated Mexican-inspired dish featuring succulent chicken thighs braised in a rich, velvety sauce that balances smoky chipotle heat with the sweetness of honey and caramelized aromatics.

Prep: 20 min · Cook: 50 min · Yield: 4 · Method: Oven

Ingredients

• 2.5 lb chicken thighs
• 1 unit yellow onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 0.5 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Cooking instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides with salt and black pepper. — 375°F
2. Place a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and sear the chicken skin-side down until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the pan and set aside. (about 10 min)
3. Dice the onion and sauté in the same skillet until softened. Mince the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. (about 5 min)
4. Stir in the chipotle peppers, honey, and chicken stock. Bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. (about 5 min)
5. Return the chicken to the skillet, skin-side up. Transfer to the oven and roast until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. (about 25 min) — 375°F
6. Carefully remove the skillet from the oven. Transfer the chicken to a platter. Place the skillet back on the stovetop over medium heat, stir in the heavy cream, and simmer the sauce until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour the sauce over the chicken to serve. (about 5 min)