How to make sweet and sticky Maple Glazed Chicken

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If you’re a regular reader (hi team!) you’ll know that I love nothing more than easy dinner recipes. I’m usually up early, which means by the time dinner rolls around I’m looking for something simple and tasty that doesn’t require too much effort.

My delicious recipe for Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs is a brilliant dinner option as this is a meal the entire family can enjoy.

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Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs with mashed potato.

Lots of flavour, little effort

This chicken recipe is packed with flavour! With a combination of juicy chicken thighs, sweet and sticky maple syrup, oranges, herbs and garlic, there is a lot going on here.

I like to marinate the chicken overnight, which means when it comes to dinner time, all I need to do is tip the whole lot onto an oven tray or rimmed baking sheet, add some sliced red onions and bake until golden brown and tender.

Ingredients

To make Maple Glazed Chicken Thighs you’ll need the following main ingredients:

Chicken Thighs: For simplicity and easy eating I prefer to use boneless chicken thighs with the skin on. Can’t get boneless chicken thighs? See how to debone them here!
Maple syrup: Be sure to use a good quality maple syrup for the most delicious maple glaze.
Soy sauce, Dijon mustard and garlic: These three ingredients combine with the maple syrup to give this dish a subtle sweetness.
Rosemary and oregano: these herbs are brilliant with chicken and orange.

Unbaked Chicken thighs in maple orange marinade with red onions.

You’ll find the full ingredient list and method in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Instructions

This dish is so simple, there are only three main steps:

First, marinate the chicken with maple, mustard, soy sauce, herbs, garlic and orange.
Next, roast in the oven to golden brown perfection with some red onions. You can add halved or quartered new potatoes to the roasting dish too for a complete meal.
Last, bring the whole tray to the dinner table and serve it all up with rice, plain or sweet potatoes or just some good quality bread. So easy!

What to serve with Sticky Maple Chicken

As this dish is all made in the oven, you’ve got the stovetop free for any sides. I always like peas or green beans with chicken, but a crisp green salad would go well too.

If you’re wanting to bulk this meal out a bit, try it with my Tomato and Bean Salad. You can prepare the salad days in advance so it’s brilliant for a busy weeknight.

WINE PAIRING: I like to serve this dish with a very cold, very dry Rosé wine.

Sticky Maple Chicken Thighs with mashed potato

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What can I use as a substitute for maple syrup?

Sometimes real maple syrup is difficult to come by or just too expensive. In this recipe, you can substitute maple syrup with brown sugar or honey.
If you’re using a maple syrup substitute, add a splash of balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar to cut through the sweetness a little bit.

Can I make this dish with boneless chicken breasts instead?

Yes, though you’ll have to make some adjustments when using a different type of meat, as chicken breasts cook much faster in the oven than thighs. Add a dash of white wine or chicken broth to the dish before cooking. Roast at a higher temperature, 220°C / 325 °F for only 20-25 minutes until the glaze has caramelised and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 74°C / 165°F when tested at the thickest part of the breast.

Can I use this delicious glaze with other meats?

Yes! Maple is especially good with pork chops! I actually have a separate Maple Glazed Pork Chops recipe over here. It’s cooked on the stovetop so it’s even faster than this one.