Hot Honey Feta Chicken Thighs

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These Hot Honey Feta Chicken Thighs are sticky, sweet, spicy, and incredibly juicy — with golden crispy skin and a creamy finish from crumbled feta. Pan-seared to lock in flavor, then oven-baked to perfection, this easy one-pan dinner brings bold flavor with minimal effort. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Why You’ll Love This Hot Honey Chicken Recipe

• Bold flavor – Spicy, sweet, and buttery with a kick from sriracha and red pepper flakes.
• Crispy skin + juicy meat – Thanks to the pan sear and oven bake combo.
• Budget-friendly – Chicken thighs are affordable, flavorful, and hard to overcook.
• One-pan dinner – Easy to clean up and perfect for busy weeknights.
• Impressively simple – Looks fancy, but anyone can pull this off!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need (exact amounts in the recipe card):

For the Hot Honey Sauce:

• Butter – Gives the sauce richness and helps it coat the chicken.
• Honey – Classic sweetness that balances the heat. (Use keto honey or brown monk fruit for low carb.)
• Sriracha – Adds heat and tang. Adjust to taste.
• Garlic – Freshly minced for the best flavor.
• Red pepper flakes – Optional, but adds another layer of spice.
• Salt – Just a pinch to round out the sweetness.

For the Chicken:

• Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs – My go-to! They stay juicy and the skin gets crispy and golden.
• Spices – Onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper bring great flavor without overpowering the glaze.
• Olive oil – Helps the skin crisp up during searing.
• Feta cheese – Crumbled on top for a creamy, salty contrast to the spicy-sweet chicken.

How to Make It

Start by preheating your oven to 200°C / 400°F.

Make the hot honey sauce: melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds until it smells amazing, then stir in the honey, sriracha, red pepper flakes, and salt. Let it bubble gently for 2–3 minutes, just until slightly thickened. Set aside and save a few spoonfuls for drizzling at the end — trust me, you’ll want that glossy finish.

Pat the chicken thighs dry using paper towels — this is key for crispy skin. In a small bowl, mix the salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika, then rub it all over the chicken.

Heat the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet (cast iron is ideal) over medium-high heat. Place the chicken skin-side down and leave it alone for 6–7 minutes until the skin is deep golden and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for another 2 minutes.

Pour most of the hot honey sauce over the chicken in the pan. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes.

Take it out, sprinkle over the crumbled feta, and return to the oven for 2–3 more minutes to gently soften the cheese.

Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving, then drizzle with the reserved sauce and spoon some of that buttery, spicy pan juice over everything. Serve it up with your favorite side and watch everyone go quiet at the table.

Tips from My Kitchen

• Dry that chicken! I know it’s tempting to skip, but taking a minute to pat the thighs dry makes a huge difference in how crispy the skin gets. Totally worth it.
• Use a cast iron skillet if you can – it holds heat like a dream and gives you that restaurant-style sear. If you don’t have one, any oven-safe pan will work just fine.
• Don’t move the chicken too soon when searing. Let it sit skin-side down so it crisps up properly. If it’s sticking, it’s not ready to flip yet.
• Save some sauce for the end. That extra drizzle of warm, sticky hot honey just before serving? Magic.
• Feta tip: Add it right at the end and give it just a couple of minutes in the oven. You want it soft and creamy, not completely melted away.
• Leftovers? So good the next day. Just reheat gently and spoon over any leftover sauce (if there’s any left!).

What to Serve It With

This dish is bold and saucy, so it pairs beautifully with something to soak up all that flavor:

• Cauliflower mash or buttery mashed potatoes
• Rice or quinoa (or low carb rice if you’re doing keto)
• Roasted green beans, broccoli, or asparagus
• A cool cucumber salad with lemon and fresh herbs balances the heat nicely
• Or keep it super simple with a green salad and crusty bread to mop up the sauce 😍