Balsamic Marinated Chicken Thighs

Elevate your dinner game with these irresistible Balsamic Marinated Chicken Thighs! Juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor, these chicken thighs are marinated in a delightful blend of balsamic vinegar, garlic, honey, and herbs, then baked to crispy perfection. Perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy weekend dinner, this easy recipe promises to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

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My husband usually handles the Friday dinner cooking. This time I volunteered to make the chicken, although I haven't exactly had a proven track record in chicken cooking. Regardless, my husband was super busy with work so he let me try.

Here's what I asked ChatGPT:

I want to make chicken thighs in the oven. I want to marinade them for about an hour, and I want to put something acidic (like balsamic vinegar) to tenderize them. Recipe?

And here's what it game me:

I was afraid of killing the chicken like I normally do, so I asked it:

my husband always adds some chicken stock to the pans to keep the thighs moist. Is that a good idea?

And it answered:

I then noticed the recipe calls for honey and my baby is not one yet. I also noticed it said Dijon and I only had yellow mustard. Lastly, I wanted to use fresh rosemary. (Full disclosure these were 3 separate prompts however the results were pretty similar so I combined it all to one):

I have a baby can I use maple syrup instead of honey? I don't have dijon mustard only yellow mustard. can I use fresh rosemary instead of dried rosemary?

And here is the outcome (I used the marinade for 8 chicken but oh well):

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Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: Approximately 350

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Marinade Time: 1 hour

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Balsamic Marinated Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• Salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup chicken stock

Instructions:

For the Marinade:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, soy sauce, maple syrup, yellow mustard, fresh rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper until well combined.

2. Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish. Pour the marinade over the chicken, ensuring all the pieces are well coated.

3. Seal the bag or cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, turning the chicken occasionally to ensure even marinating.

For the Chicken:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade and place them on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Discard any remaining marinade.

3. Pour the chicken stock into the pan around the chicken thighs to help keep them moist during baking.

4. Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is crispy and golden brown. You can also broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes for extra crispy skin, if desired.

5. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy your delicious balsamic marinated chicken thighs, enhanced with the freshness of rosemary!

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Chicken thighs

Marinade ingredients

Mix marinade in bowl

Mix marinade in bowl

Transfer to bag for marinading

Add chicken to bag

Mix to cover all chicken in ma

Arrange and pour chicken stock

Enjoy