Garlic Black Pepper Chicken (Printable)
Tender chicken thighs marinated in garlic, black pepper, and savory sauces. Ready in under an hour.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (approximately 1.1 lbs)
→ Marinade & Sauce
02 - 4 cloves garlic, finely minced
03 - 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
04 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free if required)
05 - 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
06 - 1 tablespoon honey
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or lemon juice
09 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tablespoons chopped green onions
11 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
# How To Make:
01 - Combine garlic, black pepper, soy sauce, oyster sauce, honey, olive oil, rice vinegar, and sea salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk until thoroughly blended.
02 - Place chicken thighs into the marinade, turning pieces to ensure complete coating. Cover container and refrigerate for minimum 20 minutes, preferably overnight for intensified flavor penetration.
03 - Preheat oven to 400°F or prepare skillet over medium-high heat.
04 - For baking: Arrange marinated chicken on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 20-25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F and surface is golden. For pan-searing: Cook chicken 6-7 minutes per side until well-browned and fully cooked through.
05 - Transfer cooked chicken to cutting board and let rest 5 minutes to redistribute juices. Slice if preferred, then sprinkle with green onions and sesame seeds.
06 - Plate hot alongside steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or fresh garden salad.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The marinade creates this gorgeous sticky glaze that caramelizes beautifully in the oven
- Perfect balance of punchy pepper and mellow honey that keeps everyone guessing
02 -
- Marinating overnight transforms this from good to incredible, the flavors really meld together beautifully
- Letting the meat rest for those 5 minutes is what keeps it juicy instead of letting all the moisture run out onto your cutting board
03 -
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper for cleanup that takes literally 5 seconds
- Press the pepper into the chicken before marinating to really help those flavors penetrate deep into the meat