Best Baked Chicken Thighs with Maple Dijon Mustard Sauce - so easy and so good! Your family will love this and rave about this recipe for days!
A perfect, easy recipe if you don't have much free time. These Chicken Thighs with Maple Dijon Sauce require only 5 ingredients, the whole dish takes only 10 minutes to prepare, and then about 40 minutes to bake (while you drink a cocktail or a glass of wine) - super easy, don't you think?! Easily double the recipe for a bigger baking pan. And you get some of the best baked chicken thighs you'll ever make!
To make maple dijon sauce, whisk together Dijon mustard, maple syrup and rice vinegar:
Generously salt and pepper the chicken thighs and place them in the casserole dish:
Spoon the maple-dijon sauce over the chicken thighs:
Turn the chicken thighs over several times to make sure the sauce coats the chicken evenly.
Baked uncovered for 40 minutes until chicken is fully cooked (no longer pink in the center and registers 165 F on meat thermometer).
Best Baked Chicken Thighs with Maple Dijon Sauce
Ingredients
Maple Dijon Sauce:
- ½ cup Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
Chicken!
- 5 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450º F.
- IMPORTANT NOTE about what baking dish to use. Keep in mind that because the sauce has sugar and is cooked at a high temperature, it will tarnish your cooking pan. To prevent that, line your baking pan with foil or use a disposable aluminum baking pan.
- Mix together the Dijon mustard, maple syrup and rice vinegar.
- Salt and pepper the thighs, then place them in the baking dish - I used 2.5 quart oval casserole dish ( 13 inches * 9 inches *4 inches deep).
- Pour the maple-mustard mixture over the thighs, turning them a couple times to fully coat them.
- Place the baking dish with chicken thighs, uncovered, into the oven, and bake for 40 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165ºF. Baste the chicken thighs with the sauce 2 or 3 times during the last 20 minutes of baking.
- Serve the chicken thighs immediately, on plates, topped with the remaining sauce from the baking dish.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I made this "dirty" Keto (because of the sugar free aspect) by using Maple Grove Farms brand Sugar Free Maple Syrup. It doesn't taste artificial like many brands do. You don't get a lot of liquid to baste with until pretty close to the end...but just be patient--it'll come. I finished it off by broiling for about 5 minutes. These can be frozen for meal prep as well...just use a little snack size ziplock for some of the sauce and freeze that as well. Pull out a thigh and a bag of sauce...Boom! Instant main course! Thanks for the recipe.
You are very welcome! Thank you for your feedback!
Can you use any type of syrup are does it have to be maple syrup.
I only tried this with maple syrup and it works really well!
Is there a way to do these in the crockpot?
Super!
Thank you!
Going to try. Can you use skinless thighs?
Yes, you can use skinless and boneless chicken thighs.
Is there anything that can be done if you don't have rice vinegar?
Just skip it if you don't have it.
Do you think balsamic vinegar would work as a substitute. I've never had rice vinegar so I don't know the difference in flavor. Thanks. 🙂
Rice vinegar is very different from balsamic vinegar, but I think balsamic vinegar will work just fine in this recipe. Because the sauce has maple syrup in it, adding balsamic vinegar should work well flavor-wise!
This was a big hit! Thanks.
I am glad you liked it!
This was delicious and easy. Be sure to spray your baking pan throughly with cooking spray. The maple syrup leaves a residue after baking that is difficult to scrub off even after long-term soaking.
Thank you, Jane, for this cooking tip!
I’m going to give this a shot tonight! I will let you know how it turns out!
I hoped you liked it! 🙂
My kids request this EVERY Sunday meal. It’s their favorite chicken recipe ❤️ Paired with stick of butter brown rice and baby Lima’s. Easy and delicious!
So happy to get comments like this! I am so glad your family has been enjoying this recipe!
Making this tonight, my family loves the mixture of maple syrup & Dijon mustard! Will let you know what we think of the recipe.
Enjoy! 🙂
What would be the best sides to make with this
Roasted asparagus or cooked green beans. Angel hair pasta. Flavored rice or just rice with lime juice and some herbs.
Do I have to use rice vinegar?
Rice vinegar adds a nice touch to the sauce, but you don't have to use it.
Can u use any maple syrup like ms butterqprth or does it have to be 100% maple?
You can use any maple syrup.
Is it necessary or helpful to marinade overnight?
I don't think it's necessary to marinade the chicken.