Looking for something different to do with chicken thighs? These oven-baked, one-pan Blackberry Glazed Chicken Thighs are glazed with a delicious, slightly sweet, slightly tangy sauce made with fresh or frozen blackberries. Keto-approved. This recipe includes instructions for both oven-baking or grilling chicken thighs with a blackberry glaze.
These Blackberry Glazed Chicken Thighs are all cooked in one pan. Easy recipe, easy clean-up! This is a simple chicken thigh recipe that's bound to become a favourite!
❤️Why this recipe works
There's no need to wait for blackberry-picking season to make this chicken dish. Fresh blackberries are readily available in the produce section of your supermarket, and you'll find frozen blackberries in the freezer section.
I've made this blackberry chicken recipe with both fresh and frozen blackberries.
Chicken thighs, either bone-in or boneless are usually my first choice when I want a chicken dinner. They're full of flavour and, unlike chicken breasts, they don't tend to dry out if you accidentally overcook them.
Chicken breasts are fabulous in chicken salads like this Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad.
Ready to make something a little different with chicken thighs for a change? Let's do it! Here's a list of what you'll need to bake or grill these chicken thighs with blackberry sauce. You'll find exact amounts in the recipe card below.
🛒 Ingredients
- bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (see note below about using boneless thighs)
- blackberries: fresh or frozen. I was concerned that the blackberry seeds would be annoying, but they soften during cooking and you won't notice them.
- white wine vinegar: or apple cider vinegar
- sweetener: sugar or Lacanto Monkfruit sweetener with erythritol for sugar-free diet
- whole-grain mustard (so tasty!)
- butter: cold, adds a delicious richness to the glaze
- sea salt and pepper: for seasoning the chicken
- parsley: for garnish
🔪 Instructions
Here's a quick overview of what you'll do to make this recipe. Complete instructions are in the recipe card below.
- You'll start by making the blackberry reduction sauce, as it takes a while to reduce.
- While it's simmering, pre-heat the oven to 375° F.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper before browning them in an oven-proof skillet on the stovetop.
- Once browned on both sides, brush with part of the blackberry glaze and transfer to the oven to finish baking.
- When they're almost done, brush with a little more glaze and return to the oven.
- Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve with the remaining blackberry sauce. That's it! Easy-peasy and oh-so-delicious!
❓Reader Questions
Yes! Boneless thighs are just as tasty, but they won't look the same, as the blackberry glaze clings to the skin on bone-in skin-on thighs. But they'll still be delicious with lots of blackberry flavour.
You can reduce the cooking time. Just make sure the chicken pieces have reached an internal temperature of 165° F. measured with an instant-read meat thermometer before serving.
Yes! Heat your grill to medium, then grill the chicken thighs, covered for 15 minutes.
Baste with half of the blackberry glaze and continue to cook, turning and basting until the thighs register 165° F. measured with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve with the remaining glaze.
What to serve blackberry chicken
This colourful blackberry chicken looks even more appetizing when served with a light-coloured grain or vegetable. Try it with rice, or cauliflower rice if you're following a low-carb or keto diet.
A simple side like roasted asparagus, or steamed green beans would be delicious, too. If you love potatoes, try these Crispy Grilled Potatoes in Foil or these Grilled Lemon Garlic Potato Kabobs.
Or go casual. Add a classic Spinach Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing, or this colourful Strawberry Mango Arugula Salad or any of these 22 Best Summer Salad Recipes.
More healthy gluten-free chicken recipes
When you make this blackberry chicken recipe, please leave a comment and a star rating. I love hearing from you! Subscribe to my newsletter and have new recipes delivered straight to your inbox once a week.
Blackberry Glazed Chicken Thighs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8-9 medium chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on* see note below
- 1 tablespoon high-heat oil, like avocado or grape seed oil
- 6 oz blackberries, fresh or frozen, (about 1 ½ cups)
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sweetener, use sugar or Lacanto Monkfruit sweetener with erythritol for sugar-free diet
- 2 tablespoon butter, cold
- 1 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- sea salt and black pepper
- fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Make the blackberry glaze. Combine blackberries, water, vinegar and sweetener in a small saucepan over medium heat. Mash the blackberries as you stir, and cook until the mixture is reduced to about ⅔ cup. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons cold butter and the grainy mustard.
- Transfer half the glaze to a small bowl.
- Pat chicken thighs dry and sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Heat oil over medium heat in an oven-proof skillet. When it ripples, add the chicken thighs, skin side down. Sear for 4-5 minutes until golden brown, then turn and sear on the other side for 3 - 4 minutes.
- Drain excess oil, then brush with half the blackberry glaze.
- Transfer skillet to oven and bake at 375°F. for 30 minutes or until meat thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 170°F. Remove from oven, brush with a little more glaze, bake for an additional 5 minutes or so.
- Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve with the remaining blackberry sauce.
Notes
- Want to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead of bone-in? Boneless thighs are just as tasty, but they won't look quite the same, as the blackberry glaze clings to the skin on bone-in skin-on thighs. But they'll still be delicious and they'll still have a tasty blackberry flavour.
You can reduce the cooking time to bake thighs. Make sure they have reached an internal temperature of 165° F. measured with an instant-read meat thermometer before serving. - Prepare ahead! You can prepare the blackberry sauce ahead of time, then all you'll have to do is brown the chicken, add the sauce and pop it in the oven to bake.
- If you want to grill this chicken instead of baking it, heat your grill to medium, then grill the thighs, covered for 15 minutes. Baste with half of the blackberry glaze and continue to cook, turning and basting until the thighs register 165° F. measured with an instant-read meat thermometer. Transfer to a serving dish, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley and serve with the remaining glaze.
Nutrition
This recipe was adapted from Blackberry Glazed Chicken at Country Living Magazine.
This post has been updated with extra information to make it more helpful!
Liz
I made these tonight on the barbecue. I used boneless chicken thighs, seared them on one side, flipped and seared on the other side. When they were almost cooked through I spread the blackberry glaze on top and let them cook until they were about 165°. Perfect. Love this recipe. So easy.
Elaine
Thanks for sharing how you adapted this recipe. Happy to hear you liked them as much as I do!
Catherine Voci
What temperature for the oven?
Flavour & Savour
Hi Catherine,
Bake at 375°F. Thanks for catching that.
Paula
My family loved this! It has a great balance of sweet and savoury. Thanks for a great recipe. I'll be making this regularly.