These Honey-Dijon Turmeric Chicken Thighs make an easy 30-minute one-pan dish, all cooked on your stovetop. Juicy chicken with a sweet and spicy sauce makes a quick weeknight meal! Sprinkle with spices, sear, then simmer!
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❤️ Why this recipe works
- It's a 30-minute meal!
- Easy clean-up: It's all made in one pan on your stovetop.
- It's made with a short list of ingredients you probably have on hand.
- This sweet and spicy sauce with juicy chicken makes a family-friendly dish.
🛒 Ingredients
You can find the full printable recipe, including ingredient quantities, below. But first, here are a few details about the ingredients and steps to help you make this honey-Dijon turmeric recipe perfectly every time.
chicken: boneless, skinless chicken thighs
spice rub ingredients: ground turmeric, dry mustard powder, salt and pepper
honey-mustard sauce: whole grain mustard, Dijon mustard, honey, chicken stock, salt and pepper
herbs: chives or parsley for garnish (optional)
🔪 How to make Honey-Dijon Turmeric Chicken
You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. Here's a short summary of what you'll do to make this easy turmeric chicken recipe!
- Combine the spice rub ingredients and work well into the chicken thighs, covering both sides.
- Whisk together the honey-Dijon sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Sear the chicken on both sides.
- Reduce the heat, drain any excess oil, then pour the honey-mustard sauce over the chicken thighs.
- Simmer them in the sauce until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F.
- Remove to a serving dish, garnish with parsley or chives and serve.
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
Turmeric will stain. Protect your clothing and avoid using plastic utensils. If you do get it on plastic or on your countertops, rub it with a little oil first, then use your usual cleaning method to remove it.
❓Questions you might have
By itself, yes. This golden-hued Indian spice has a pungent, earthy flavour. In this chicken recipe, however, there is only a small amount of turmeric and it's beautifully balanced by the honey and mustard flavours.
Yes! Turmeric is good for digestion and has anti-inflammatory benefits, too. It contains curcumin, the yellow-orange pigment in turmeric that has been found to benefit those who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's, and rheumatoid arthritis.
It's even suspected to offer protection from certain cancers and may help to lower cholesterol.
To get the full benefit of curcumin, you must combine it with black pepper, so don't leave out the pepper in this recipe!
What other ways can I add turmeric to my diet?
If you want to drink your turmeric, try these healthy drinks:
🔁 Possible Variations
If you prefer to use bone-in skin-on chicken thighs, you can sear the chicken on the stovetop, add the sauce, then bake in the oven.
🥶 Storage and Freezing Instructions
Honey-Mustard Chicken thighs freeze well. Cook, cool them completely, then freeze them in an airtight container.
Plan ahead! Double the recipe and freeze half for another day! You can also make the sauce ahead of time and freeze it separately.
🍽 Serving suggestions
Enjoy! Here are a few suggestions to round out your meal:
Butternut Squash Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Crispy Lemon Oven-Roasted Potatoes
🗒More chicken recipes
When you make this turmeric chicken recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing how my recipes turned out for you, or what adaptations you made. Thanks in advance!
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📖 Recipe
Honey Dijon Turmeric Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 - 8 chicken thighs, boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoons oil
For the rub
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
For the honey-Dijon sauce
- 3 tablespoons whole grain mustard
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons chicken stock
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat chicken thighs dry.
- Combine the rub ingredients and work well into the chicken thighs, covering all surfaces.
- Whisk together the honey-Dijon sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Heat a large heavy-bottomed oven-proof skillet on the stovetop. When hot, add oil to barely cover the surface. When it ripples, add the chicken thighs, smooth side down. Sear for 3-5 minutes until golden brown, then turn and sear on the other side for 3 - 4 minutes or so.
- Reduce the heat, drain excess oil, then pour honey-mustard sauce over the chicken thighs.
- Simmer the thighs in the sauce until an instant-read thermometer indicates an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove to a serving dish, garnish with parsley or chives and serve.
Brooke
Love this chicken recipe. So much flavor and it was quick and easy to make. Thanks.
Elaine
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, Brooke! Thanks for the 5 star rating, too!
Madison
Will definitely be adding this to our weekly meal rotation. Easy to make and SO tasty!
Elaine
Thanks so much for the 5 stars, Madison!
Russ
Definitely 5 stars! Added a little more chicken stock at the end to make more sauce for my rice. Going to try it over noodles next time.
Elaine
Thanks Russ! Great idea to have this with noodles!