Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Potatoes, Apples, and Shallots

Honey roasted chicken thighs are a one-pan dinner, complete with baby potatoes, apple, shallots, and thyme. The chicken gets crispy and juicy and infuses the whole dish with flavor.

By
Sara Tane
Sara Tane
Sara Tane
Sara Tane specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and Jewish recipes. Her articles and recipes can be found on Cooking Light, Food52, MyRecipes, Saveur, The Kitchn, and Good Housekeeping.  
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Published September 12, 2022
Sara Tane
Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

I will take any opportunity to incorporate fruit into a savory recipe. Roasting apple slices is such an underrated move—they cook down beautifully, releasing a sweet, subtly sour flavor and taking on an irresistibly soft, tender texture. 

In this sheet pan wonder, chicken thighs are roasted in a hot oven over a bed of apple slices, shallots, waxy potatoes, and fresh thyme. The results are veggies coated in a luxurious layer of schmaltzy gold and tender chicken thighs with golden brown, crackly skin.

When to Serve Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs

Intimidated by roasting a whole chicken? I hear that. Starting smaller with chicken thighs is a great way to practice your poultry cookery without having to sweat through preparing a whole bird.

While this chicken dish can serve as an easy sheet pan centerpiece for your Rosh Hashanah celebrations (hello, apples and honey), it can also double as a humble, autumnal weeknight dinner. 

The beauty of this dish is that it’s the whole meal. You’ve got protein, starch, and some fresh produce all cooking on the same sheet pan and coated in a garlicky, sweet sauce. If you wanted to prepare a simple salad to go alongside, I’m certainly not going to stop you, but it is not required.

Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

Tips for the Ultimate Roasted Chicken

If you have the foresight, I would recommend letting the chicken thighs sit in the marinade for up to 8 hours in the fridge so it can really soak up the honey, lemon juice, and garlic. But if 15 minutes is all you have, that will do the trick.

The downside to cooking with skin-on chicken is that you only have one real opportunity to enjoy that crispy, crackly skin, and that moment is when it’s coming right out of the oven. If you plan to enjoy leftovers, I wouldn’t count on crispy skin (the horror, I know!).

Can I Make This With Chicken Breasts?

The benefit of using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs is that the skin will release chicken fat (schmaltz) while cooking, making the bed of potatoes, apples, and shallots below it that much more delicious. Thighs are also dark meat, which means they are fattier and more flavorful. 

If you want to substitute breasts, I recommend sticking to bone-in and skin-on if possible. The chicken may need to cook for longer, depending on its size and thickness. You can also swap for drumsticks.

Bowl of Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme with the Rest in the Background

Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

More Easy Sheet Pan Dinners

Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Potatoes, Apples, and Shallots

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 55 mins
Total Time 70 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

  • 1/3 cup honey

  • 1 lemon, juiced (about 2 tablespoons)

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, grated

  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme (about 15 sprigs)

  • 6 medium bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 1/4 pounds)

  • 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes (gold or red), halved

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste

  • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, or to taste

  • 3 medium shallots, peeled, halved, and cut into 1/4-inch slices

  • 2 medium apples (such as Honeycrisp or Gala), cored and cut into 1/4-inch slices

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.

    Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat.

  2. Marinate the chicken:

    In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil and the honey, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme. Add the chicken thighs and toss to coat. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes on the countertop or up to 8 hours in the fridge.

    tip

    If you’re marinating for more than half an hour, cover and transfer to the fridge. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.

    Chicken Thighs Marinating in a Bowl for Sheet Pan Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  3. Roast the potatoes:

    On a large baking sheet, toss the potatoes with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Bake until slightly tender and lightly browned, 25 minutes.

    Potatoes Roasted on a Sheet Pan for Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs Recipe

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  4. Add the remaining ingredients:

    Remove the potatoes from the oven and spread the shallot and apple slices around the potatoes. 

    Remove the chicken from the marinade and place it skin-side down atop the potato and apple mixture. Season the bottom of the thighs with salt and pepper. Flip the thighs so they’re skin side up and season the skin side with salt and pepper.

    Drizzle the excess marinade over chicken, apples, and shallots, tossing to coat, while ensuring that the chicken is still sitting skin-side up and on top of the produce. Season the shallots and apples with salt and pepper.

    Ingredients for Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme Recipe on Tray

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
  5. Roast until the chicken is crispy:

    Return the pan to the oven and roast until the chicken is cooked through and registers an internal temperature of 165°F, the skin is golden brown, and the apples and shallots have softened slightly, another 30 to 35 minutes. Serve immediately.

    Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container for up to 3 days. 

    Love the recipe? Leave us stars below!

    Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
    Bowl of Sheet Pan Honey Roasted Chicken Thighs with Baby Potatoes, Apples, Shallots, and Thyme with the Rest in the Background

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
701 Calories
37g Fat
54g Carbs
44g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 701
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 37g 48%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 218mg 73%
Sodium 732mg 32%
Total Carbohydrate 54g 20%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 25g
Protein 44g
Vitamin C 19mg 95%
Calcium 57mg 4%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 1225mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.