This sticky, slightly fruity, sweet and savory Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken is easy to prepare and downright delicious! Finished with a quick sprinkling of crunchy walnuts and freshly grated parmesan or gorgonzola, this sticky chicken will become a weeknight favorite!
*Updated*
This post was originally published in February 2016. I’ve updated the post below to include new photos and more information about fig chicken. Plus, I’ve included step-by-step photos to show you how quick and easy this baked balsamic glazed chicken is to make!
Hey, friends! How is it going?
If you are a fan of quick and easy weeknight meals, I have the perfect recipe for you!
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Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken
This fig chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender, deliciously juicy and finger-lickin’ good, my friends! This easy baked chicken is coated in a sticky, sweet, slightly fruity and seriously scrumptious glaze with delicious notes of succulent figs and tart balsamic vinegar.
Made with 9 simple ingredients, this sticky chicken is the perfect easy dinner option that your entire family will love!
I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, because they are full of tender, juicy flavor. However, if you want an even richer, more succulent chicken, feel free to use bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. Or, if you are one of those people who prefers white meat, by all means, use chicken breasts.
To finish everything off this fig and chicken dish is garnished with pungent gorgonzola (or freshly grated parmesan); crunchy, salty walnuts, and earthy fresh thyme. While the cheese and nuts are completely optional, I don’t recommend you skip them as they add a depth of texture and flavor!
If you are looking for a chicken dish that isn’t dry, boring or bland – look no further, because this is it!
What is fig sauce?
Fig sauce is a condiment that can be used as a flavoring sauce, glaze or topping for poultry or meat. Fig sauce can be made of either fig preserves, jam or fresh figs.
What does fig sauce taste like?
Fig sauce is thick and sticky in texture with a rich, slightly tart and somewhat sweet, honey-like flavor.
What to do with fig sauce?
Rich fig sauce is rather versatile and the perfect accompaniment to a variety of dishes! It can also be made in advance and warmed up before serving. If you are looking to add flavor to plain protein, it is the perfect sauce to have on hand in the refrigerator!
Ways to use fig sauce:
- Pour fig balsamic sauce over chicken and bake.
- Spread sauce over any gamey meat (quail or duck) and roast.
- Brush fig sauce on top of lamb and cook as desired.
- Rub pork with sauce and bake in the oven.
- Warm up fig sauce on the stove top and serve alongside a holiday ham.
- Toss vegetables in fig sauce and roast in the oven or cook them in a saute pan.
How to make Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken?
Not only is this chicken ridiculously delicious, it is also a breeze to put together!
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Prepare Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds- 1 minute. Add in fig preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar and sprig of thyme. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil and immediately reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by half, about 10-12 minutes. Use tongs to remove thyme sprig and discard. Optional for smoother glaze: Use an immersion blender (or transfer glaze to a stand blender) and puree until smooth.
- Meanwhile, season chicken: Place chicken on a clean work surface and pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish (they should fit snugly). Spoon the reduced glaze over the chicken, using the back of a spoon to evenly coat and distribute the glaze. Add 4 remaining sprigs of thyme to the pan.
- Roast: Transfer the baking dish to the oven. Bake (basting the chicken with the glaze once during cooking), for 35-40 minutes or until the juices run clear and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let chicken rest 5 minutes. Optional: Switch oven to broil during las 3-4 minutes of baking for a more golden brown chicken. Watch the chicken carefully as it can burn easily!!
- Serve: Garnish chicken with fresh thyme, walnuts and cheese if using. Enjoy!
How to make Balsamic Glazed Chicken step by step in photos:
What to serve with Fig and Balsamic Glazed Chicken?
This chicken recipe is extremely versatile and pairs well with a variety of side dishes!
- Potatoes – mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, potatoes au gratin
- Mashed Cauliflower (faux mashed potatoes)
- Polenta
- Grains – rice or quinoa
- Roasted Seasonal Vegetables
- Simple Green Salad
- Soup – I highly recommend French Onion Soup!
Fast and flavorful, this fig chicken is finger-licking good!!
Until Thursday, internet friends, Cheers – to clucking good chicken. 😉
XOXO
Cheyanne
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More easy baked chicken dinners!
- Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken (7 ingredients + 30 minutes!)
- Baked Spicy Chicken Meatballs (Saucy baked meatballs!)
- Cranberry Baked Chicken and Rice (Easy casserole-style!)
The best Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken Recipe👇
Balsamic Fig Glazed Chicken
Equipment
- Baking Dish
- Small Saucepan
Ingredients
- 6 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs
- Kosher Salt & Pepper - to taste
- 1 TBS Unsalted Butter
- 1 medium Shallot – finely diced (about 3 heaping TBS)
- 2 cloves Garlic – minced
- 1 (12 oz) Jar Fig Preserves
- 2 tablespoon Honey
- 3 TBS Balsamic Vinegar
- 5 Sprigs Thyme -DIVIDED, plus more for garnish
- ½ Cup Walnuts – chopped for garnish
- ½ Cup Gorgonzola – crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray an 8x8’’ baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Prepare Glaze: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallots and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sauté until soft and translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add in garlic and sauté until fragrant, 30 seconds- 1 minute. Add in fig preserves, honey, balsamic vinegar and sprig of thyme. Increase heat to bring mixture to a boil and immediately reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by half, about 10-12 minutes. Use tongs to remove thyme sprig and discard.Optional for smoother glaze: Use an immersion blender (or transfer glaze to a stand blender) and puree until smooth.
- Meanwhile, season chicken: Place chicken on a clean work surface and pat the chicken dry. Season both sides of the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish (they should fit snugly). Spoon the reduced glaze over the chicken, using the back of a spoon to evenly coat and distribute the glaze. Add 4 remaining sprigs of thyme to the pan.
- Roast: Transfer the baking dish to the oven. Bake (basting the chicken with the glaze once during cooking), for 35-40 minutes or until the juices run clear and chicken is cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and let chicken rest 5 minutes. Optional: Switch oven to broil during last 3-4 minutes of baking for a more golden brown chicken. Watch the chicken carefully as it can burn easily!!
- Serve: Garnish chicken with fresh thyme, walnuts and cheese if using. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftover Balsamic Fig Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
©No Spoon Necessary. All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use any images without prior permission. If you want to reference this recipe please do so by linking directly to this post.
This was absolutely delicious. Don’t skimp on the addition of gorgonzola at the end of the roasting-it makes the dish. Served this with wild rice (tip for grains–after you think they’re done, turn off the heat and put a tea towel over the pot underneath the cover for about 5 minutes). Really wonderful dinner. I could spoon that glaze over EVERYTHING!
Wasn’t sure how this would taste, but I’m very happy I tried it. I had homemade fig jam to use thanks to my fig tree and this sounded interesting. The dish was delicious and it wasn’t overly sweet. Great recipe, the fact that it’s so easy yet delicious is what’s really impressive.
This was delicious! I have made it multiple times since finding this recipe. Thank you! Sometimes I do like to add bacon to it as well. Delicious!
Hi Shirley,
I’m so thrilled to hear you enjoy the recipe and have made it more than once! Your addition of bacon sounds absolutely wonderful – I’m definitely going to try that next time I make this chicken! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a review! Cheers! 🙂
We loved this dish! I changed nothing about it, except left off the walnuts. I can’t imagine it being better with them, but maybe I’ll throw those on next time. Give this dish a try. You won’t be disappointed.
I have fresh Figs – how do i adjust the recipe?
Hi Dottie,
Great question! Unfortunately, I have only tested and made the recipe as directed. You could either make fig preserves with your fresh figs and use them in the recipe, or you could roast the figs alongside the chicken. If you are interested in roasting figs (and making it work with the flavors and oven temperature for this recipe), here’s how I do it.
1 pound Figs – stems removed and halved lengthwise
4 sprigs fresh thyme
2 TBS Balsamic Vinegar
1 TBS Light Brown Sugar
2 TBS Honey
Butter a large baking dish and add the figs. Toss them with the other ingredients. Arrange figs cut side down. Roast at 425 for 15-20 minutes or until figs are caramelized to your liking.
I hope that helps! Cheers! 🙂
Love the concept and might try rolling the chicken thighs with some blue cheese inside, then doing a breadcrumb rollabout on them, to pan sauté before the fig glaze and the oven, but just the inspiration I needed for an upcoming dinner with figs (I’ll put some in the pan too, since I’ll have some fresh). Thanks!
Hi there! Your idea sounds delicious! I’m thrilled to hear I provided inspiration. Just a quick note, depending on how much you stuff the chicken thighs or how tightly you roll them, you may need to bake the chicken for a longer amount of time than stated in this recipe.. or you can increase the oven temperature to 450 fahrenheit. Cheers and warm wishes for a wonderful weekend!
Chey, these glazed chicken thighs are absolutely glorious! I love sticky sweet sauces on chicken and figs are so yummy! Combined with the balsamic it must be wonderful. As always, you photos are stunning, my friend!
Nothing beats a chicken thigh dinner Chey! Always so juicy. And these look absolutely mouthwatering! It’s only breakfast here and I wish I was enjoying one! Getting these on our dinner menu ASAP! Pinned and excited to serve at our house!
Figs and blue cheese AND this is easy to make? Count me in! You always make me so hungry. This looks fabulous, Chey!
Hello sticky goodness! This chicken looks incredible, Cheyanne. I can always count on you for big flavor meals. So excited to try this!!
Loved this recipe! Was quick and easy, and it tasted delicious! I only had 10 oz of fig spread, instead of 12 oz of preserves, but it worked very well. I added a smidge more balsamic because my family And myself prefer more of a tang than sweet. Also broiled for 3 min at the end to make the glaze a little sticky and bubbly. Overall- great recipe!
Hi Cheyenne,
I’m thrilled you and your family enjoyed this chicken! Your adjustments sound absolutely delicious!!! Cheers and thank you so much for stopping by! BTW – I love your name! 😉
All the best,
Cheyanne
I made this for dinner tonight and we loved it. Served it with Perfect Rice recipe courtesy of the Neely’s. Definitely on our menu rotation.
Hi Elizabeth,
I am so thrilled you loved this chicken! Serving it with the Neely’s rice sounds like a delicious combination!! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went over! I hope you are having a wonderful New Year! Cheers!
I would have never thought to combine the flavor profile of figs with chicken…. but now I need to. This recipe looks delicious!!
Yes please! ! The experience and thoughts of people who made the recipe is what I was looking for!
Hi Carol,
Unfortunately I can not force people to come back and leave a comment here after they make a recipe. However, a few people have in fact made this recipe with great results and left their comments over on Pinterest. You can see their comments on this recipe here – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/563018683813627/
I hope you find that helpful! Cheers and thank you so much for stopping by!
May I be the Debbie Downer here? What I would really like to see is actual reviews of people who have TRIED the recipe. That would carry a lot of weight for me to try the recipe or not.
Hi Kay,
Unfortunately I can not force people to come back and leave a comment here after they make a recipe. However, a few people have in fact made this recipe with great results and left their comments over on Pinterest. You can see their comments on this recipe here – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/563018683813627/
I hope you find that helpful! Cheers and thank you so much for stopping by!
Can I make the glaze earlier in the day and refrigerate it until I put the chicken in the oven at night?
Hi Tess! Honestly, I’ve never tried making the glaze in advance, but I don’t see why you can’t. I would let the glaze sit out at room temperature at least while the oven is pre-heating, if not a little longer. You will just want to remove the chill from the glaze. Thanks so much for stopping by, and let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers! 🙂
I made this recipe last night for my family. We all thought they were delicious. Instead of sprinkling gorgonzola over the chicken, I added it to my polenta and served the chicken on the polenta. Total yumminess!
So glad you and your family enjoyed this chicken, Jan!! Using the gorgonzola in polenta sounds like a delicious idea! Thank you so much for coming back and letting me know how it went! Cheers!
These chicken thighs looks SO amazing, girl! This is totally up my alley with that flavor profile. A little sweet, a little salty….YUM! I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy chicken, and this is definitely on my list to make next. I will be sure to share the results! Thanks for this <3 XO
Yes, this year is just flying by! What gives?! Every year goes by faster and faster…. scary 😛 So these glazed chicken thighs are bomb diggity fo sho! They looks so incredibly tender and juicy and that glaze…. oh my, that glaze! I think I could just spoon that directly into my mouth!
I so agree with you girl!! It’s already almost March – can you believe it?! And these chicken thighs looks so flavorful!
HAHAHA!
I <3 EVERYTHING about this : "But for real, I’m starting to fear that I might fall asleep and wake up 10 years older… the way time is flying by anything is possible. I’ve always had FOMO, but now I have hypnophobia on top of that. I need a shrink. Or a dozen cookies so I can eat my feelings"!
I'm dying here!
Though can I sub 6 of the cookies for 6 of these thighs – I mean look at that there fig-honey-balsamic glaze! Oohlala!
I feel like this was created for me. I love every one of these ingredients. Looks beautiful!! On my list for dinner next week Thanks.
I know time is just flying!! Can’t believe Easter is just around the corner! Crazy! I love balsamic vinegar so this sounds delish!
Haha!…I had to look up FOMO! I’m sorry you are also having trouble with sleeping—it is frustrating! I have recurring bouts of insomnia…my mind races all night and I can’t shut it off. Time does not fly by on those nights…it stands still. 🙁 Those chicken thighs are amazing!! They are definitely not boring or bland. I’m loving how easy they are to make, yet kicked up a notch. I’ll need extra helpings of that finger licking good, sticky, sweet fig and balsamic glaze! Wishing you sweet dreams tonight!!
The dozen cookies and eating my feelings away works for me, lol. I love everything about this recipe and I mean everything. It is so hard for me to eat chicken breasts once I went to the dark (meat) side, so much more flavor. Great recipe! Take care.
Fig jam is one of the BEST things on the planet, and pairing it with balsamic, blue cheese, and walnuts must make this chicken beyond delicious! I love the sound of this, and YES — the year is going by way too fast already!
Wow! These are a flavour party! Love the fig and balsamic combo and gorgonzola, too?!! Perfect 🙂
Winner winner chicken dinner indeed. I have only in the last 2 years been getting into dark chicken meat. Thighs especially are perfect for wonderful, low and slow roasting, like there. I love, like Boy, the white meat best. Yeah for chicken breasts! Ha!
I had my mind set on polenta today and this might have to happen. It seems fig recipes are everywhere and this is exceptional with all your toppings. 🙂
Wow this dish has so many incredible flavours Cheyanne! It’s making me soooo hungry right now! I really love the sound of the glaze, yuuuummy! Such beautiful photos too 🙂 pinned!
Wow. I know just how that feels. I go to sleep feeling like that a lot. Some days it feels like I was 18 twenty minutes ago. Yikes!
All the flavors you’ve got going on here makes me want to do a jazzy dance. Ah, Gorgonzola cheese! Fig preserves! Yum!
Wow! Just wow! I have this kind of unnatural love of gorgonzola in any form or fashion so I have got to make this!
I’m sorry you’re having sleep issues. I, too, am so shocked that Feb. is almost over and my kid’s Spring break will be here in a month – shock! I hope you find the reason for your troubles and solve them.
This recipe has all of the classic food combos and combines them with CHICKEN THIGHS! Seriously, so good! Thanks for a great recipe!
Yeah! It’s so surprising how fast this year is going.And this look absolutely delicious. I bet fig and balsamic would make an awesome pairing.
You gotta sleep, Chey. It’s key. Can you see someone about that? Or do a sleep study? Or have the boy conk you over the head?
Seriously, hope things get better soon.
The good news is, lack of sleep is not affecting your cooking. This looks INCREDIBLE. I saw it on my IG feed yesterday and wanted it so badly for dinner!
Ohh such an awesome chicken glaze! I have only just discovered the wonders of figs (with a caramelised fig gelato haha!) and love the sound of using them in a savoury recipe. Don’t worry, I think we are all going a bit crazy about the fact that it is almost Easter (doesn’t help that it is almost a month earlier than usual this year!). I still accidentally write the date as 2013 sometimes… x
This year is going particularly fast and I don’t know why either! It makes me feel very anxious about the rest of the year now that the weather is getting nice …. I don’t want things to just pass me by! As for this recipe, ohhhhh girl you had me at FIG! These are beyond amazing!! <3 <3 <3 I am going to the store tomorrow and buying the ingredients I don't already have because this SO NEEDS TO HAPPEN! 🙂
This dish looks wicked! I absolutely love salty/sweet combos so this is totally my jam (or, er, preserves, lol)! Can’t wait to try this one out! I can’t say that I have a fear of sleep, cause I love my sleep, but I totally hear what you’re saying, girl. Time flies just too darn fast. Have a great week, girlie, and get some rest!!
The combination sounds interesting and the clicks are beautiful!
This year is going quickly. No doubt about ti. Wow, but this dish sounds divine. I adore gorgonzola, and I bet the balsamic and fig combo is delicious. This one is a winner, and it is going on my to do list!
OMG I completely forgot about Easter! Ah! I’m totally with you on time flying. I literally have 7,649 things going on in my life right now and could cry at how fast time is going! I need it to slow the heck down! Anyway, I’m drooling over these chicken thighs. I’ve gotta try ’em ASAP. Pinned!
I love the fig jam and cheese combo! Figs are always so good in savory dishes. This chicken looks divine!
glaze on that chicken sound so good!! looks so yummy, and I bet it would taste even better!
Yes, chicken thighs FTW! I cook with them pretty much exclusively. So I’m glad we are on the thigh team together. And FIG GLAZE? How do you always know the way to my heart?? Pinning!
TIme is definitely flying by, Cheyanne – I think it speeds up more and more as we get older. And you’re a much better blogger than me – you’re planning ahead for Easter – I always tend to realize too late that a holiday is looming – I totally missed doing recipes for both Valentine’s day and the Super Bowl!
This is clucking good chicken! It was not until I became an adult that I had chicken thighs…my mom wanted to have nothing to do with them but I love them! They are tender, juicy and succulent! Who doesn’t want that in their life? That glaze? Forget about it! You hit a home run with this one, sweets! Now go take a nap – you’ve earned it! zzzzzzzzz (xo)
Oh hells yeah to these flavors!!! And chicken thighs!! When I make this, I’m putting extra Gorgonzola all over it (cause I really really like Gorgonzola…a lot) and I’m leaving off the walnuts for J (cause he doesn’t like walnuts…#hedontknowwhatsgood). That’s okay because more walnuts for me! Woooohoooooo! Did you really develop a fear of sleeping? If yes, I hate that but you can always take down a good ol’ shot (or two) of bourbon each night before you go to sleep #problemsolved 😉
I am planning and cooking Easter posts as well, only one month left…. The time really goes by too fast. Your chicken thighs sound amazing and they are even better with mashed potatoes.
Oh my gosh, these look SO good…that glaze (sigh!) Hope you can get a really good sleep tonight 😀
Get some sleep lady!! haha But I know the feeling … I am slightly freaking out over the fact that it is almost March already … I can’t even.
But this chicken! That glaze! Making me sooo hungry for lunch!
Love the chicken twinning today too! And mashed potatoes! 🙂 Seriously, dude, this chicken is totally the diggity bomb. This year is really moving super fast. I have zero idea where the time is going. I’m sorry your are afflicted with FOMO and Hypnophobia! You need to chill out and chow down on those cookies!
Fig balsamic glazed chicken thighs?!! oh my gawd, love this flavor combo!!!! and I hope you can catch up on sleep this week. . I can’t sleep when I’m stressed . . but sleep is so important for us!!!
Wow your chicken looks amazing! I love you telling us about your FOMO! That is just too funny! Plus you taught me a whole new word about fear of sleep!
FOMO and Hypnophobia?! Girl, you gotta let yourself breathe. For real. You are kicking so much butt at life, you deserve at least a good night’s rest AND at least two dozen cookies. 😉 Anyway, Easter is ages from now! In any case, loving how the photos for this dish came out. Also, totally digging the fig & balsamic combo. Love, it Cheyanne! 🙂 P.S. Sleep, girl, sleep! <3
It definitely feels like time is flying by! 🙂 This chicken looks absolutely fantastic, Cheyanne! Love the glaze and the fig and balsamic sounds like an incredible flavour combo!
Aaaah!! Cheyanne!! Your recipes always look amazing, but you’ve COMPLETELY outdone yourself with this one! This is full-frontal food porn. Love the ingredient combination you used here, gorgonzola + fig (and all of the other absolutely perfect things that you added), I mean, seriously! Anyway, I’m pinning this. And I’m using chicken thighs, just sayin’. 🙂
I honestly have no idea where this year is going, but I am sure that I say that every year. How is it nearly Spring already? Not that I am complaining about that!
I love the combination of fig and balsamic together – nice and sweet!
Okay, so we are seriously psychically connected, because I just posted my own gorgonzola infused recipe (and it was for shrimp, not chicken, but STILL)…and I have some leftover cheese that you know I will be using for THIS! Gorgeous, pinned, happy Monday!!! xoxo
I can’t believe how fast this year is going so far, either! I swear it was just last summer, and now spring is almost here! And I feel you on your sleeping fear…I think it’s quite possible that that may happen to me, too! But onto this chicken…wow! I absolutely love the glaze on here, Cheyanne! So pretty, not to mention sounds SO delish! Such a great idea to use fig preserves. I’ve never tried that before, so I definitely need to. Sounds like such a delicious meal! Pinned, of course!
I don’t afraid to get asleep (it may be my favorite activity, haha), but sometimes you feel that you’re wasting your time while sleeping, eh? May I remember my favorite book character Karlsson-on-the-Roof? He was saying he didn’t have issues to sleep in the mornings before breakfast and especially after it. Then he easily took his nap after his lunch (and just a little before dinner). But every day he struggled to fell asleep at nights – he needed to count sheep etc. This is I call a sleep disorder!:) And now let’s talk about this fantastic recipe. It’s fantastic! Do you need more words? You may remember I was experiencing with sweet glazes last year, but I never figured out to incorporate figs! That sounds and looks fantastic (wow, I’m so eloquent today haha). This is something I’ve got to try really soon. Great job, buddy! And happy Monday (If you believe in happy Mondays – I am not):)
Yes Cheyanne, cheers to clucking good chicken! Ha! LOVE that glaze, and that sprinkling of walnuts and gorgonzola…perfect! This chicken dish looks so easy and so incredibly flavorful. I totally agree, the chicken thighs are a total must! So much juicier! What are Tom and Boy thinking? Have a great week!
wow that glaze is just like icing on the cake! These chicken thighs look utterly delicious.
That glistening glaze! I love figs and balsamic together and I love an easy chicken dinner 🙂 Plus, toppings? Gorgonzola and walnuts? Oh yes, please! Serious deliciousness is coming to our dinner table soon. Also, I hear you on the sleeping thing… and the time flying by. Every time I flip to a new month on the calendar I stand there and think, “How did that happen?” Don’t get me started on when a birthday comes around for one of my kids 😉 Cheers and happy Monday girl!