This Skillet Chicken with Pomegranate Molasses Sauce is simple to prepare with budget-friendly ingredients. Featuring golden pan-seared chicken thighs smothered in silky honey pomegranate sauce, this skillet chicken thighs recipe is the ideal sweet and tangy dinner recipe for everything from weeknight dinners with the family to entertaining over the holidays!
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About this skillet chicken thigh recipe
Boneless, skinless, and seasoned chicken thighs are seared in a skillet until golden brown on all sides, then submerged in a rich and flavorful sweet and tangy pomegranate sauce with softened onions and spices. The Skillet Chicken with Pomegranate Molasses Sauce is topped with fresh parsley, beautiful pomegranate arils, and zesty slices of lemon!
This winner-winner chicken dinner is sure to become your new obsession! The simple addition of pomegranate molasses instantly produces a sweet and sour flavor in the cook-in sauce, infiltrating every inch of the tender chicken thighs.
Serve your pomegranate chicken over jasmine rice, with mashed potatoes, or alongside roasted vegetables!
Why this pomegranate chicken works
Besides being finger-licking delicious, this chicken thighs skillet recipe is:
- Super simple. Simple, fresh ingredients and minimal effort are all you need to make this winner-winner chicken dinner!
- Looks great! While this chicken pomegranate dish may be uncomplicated, it’s still elegant – perfect for serving guests!
- Incredibly versatile! You can easily adapt this chicken pomegranate recipe to combine the pomegranate sauce with other meats or poultry.
- One pan! This tender chicken pomegranate dish is made in one pan for easy cooking and less clean-up.
What is pomegranate molasses sauce?
Pomegranate molasses is pomegranate juice that’s been reduced into a thick syrup with a strong sweet and sour flavor. It’s great for adding tanginess to sauces and dressings.
I’ve used pomegranate molasses as a key ingredient to make the pomegranate sauce in this recipe, which the chicken thighs are cooked in.
Ingredients for chicken pomegranate
This easy and delicious chicken pomegranate recipe requires very little effort and minimal ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
Chicken with pomegranate
- Chicken – Boneless skinless chicken thighs.
- Substitution: Bone-in skin-on chicken thighs or legs can also be used in this recipe for pomegranate chicken, but you must increase the cooking time. For those who prefer white meat, use chicken breasts!
- Olive oil
- Substitution: Canola or avocado oil.
- Pomegranate molasses – Use any brand that you prefer. It adds a deep sweet and tart flavor to the juicy chicken. You can typically locate this in the international aisle of your local grocery store.
- Pomegranate juice
- Lemon – Freshly juiced.
- Substitution: Bottle lemon juice can be used in a pinch.
- Garlic cloves – Minced. This provides the right amount of aromatic bite to this pomegranate molasses chicken recipe.
- Substitution: Jarred minced garlic or garlic paste can be used instead.
- Shallot – Finely chopped.
- Substitution: Red or white onions or a combination of shallots and onions can be used.
- Honey
- Balsamic vinegar – Provides a lovely tang to the pomegranate chicken marinade!
- Substitution: Red wine vinegar.
- Kosher salt and black pepper – Popular savory dish staples!
- Substitution: Flaky sea salt works great too!
- Spices – Cumin, ginger, and chili powder.
- Substitutions: Paprika, zaatar, or oregano can also be added.
- Cornstarch – To thicken the pomegranate sauce.
- Garnish – Top your pomegranate chicken thighs with fresh parsley, pomegranate arils, and slices of lemon as an option. The pomegranate arils add a lovely burst of color and flavor to the dish.
Pomegranate molasses chicken variations
- Chicken. Bone-in, skin-on chicken legs and thighs can be used in this recipe. Always increase the cooking time for bone-in meat.
- Garnish. I love to garnish this chicken and pomegranate with fresh parsley, pomegranate arils, and slices of lemon. This garnish is totally optional and can be changed to suit your tastes.
- Bake. I’ve cooked this dish on the stovetop. Add the ingredients to a casserole dish and bake it for 50-60 minutes at 400F. Broil the chicken for 3-5 minutes for a lovely golden finish.
- Easy ingredient swaps. Red or white onions instead of shallots, red wine vinegar instead of balsamic vinegar, canola or avocado oil instead of olive oil, and different seasonings are easy ingredient swaps for this chicken pomegranate recipe.
How to make chicken thighs skillet recipe
This one-pan chicken thigh recipe is super simple to make. Here’s how:
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Rub Chicken: In a small bowl combine the seasonings and then rub the spice mixture all over the chicken thighs.
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Mix Pomegranate Sauce: In a 2-cup measure or a medium bowl, combine the molasses with the pomegranate juice, honey, vinegar, and lemon.
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Sear Chicken Thighs: Heat oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once oil shimmers, add the raw chicken and cook until golden brown and almost cooked through, about 4-6 minutes per side. Then, remove chicken thighs to a plate and set them aside.
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Saute Aromatics: Add shallot to the skillet and cook until soft. Next, add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
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Add Sauce: Add the molasses mixture and bring to a rapid simmer. Meanwhile, combine the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and whisk to combine. Once the sauce is simmering, add the cornstarch mixture to the skillet. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally.
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Finish Chicken in Sauce: Add the chicken thighs back to the skillet and turn to coat in the sauce. Cook chicken in pomegranate sauce for 2-5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish chicken thighs with fresh parsley, pomegranate arils, and lemon if using. Enjoy!
Tips for making the best pomegranate chicken recipe
- Bone-in. Bone-in meat requires additional cooking time. Consider this if you decide to use bone-in chicken for this dish, as you’ll need to add it to the oven.
- Garnish: While the garnish in this dish is completely optional, I highly recommend adding it for extra flavor!
- Skillet. A cast iron skillet is best for searing food! Cast iron skillets can also go into the oven, which makes them handy if you need to cook the chicken further in the oven.
- Size of chicken. If you’re using large chicken thighs, you may need to add the skillet to the oven at 350F for about 7 minutes to ensure that the chicken is completely cooked. You can also test the chicken by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest section, which should read 165 F.
FAQ: chicken pomegranate recipe
What flavor is pomegranate molasses?
Pomegranate molasses has the consistency of syrup with a sweet and tangy flavor. The sauce in this recipe is further intensified by the flavor of the juicy chicken thighs, spices, aromatics, honey, and balsamic vinegar.
What does pomegranate molasses go with?
Pomegranate molasses adds flavor complexity to various dishes – both savory and sweet!
You can use this sweet and sticky sauce as a glaze for chicken, pork, and meats, drizzle it over salads, serve it with greek yogurt or ice cream, add it to a pavlova or cheesecake, or try it as a cordial in your favorite drink recipes.
Does pomegranate molasses tenderize meat?
Yes! Pomegranate molasses serves as a meat tenderizer while also enhancing the flavor of the meat. It’s a pantry staple in most parts of the Mediterranean.
Serving chicken with pomegranate sauce
I love skillet chicken thigh recipes since they are so easy to pair with various side dishes. I’ve added some of my favorite choices below, but feel free to serve your pomegranate chicken with whatever your family and friends love the most!
How to serve this pomegranate glazed chicken?
This chicken pomegranate recipe is perfect for special occasions like Thanksgiving and other holidays, as well as an easy midweek family dinner.
Garnish this skillet chicken thigh recipe with fresh parsley, pomegranate arils, and lemon slices.
What to serve pomegranate molasses chicken thighs with?
There are countless side dishes that you could pair with this finger-licking chicken pomegranate recipe, such as:
- Potatoes – mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, baked potatoes, potatoes au gratin, or potato salad
- Mashed Cauliflower – Great as a low-carb option!
- Polenta
- Rice – Jasmine rice, plain white rice, or sticky rice,
- Quinoa
- Couscous
- Roasted seasonal vegetables
- Simple green salad or Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
Storing leftovers
How to store and how long does it keep?
- Store leftover pomegranate chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Use leftover pomegranate sauce chicken (sliced or shredded) on sandwiches, wraps, or salads.
Can you freeze this recipe for pomegranate chicken?
Yes! Store chicken and sauce in an airtight container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Thaw the chicken and sauce overnight in the fridge, and reheat it in the oven.
Reheating instructions
Reheat leftover chicken in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 350-degrees Fahrenheit, or until warm throughout. Cover the chicken thighs with foil to prevent them from drying out.
This Skillet Chicken with Pomegranate Molasses Sauce is perfect for entertaining friends and family during the holiday season or getting a winner-winner chicken dinner on the table for a midweek meal in less than an hour!
Cheyanne
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How to make Skillet Honey Pomegranate Chicken Thighs Recipe👇
Skillet Pomegranate Chicken Thighs Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Small Bowl (for combining chicken seasonings)
- 1 2-Cup Glass Measure (for preparing sauce)
- 1 Large Cast Iron Skillet (for cooking chicken and pomegranate sauce)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ - 2 Pounds Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs (about 6-8 thighs) (SEE NOTES)
- 2 TBS Olive Oil
- ½ tsp EACH: Kosher Salt and Cumin
- ¼ tsp EACH: Ground Black Pepper, Ground Ginger, & Chili Powder
- ½ Cup Pomegranate Molasses
- 1/3 Cup Pomegranate Juice
- ¼ Cup Honey
- 1 TBS Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 small Lemon – juiced
- 1 small Shallot – finely chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic – minced
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- Optional Garnishes: Fresh Parsley, Pomegranate Arils, Slices of Lemon
- Serving Suggestions: Coconut Rice, Jasmine Rice, or Sticky Rice
Instructions
- Season Chicken: In a small bowl, combine the kosher salt, cumin, pepper, ginger, and chili powder. Place the chicken thighs onto a clean work surface and generously sprinkle the seasoning mix all over both sides of the chicken breasts. Use your hands to rub the seasonings into the chicken. Set the spice rubbed chicken thighs aside.
- Mix Pomegranate Sauce: In a two-cup glass measure or medium mixing bowl, whisk together the pomegranate molasses, pomegranate juice, honey, vinegar, and lemon. Set aside the sauce aside.
- Brown Chicken Thighs: Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the raw chicken thighs to the skillet. Cook the chicken until golden brown and almost cooked all the way through, about 4-6 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the hot pan and transfer to a clean plate. Set the chicken thighs aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: To the same pan, add the shallot to the skillet and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the shallots are softened, about 3 minutes. Add garlic to the skillet and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Add Sauce: Add the molasses mixture to the skillet and increase the heat to medium-high to bring the sauce to a rapid simmer. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water and whisk to combine.
- Thicken Sauce: Once the sauce is simmering, add the cornstarch mixture to the skillet and whisk well to fully incorporate. After whisking well, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer the pomegranate sauce, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes or until the sauce is thickened and coats the back of a spoon.
- Finish Chicken: Add the chicken thighs along with any juices that have collected on the plate to the skillet. Turn to coat the chicken in the sauce. Cover the skillet and cook until the chicken is just cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165-degrees Fahrenheit.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the skillet of chicken thighs with chopped fresh parsley, a handful of pomegranate arils, and a few slices of lemon. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Chicken: You can substitute boneless, skinless chicken breasts or bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs. If using bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, you will need to finish cooking the chicken in a 350-degree oven. Simply follow the instructions in the recipe card - at the end cover the skillet of chicken and instead of finishing it on the stove-top, transfer it to an oven preheated to 350-degrees and bake until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165-degrees.
Nutrition
I didn’t have any pomegranate molasses but I used everything else and the chicken was amazing! I cooked 2 breasts for the week but really, I could eat all of it today!!! I will definitely make this again!
Hi! This looks yummy 🙂 Can the pomegranate juice be substituted with something else?
Hi Hazel,
Thank you for the kind comment! Cranberry juice is a pretty close substitute. 🙂 Cheers and thank you for stopping by!
This recipe rocks! I substituted pomegranate juice with Peach juice. Happy to have found this one-dish delish dinner!
Hi Leslie,
I’m honored you decided to try this chicken recipe and absolutely thrilled you enjoyed it! Your substitution of peach juice sounds delicious – I’ll definitely have to try it! Thank you so much for coming back and leaving a review. Warm wishes for a wonderful weekend! 🙂
Best,
Cheyanne
This is one gorgeous skillet dinner, Cheyanne! Love the pomegranates in with the chicken thighs, my favorite cut of hen out there. Always tender and flavorful. Yours looks so delicious. I can see why you and B don’t go out much. Why bother when you can have this kind of fabulous at home? Seriously, love everything you did here and what a perfect dinner for any occasion. Grabbing two forks! XO
A low key Thanksgiving sounds perfect to me and I’m glad you guys got to relax 🙂 With the holiday madness beginning already, I am definitely in need of easy dinners! This one is just gorgeous, girl! Love the pretty pomegranates!
I love that this is so easy and looks amazing. Definitely great for a last minute quick dinner when you have guests!
That sauce!!!! It sounds so wonderful and looks beautiful!
So you did end up cooking on Thanksgiving? Sad to say I would request the same from you. I know you need a break sometimes, but your culinary skills are out of this world. I L-O-V-E quick, tasty recipes, but I’ve never had pomegranate chicken. Excited to see where this flavor profile will take me. I guess it’s time for me to dust off my cast iron skillet.
Holy chicken! Gimme this whole skillet and a big ass fork cos I’m ready to dig in! We ate way too much turkey and all the fixings for way too long and I’m over all that business. I can tell you this, I’m not making a turkey for XMas. lol! I might make this chicken though! Yummy in my tummy 🙂
Sounds like you two had a cosy Thanksgiving! Loving the flavours in this dish too (seriously cannot get enough of pomegrates right now!)
I cannot imagine what my life would be without Google 🙂 Nope – I wasn’t in any stage of ” postprandial somnolence” as we had a vegetarian Thanksgiving and had pecan pie – my daughter’s fav! If there had been pumpkin pie or cheesecake I would be in a food coma for days! I’m shooting for this goal for Christmas 🙂
I seriously love how you have perfected the art of PJ time – I need lessons!
BTW – Cheyanne your chicken thighs look so incredibly succulent and juicy! I just had some protein balls with ma coffee but find myself hungry for lunch and blame YOU and THESE THIGHS!
So happy to know that you guys had a lovely holiday, Cheyanne. What a one pan gorgeous dish. Pomegranate molasses are so new to me so I have to look for them. And that glaze is making me drool. I have to try this chicken thighs and honey pomegranate skillet soon.
Wow that glaze…drooooool! Seriously such a gorgeous dish <3 Also I bet your dinner for Thanksgiving was just gorgeous! Can you blame the hubby for wanting a home-cooked meal when he's got you?? 😉
It sounds like you had a nice low-key Thanksgiving filled with delicious food, and that slow cooker turkey breast sounded like the perfect way to go! You’re so right about this meal too — it looks easy yet is so elegant! I love the way pomegranates spruce things up — I need to try this!
Hiiiiii!! Well, you know how my Thanksgiving went. 😉 It was super chill, and yep, totally filled with LOTS of food. I’m payin’ the price right now, honey! Haha. Like, are my pants supposed to be this tight? Maybe the dryer shrunk it. Yeah, that’s it… 😉 Your last minute meal sounds seriously delish! I love cauliflower mash! And thank goodness you defined that term for me. I was just about to nod my head and pretend I knew what you were talking about… Anywho, this dish (and by dish, I guess I mean skillet??) is absolutely gorgeous! Your photos are simply stunning. Now, can ya make a vegan version of this for your dear ol’ bestie?? 😉 Muah! xoxo
Your Thanksgiving sounds perfect! I am definitely in need of easy dinners (and um, pajama time) after cooking up a storm for the holiday!! And this skillet! That saucy glaze-y topping looks soooo good!
So you know how I feel about anything cooked in a skillet and these chicken thighs are no exception! Love the addition of honey and pomegranate! Perfect meal any night of the week! Pinned! Cheers, my dear! 🙂
Glad you had a nice quiet Thanksgiving. Sometimes those are the best ones! This chicken looks like something we would eat every night of the week. It would be a huge hit with all my kids. Loving that yummy sauce!
Our Thanksgiving was scrumptious, and you KNOW I had my share of the leftovers! But now they are all gone, which leaves me lots of room for your delectable chicken! Bring on the honey, honey! xo
Sounds like a nice, yummy and relaxed Thanksgiving. And I love your recipe today, everything with chicken thighs is a favorite for me and this is such a great idea for using some of my pomegranate molasses, I always have a bottle in the house but don’t use it as much as I should.
Sounds like you had a terrific Thanksgiving. Your menu sound delish! This poultry looks incredible, close friend! I’m always claiming that I should “spice up” my chicken dishes since they can be so monotonous, so I’m absolutely including this to the menu. Love the pomegranate in below! Pinned, obviously. Satisfied Monday to you!
Chicken thighs are a go-to weeknight meal in our house and I’m always looking for new versions – this one looks amazing. Just look at all of that sticky goodness!
Definitely ate too much but it was well worth it!! Chicken thighs are my favorite. These chicken thighs are divine and you’re right they look beautiful to which is always a plus! Those pom seeds look like little jewels. I so have to try this!! Take care.
My mouth is watering Chey! This chicken dish looks absolutely delicious! It sounds so flavorful and so easy too! Just the kind of meals we all need during the busy holiday season! Glad you enjoyed your Thanksgiving! Hope your week is off to a great start!
Cheryanne, what great looking chicken. That on some good rice, that is what tasty meals are made of! Also, nice to find someone not writing about turkey!
Thanksgiving was nice, because we were in vacation 🙂 I didn’t cook, so I can definitely try this gorgeous dish this week! Looks delicious! Sounds like a nice Thanksgiving you guys had. Cooking dinner at the last minute ? 🙂
Absolutely stunning! Look at that glaze…I am seriously drooling over here. An excellent recipe, Cheyanne.
Your chill Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. More people should do that for the holidays.
This sauce sounds terrific. I’m loving the honey and pomegranate. I never think to cook chicken thighs. I always go for the breast by default, and I’m not sure why. I’ll have to venture out of my comfort zone!
Lovely and mouthwatering! Isn’t pomegranate molasses a wonderful ingredient? Love the stuff and it is getting more and more out there so more people should be able to try it. Love the cumin spice here as my Jordanian version does a cardamon twist. Good minds think alike. I did a double take and it reminded me of mine. Need to hit up the market for some more pomegranate molasses and other stuff. Been away for a week and need to get cookin’. This is a good one Chey, Pinned and inspired! 🙂
Absolutely perfect! I love everything about this and you know I’m all about the chicken thighs 🙂 Will be trying this soon.
It sounds like you had the perfect Thanksgiving, Cheyanne! Mine was certainly full of TONS of food.. and multiple food comas. I never knew there was a scientific name for it, btw 😉 I’m totally loving these gorgeous chicken thighs. We are huge chicken thigh fans in this house, so this is going on must-make list! have a great week!
So glad you guys had a great holiday and I’m all for hanging out in jammmies! I love the idea of a one pan delicious dish after all that Thanksgiving cooking from last week. I’ve never seen pomegranate molasses before, but I’ve never looked for it either. I’m totally digging the flavor combo with these chicken thighs, so I’m going to have to find some and make this dish for dinner! 🙂
Oooh these look so flavorful and delicious!! Just what I need at this time of year when I don’t really feel like cooking when I get home from work 🙂 It sounds like you had an awesome Thanksgiving, though I’m still not over the lack of stuffing. I just couldn’t do it! In fact, my mom made me a separate little dish of stuffing to take home with me! You must really love The Boy 🙂
Sounds like you had a lovely thanksgiving, Chey! Lots of good food. Though, I would miss the stuffing! Love that stuff so much. We had a pretty productive weekend and did some organizing in the basement. Not too exciting, but definitely something that had to be done and I felt accomplished afterwards 🙂 One skillet dinners are the bomb and I adore anything in cast iron. This looks delicious! The pomegranate is the perfect touch for sweetness and texture and your photos are BEAUTIFUL! My kinda dinner. Pinned, of course. Have a lovely week! XOXO
This looks like a great obsession to have! The pomegranates are so festive looking! I’m glad you had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving weekend! Happy Monday! 🙂
I love using chicken thighs, I think they’re so underrated. This sounds delicious and looks so sticky!
Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, Cheyanne! That’s nice that you were able to cook for just the two of you, and your menu sound delish! Can you believe that we’re upon the holiday season?! I’m freaking out just a liiiitle…time needs to slow down! This chicken looks incredible, friend! I’m always saying that I need to “spice up” my chicken recipes because they can be so boring, so I’m definitely adding this to the menu. Love the pomegranate in here! Pinned, of course. Happy Monday to you!
Looks like you had a good Thanksgiving ..easy and relaxing 🙂 I love the flavors in this dish and pomegranates are my favorite!
Your thanksgiving sounds like the perfect one, guys! First of all, I was sceptical when I read your were going for a dinner to your friends…because you know, it’s a family holiday. So this one was the right decision (thanks to Boy). Secondly, this menu sounds simple yet very delicious, especially its Brussels Sprouts part (thanks to you). And lastly, there was NO STUFFING which is great (thanks to Boy again). Well, Boy has definitely won today:) And these chicken thighs with honey and pomegranate look just right to me; beautiful combo. Well done, Chey!
I think the Boy owes you one big time! Last-minute Thanksgiving at home when you were supposed to go out? AND no stuffing? Hmmm, I’d be writing up a wish list and sending it his way 😉
I’m glad you got some homemade goodness though and PJ time is always nice!
And you’re right – I’m all about a little break from cooking and keeping it easy right now. So this one-skillet wonder is looking pretty amazing! Particularly that pomegranate flavor – oh swoon! Pinned and looking forward to digging into this one night! XO