Stephen Colbert Spent Years Perfecting His Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Recipe — With Help From His Daughter (Exclusive)

“Our daughter Madeleine and I turned this recipe into a game of telephone,” Stephen tells PEOPLE

Eric Wolfinger

Stephen Colbert and his daughter Madeleine ” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TX2antpsrEsXrPcntrRwrw–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/5a09a1b21 f7c83c3e4105e4146820a9c “/>

Eric Wolfinger

Stephen Colbert and his daughter Madeleine

Stephen Colbert and his wife Evie’s love language with their three adult children is sharing recipes.

One dish that has become particularly famous among the Colberts is Stephen’s Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken. Late Show the host shares it in his new cookbook, Does it taste weird? —and in this week’s PEOPLE Food section, which he guest-wrote with Evie.

“Our daughter Madeleine and I have turned this recipe into a game of telephone,” he tells PEOPLE. “Every time we make it, it changes slightly — and now she makes it very differently than I do.”

Related: Stephen Colbert and Wife Evie McGee Colbert’s Crab Cakes Are So Good, ‘You’ll Want Them for Breakfast’ (Exclusive)

Madeleine, 28, finishes cooking her version in the oven, but Stephen says his stovetop method (below) ensures extra flavour thanks to the caramelised onions.

Stephen and Evie’s youngest children, Peter, 26, and John, 22, also get in on the cooking fun in their new cookbook.

“We’re very private and we’ve kind of kept our family, our kids and everything away from what you might call fame. But they’re adults now and they’ve all been willing participants,” Evie explains.

“It’s a little glimpse into our family,” she adds. “It’s not like we’re going to do a reality TV show, but it’s just a little moment of us sharing in the kitchen.”

Related: Stephen Colbert and Wife Evie McGee Colbert’s Cookbook Is a ‘Little Peek’ Into Their ‘Very Private’ Family (Exclusive)

Eric Wolfinger

Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert’s Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs” src=”https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/I45Ya4sFtVIdMbJLg17KRg–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTcwNTtoPTk0MA–/https:/ /media.zenfs.com/en/aol_people_articles_471/2885e1da6927f9a5a7204ec1523ece01″/>

Eric Wolfinger

Stephen Colbert and Evie McGee Colbert’s Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs

Spicy Honey Lemon Chicken Thighs

¼ cup olive oil, divided

4 medium bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (1½ lbs)

1 tsp kosher salt, plus more for seasoning chicken

Freshly ground pepper

1½ tbsp lemon zest plus ¼ cup juice (from 2 lemons)

2 tablespoons warm honey (or 2 tablespoons regular honey plus ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes)

3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tsp dried oregano

1 large yellow onion, coarsely diced

1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Season chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper on both sides. Carefully place chicken, skin side down, in hot oil; cook, undisturbed, until skin is crisp, 10 to 12 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, whisk together lemon zest and juice, warm honey, garlic, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a medium bowl. Set aside.

3. When skin is crispy, transfer chicken to a plate. Add onion to skillet over medium heat and stir to coat with pan juices. Place chicken, bone side down, on onion. Roast chicken until a thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 165°, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer chicken to a clean plate, reserving onion and pan juices. Reduce heat to low; pour honey-lemon mixture into skillet. (It will foam immediately.) Stir to deglaze skillet; simmer until sauce thickens, about 6 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; turn to coat. Serve chicken with pan juices poured over top.

For : 4
Active time: 30 minutes
Total duration: 30 minutes

Does It Taste Weird?: Recipes Our Family Loves from Celadon Books is available now, wherever books are sold.

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Read the original article on People.