Description
This Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs recipe features juicy, bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs baked in a flavorful glaze of sweet chili sauce, soy, honey, and aromatic ginger and garlic. The chicken is seared on the stovetop to achieve crispy skin before baking in the oven until tender and sticky. Garnished with green onions and sesame seeds, this Asian-inspired main course is perfect for a delicious weeknight dinner with a balance of sweet, savory, and mildly spicy flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Sauce
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the correct temperature for baking the chicken thoroughly and achieving a sticky glaze.
- Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to promote crispy skin. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper.
- Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes if using. This mixture will create the sticky, flavorful coating for the chicken.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 3-4 minutes until the skin is golden brown and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for an additional 2 minutes.
- Add Sauce and Bake: Pour the prepared sauce evenly over the seared chicken thighs. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) and the sauce has thickened to a sticky consistency.
- Optional Broil for Crispiness: For extra crispy skin, switch the oven to broil for the last 2-3 minutes of baking. Keep a close eye to prevent burning.
- Serve and Garnish: Spoon additional sauce over the chicken thighs before serving. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- For crispier skin, broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes of baking and watch carefully to avoid burning.
- You can substitute boneless chicken thighs; just reduce the baking time slightly as they cook faster.
- Using an oven-safe skillet allows for seamless transition from stovetop searing to oven baking.
- Ensure chicken is cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
