Description
These Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs are a mouthwatering dinner recipe featuring tender, juicy chicken thighs baked to perfection in a sticky, sweet, and spicy chili sauce. Perfectly seared skin delivers a crispy texture complemented by a flavorful Asian-inspired glaze, making it an easy and delicious weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
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
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Garnish
- Chopped green onions
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken thighs.
- Season Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance flavor and crispiness.
- Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 4–5 minutes until the skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, minced garlic, grated ginger, and optional crushed red pepper flakes until combined.
- Coat Chicken: Pour the prepared sauce over the seared chicken thighs in the skillet. Use a spoon to coat each piece thoroughly with the sauce.
- Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven. Bake for 25–30 minutes, basting the chicken with the sauce halfway through baking, until chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is sticky and bubbling.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven, garnish the chicken with chopped green onions and sesame seeds, and serve hot for an irresistible meal.
Notes
- This dish pairs beautifully with jasmine rice or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- For extra heat, add more crushed red pepper flakes or a drizzle of sriracha sauce.
- Boneless chicken thighs can be substituted; adjust cooking time accordingly since they cook faster.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
