Description

This Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs recipe features tender, juicy bone-in chicken thighs with crispy skin, smothered in a flavorful, sticky sweet chili sauce made with honey, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and a touch of rice vinegar. The dish is seared on the stovetop to develop a crispy skin then baked to perfection. Finished with sesame oil, green onions, and sesame seeds, this crowd-pleasing dish offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Sauce

1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, grated
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Garnish

2 green onions, sliced
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it is ready when your chicken is prepared.
Prepare Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which will help achieve crispy skin. Season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
Sear Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 5-7 minutes until the skin turns golden and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes.
Mix Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and cornstarch until smooth and combined.
Add Sauce & Bake: Remove skillet from heat and pour the sauce mixture evenly over the seared chicken thighs. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Prepare Garnish: While the chicken bakes, slice the green onions and set aside for garnish.
Finish: After baking, remove the skillet from the oven and drizzle sesame oil over the chicken. Sprinkle sliced green onions and sesame seeds atop the chicken to add flavor and texture.
Rest & Serve: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute, then serve with your choice of sides and enjoy the flavorful, sticky chicken.

Notes

Patting the chicken dry before searing is crucial for crispy skin.
Use an ovenproof skillet to avoid transferring chicken and sauce to another dish.
The sauce contains cornstarch which thickens during baking to create a sticky glaze.
Chicken thighs can be substituted with boneless if preferred but adjust cooking time accordingly.
Serve with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables for a complete meal.