Description
Delight in these Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs, featuring perfectly seared, crispy skin and a luscious, tangy sauce made from honey, sweet chili sauce, soy, and aromatic garlic and ginger. This oven-baked recipe ensures juicy, flavorful chicken finished with sesame oil, green onions, and sesame seeds for a vibrant Asian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 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 and Finishing
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the chicken after searing.
- Prepare Chicken: Pat chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure crispy skin and season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
- Sear the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, place chicken thighs skin-side down and sear for 5-7 minutes until the skin turns golden and crispy. Flip and sear the other side for 2-3 minutes.
- Mix Sauce: While chicken is cooking, whisk together soy sauce, honey, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth.
- Add Sauce to Chicken: Remove skillet from heat and pour the sauce evenly over the seared chicken thighs, coating them well.
- Bake the Chicken: Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
- Prepare Garnish: While baking, slice the green onions and set them aside ready for garnish.
- Finish with Sesame Oil: Once baked, remove the skillet from the oven and drizzle sesame oil over the chicken thighs for a nutty aroma and taste.
- Add Garnishes: Sprinkle the sliced green onions and sesame seeds over the chicken to add flavor and texture.
- Rest and Serve: Allow chicken to rest for a few minutes to let juices redistribute before serving. Pair with your favorite sides and enjoy this sticky, sweet, and savory dish.
Notes
- Drying the chicken skin thoroughly before searing is crucial for crispiness.
- Searing chicken skin-side down first helps render fat and develop golden, crispy skin.
- Use an ovenproof skillet to seamlessly transfer from stovetop to oven.
- Check chicken’s internal temperature for doneness using a meat thermometer.
- Adjust honey or sweet chili sauce quantities to taste for sweetness or spice levels.
- This dish pairs well with steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables, or a crisp Asian salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian
