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Ultimate Sticky Chicken

Ultimate Sticky Chicken
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Ultimate Sticky Chicken is a flavorful, quick-cooking dish featuring tender, juicy chicken thighs coated in a glossy, caramelized sauce that perfectly balances sweet, tangy, and savory notes. Ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions, this versatile recipe pairs beautifully with rice, veggies, or noodles while delivering a restaurant-quality presentation.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 4 skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs

Sauce & Marinade

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free option)
  • 3 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup/brown sugar as sweetener alternatives)
  • 3 cloves garlic, freshly minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)

Garnish

  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: Combine soy sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar in a bowl and mix well. Add the chicken thighs, making sure each piece is coated thoroughly. Let it marinate for at least 20 minutes to soak in all the flavor.
  2. Sear the chicken: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add a little oil. Place the chicken thighs skin-side down and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes. Flip and cook the other side briefly to seal in juices.
  3. Create the sticky glaze: Pour the leftover marinade into the pan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let the sauce simmer and thicken, coating the chicken with a glossy, sticky layer as you gently spoon it over the meat.
  4. Finish cooking: Cover the pan and cook for another 8-10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and perfectly tender. The sauce should be thick and syrupy at this point.
  5. Garnish and serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions and a pinch of chili flakes on top right before serving to add freshness and a touch of heat. Optionally, add toasted sesame seeds for extra flavor and texture.

Notes

  • Pat chicken dry to ensure the skin crisps up nicely before adding sauce.
  • Use a heavy skillet to maintain even cooking and prevent burning the glaze.
  • Simmer the glaze slowly to avoid burning and achieve perfect stickiness.
  • Adjust sweetness by tasting the sauce before final cooking; tweak honey levels as needed.
  • Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving to redistribute juices for maximum moistness.

Nutrition

Keywords: sticky chicken, honey chicken, quick chicken recipe, sweet and savory chicken, Asian chicken, gluten-free chicken dish

Find it online: https://cherrycooks.com/ultimate-sticky-chicken/