Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs Recipe
This Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken recipe features tender bone-in chicken thighs coated in a flavorful and caramelized sweet chili glaze. Cooked in an air fryer for a crispy skin and finished under the broiler, it’s a quick and delicious dish ready in just 25 minutes, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 8 bone-in chicken thighs (can use boneless)
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
Sticky Glaze
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) to prepare for cooking the chicken, ensuring an even and hot environment for crisping the skin.
- Prepare the Chicken: Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to help the skin crisp up during cooking. This step is crucial to avoid soggy skin.
- Season the Chicken: Coat the chicken thighs evenly with avocado oil, then sprinkle garlic powder, salt, and pepper to season thoroughly and enhance flavor.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Place the chicken skin side down in the air fryer basket and cook at 375°F for 15 minutes. This will start the cooking process and help develop a crispy skin.
- Make the Sticky Glaze: While the chicken cooks, mix sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sesame oil in a small bowl until well combined to create a flavorful glaze.
- Baste the Chicken: Every few minutes during cooking, baste the chicken with the sticky glaze. Doing this at least three times helps caramelize the skin and build a delicious sticky coating.
- Continue Cooking: Add 10 more minutes of cooking time or until the chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring it is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Broil for Crispy Finish: For an extra crispy and caramelized skin, broil the chicken for the last 2-3 minutes. Watch closely to prevent burning and achieve the perfect finish.
- Rest the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes. Resting helps redistribute juices, making the chicken more tender and flavorful.
- Serve: Serve the sticky sweet chili chicken thighs over jasmine rice or alongside your favorite vegetable sides for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can substitute boneless chicken thighs for quicker cooking, but bone-in provides more flavor and juiciness.
- Patting chicken dry before cooking is essential for crispiness.
- Basting multiple times during cooking builds a rich, sticky glaze; do not skip this step.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Broiling at the end is optional but highly recommended for a beautifully caramelized finish.
- Serve with jasmine rice or steamed vegetables to balance the rich flavors.
Keywords: Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken, air fryer chicken thighs, sticky chicken recipe, quick chicken dinner, Asian chicken glaze
