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Spicy, sweet, and sticky chicken is an easy and quick one skillet meal that includes sticky, tender, and delicious chicken thighs rubbed with a homemade spice rub and brushed with an amazingly sweet honey sauce.
For more delicious weeknight chicken recipes, you should also try my piri piri chicken and this excellent crock pot honey garlic chicken. Both recipes are packed with flavor and are always a hit with family and friends.
The glory that is this amazing sticky chicken… If I were this dish, I’d kiss myself. It’s SO delicious AND pretty.
Hi Hi! Happy DAY! Sundays are the best! I slept in, took a shower, and ate… oh wait, that was back in 2006. Sundays with two kids under 7 don’t look like that anymore, but hey, who’s complaining?! 😉 Back in 2006, I didn’t cook my own sticky chicken. Instead, I’d hop over to my favorite Asian restaurant and devour all the chicken, trying to cure a Saturday night hangover… Fun days! Now, I’ve made it a hobby to recreate my favorite take-out dishes, from black pepper chicken stir fry and chicken fried rice to sesame chicken, and these homemade sticky chicken thighs.
Regardless of my 20-something shenanigans, if you want to be extra deliciously awesome today, I urge you to get this sweet and sticky chicken going ASAP. It might not be YOUR world’s best thighs, but it’s exactly what my mouth wants to eat every day, all day. Plus, one more thing that you and I both love—this all happens in just one skillet. Or, even better, one cast iron skillet. Just add a side of steamed broccoli and white rice and dinner is served!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Judging by how closely our food tastes align most of the time, I’m going to guess that you’ll love this sticky chicken just as much as me, and it will be added to your rotation just as it has been a part of mine for a long time.
Spice Rub
- Chili powder: Adds heat and a rich, smoky flavor.
- Paprika: Contributes a mild sweetness and vibrant color.
- Ground cumin: Provides an earthy, warm taste.
- Garlic powder: Adds a savory depth of flavor.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors in the rub.
- Ground black pepper: Adds a subtle heat and depth.
Sauce
- Honey: Brings sweetness and helps create a sticky glaze.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds tanginess to balance the sweetness of the honey.
For the Chicken
- Unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil: Used for frying, it adds a subtle coconut flavor.
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs: They are juicy and flavorful, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- Green onions: Used for garnish, they add a fresh, mild onion flavor.
How To Make Sticky Chicken
Let’s get right down to it. I adore this meal for many reasons, one of them being that you actually make your own spicy spice rub, and you get to control the heat. Secondly, the honey sauce. It’s just a combination of honey and apple cider vinegar. I’ve also been dying to try a version of this recipe with the marinade from my honey soy chicken. That’s next!
- Prep. Preheat the oven to 375°F and melt coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Season the chicken. Mix together the spice rub ingredients. Rub the chicken thighs with the spice rub.
- Brown the chicken thighs. Cook the chicken in the skillet for 5 minutes on each side until browned. See my stovetop chicken thighs for tips!
- Make the sticky sauce. Combine honey and apple cider vinegar to make the honey sauce. Pour the honey sauce over the chicken and coat well.
- Bake. Put the skillet in the oven and cook the chicken for 25-30 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest for a few minutes.
- Serve. Garnish with green onions and serve.
What to Serve with Sticky Chicken Thighs
Sticky chicken goes great with a side of white rice or cumin rice and a starter of steamed shrimp shumai dumplings. If you’re not going the Asian-inspired route, try a creamy avocado salad or leafy salad with orzo and feta on the side, or crispy seasoned Cajun fries.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
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Sticky Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
FOR THE SPICE RUB
- 2 teaspoons chili powder, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
FOR THE CHICKEN
- 1 tablespoon unrefined, cold pressed coconut oil
- 6 to 8 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- sliced green onions, for garnish
FOR THE SAUCE
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Combine the spice rub ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined.
- Rub the chicken with the prepared spice rub and toss to coat.
- Melt coconut oil in a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.
- Add chicken to skillet and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until browned.
- Prepare the honey sauce by combining honey and apple cider vinegar in a mixing bowl; stir until well incorporated.
- Remove chicken from heat and pour honey sauce over the chicken thighs, turning to coat.
- Bake in oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
- Remove from oven and let stand couple minutes.
- Plate and garnish with green onions.
- Serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Could you use regular oil instead of the coconut oil?
Hi!
Yes, absolutely.
My boyfriend and I have this at least twice a month! Itโs so easy and practically foolproof!
That’s great to hear! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Made these tonight…so easy and delicious!!
Thank YOU! I’m glad you enjoyed it! ๐
This was absolutely delicious and will be made again and again! My husband loves the spice, I love the sticky, and we both love the smell of the ACV cooking, making things all nummy. Left out the salt for low sodium, enough spice it didn’t need it. Served with rice and broccolini. Thank you for the great recipe!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Wow! This is delicious! I only had 6 thighs in my package so the sauce went further. Oh the sauce! yum! Next time I will double the recipe so there are leftovers. I cut the thighs in half so they’d be smaller and cook faster. I also added a tablespoon of apricot preserves to the sauce, which gave it a nice tang. I used less Siracha but then sprinkled red pepper flakes on the chicken. I think I might add a little smoked paprika next time too. I put it on “broil” for about 2 minutes at the end to caramelize the sugar and crisp the chicken. Next time I think I might throw in some sliced sweet peppers near the end, or even pineapple chunks would be yummy. I served it over brown rice with a big leafy salad. This is definitely going in our dinner rotation!
That’s great to hear! I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
This recipe does not call for siracha. Can you tell me how and when you interpreted it onto the recipe ? Sounds yummy
I made this last night! it was a big hit!
Thank you for the recipe, I will be making this one again for sure!!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Making this right now. Not sure about the taste, but is there a technically aspect for the ACV? It really stinks up the house.
Hi!
It just adds a bit of tang to the sauce, and it helps to balance the sweet and spicy flavors in a dish. But, you don’t have to use it if you don’t like it. White wine vinegar or lemon juice can be used instead.
This turned out fabulously! I used boneless, skinless thighs and cut them into chunks. The cooking time was a little shorter because of that.
This will be in regular rotation. It’s perfect for a weeknight because it comes together so quickly. While you are finishing it off in the oven you can prepare the rest of the dinner.
Thank you!
I am very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
This was delicious and so easy! I love the sweet and tangy sauce. I might add a little heat to it next time. Yum!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
What can I use instead of apple cider vinegar
Hi! You can use a tablespoon of lemon juice or lime juice.
This was really amazing! I had to tweak a few things…used bone-in skin-on chicken thighs because that is what I had thawing, needing a good new recipe. I had only four thighs and made the rub and sauce according to the recipe. My kids, as usual, left me one tablespoon honey in the pantry, so I substituted maple syrup. Delicious chicken!!!