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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.
I have used this recipe for YEARS. It is the best stove top/oven chicken thigh recipe I have ever used. I’ve tried so many other recipes for chicken thighs and I’m always disappointed I didn’t go back to this one. I just wanted to let Katerina know how much I appreciate it and how happy I am that I found this so long ago. It always comes out perfect and the whole family enjoys it. Thanks again!
It’s wonderful to hear that this recipe has been a go-to for you for so many years! I’m sure Katerina would be thrilled to know how much you appreciate it and how consistently it delivers for your family. Thank you for sharing your kind words and for sticking with a recipe that works so well for you! ๐
Came out great! Family loved it. Adding to the rotation ๐๐
Thatโs wonderful to hear! Itโs always a win when the whole family enjoys a meal. Glad itโs making it into your regular rotation! Thank YOU! ๐
Iโve e made this recipe a few times now and my family asks for it often. It is so delicious and easy! Thank you for sharing it!
Thatโs wonderful to hear that itโs become a favorite in your family! Itโs great when a recipe is both delicious and easy to make. Thank you, and I hope you continue to enjoy it together! ๐
This recipe was a hit in my house. I did add some cayenne pepper but otherwise followed it to a tee. This will be on rotation for us now. Thank you for sharing.
I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the recipe and that it’s made it into your regular meal lineup! Adding cayenne pepper for a little heat sounds like a delicious twist. Thanks for giving it a try and for your kind words! ๐
I used 1/2 cayenne abd 1/2 chili powder. This wa a huge hit wth my son and I. I ooked them in a pan and when browned, I finished them iff in the oven. I then cut them up and used on a cajun cream sauuce. Awesome rub!
You made a great tweak to the recipe with cayenne and chili powder, and it sounds like it was a big success. I am very glad you enjoyed it! ๐
Did you pure the Cajun cream sauce on top of the chicken when serving? I am putting my chicken over rice.
Thanks!
Very moist and tasty, will make again.
This recipe is beyond easy and excellent! We love it. Will be making this again
That’s great! I am very glad everyone enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐
Can this be made in an air fryer?
Yes. If I may, I would suggest following this recipe for how to cook them in the air fryer ๐ https://diethood.com/asian-glazed-air-fryer-chicken-thighs/
I hope that helps.
Instead of coconut oil, what else could I use?
Any plant-based oil, like olive oil, will work.
Let me start by being transparent. I was a little skeptical due to a few recent Pinterest fails. LOL. However, this little recipe right here was a GEM! I was pleasantly surprised! Delicious!
That’s great! I’m very happy you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! ๐