Description
This Spicy Sweet Chicken Devil recipe balances sticky brown sugar sweetness with a bold sriracha kick for a weeknight meal that feels special. It’s easy enough for a simple dinner yet saucy enough to impress guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons sriracha
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Trim excess fat from the chicken thighs and pat them dry with paper towels.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, sriracha, minced garlic, and ground ginger until the sugar is mostly dissolved.
- Add the chicken thighs to the bowl and coat thoroughly in the marinade. Seal and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for about 5–7 minutes per side until a deeply browned crust forms and the internal temperature reaches about 160°F / 71°C.
- Remove the chicken to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
- Carefully pour the remaining marinade into the skillet and bring to a simmer over medium heat.
- Simmer the sauce for 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1–2 tablespoons of cold water to make a slurry; stir it into the simmering sauce.
- Cook for another 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens.
- Return the chicken to the skillet and toss until coated and warmed through. Garnish with chopped green onions.
- Serve hot with rice, noodles, or steamed vegetables.
Notes
To keep chicken moist, cook just shy of done and finish in the sauce. Adjust the heat by varying the amount of sriracha to your preference.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Searing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
Keywords: chicken, spicy, sweet, easy dinner, weeknight meal