Frugal Gourmet's Sticky Chicken

Elevate your weeknight dinner game with the irresistible Frugal Gourmet’s Sticky Chicken—an affordable yet luscious dish that’s bursting with bold, Asian-inspired flavors. This recipe features tender, bone-in chicken thighs bathed in a savory-sweet glaze made from soy sauce, honey, and a hint of brown sugar, balanced by tangy rice vinegar and aromatic garlic and ginger. Perfectly seared to crispy golden perfection, the chicken is then simmered in its sticky, umami-packed glaze until melt-in-your-mouth tender. Garnished with vibrant green onions and toasted sesame seeds, this dish is as visually stunning as it is delicious. Serve it alongside steamed rice or sautéed veggies for a budget-friendly feast that delivers restaurant-quality flavor in just one skillet. Perfect for home cooks who love easy, flavorful recipes made with pantry staples!

Nutriscore Rating: 48/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 6 pieces Bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 0.5 cup Soy sauce
• 0.25 cup Honey
• 2 tablespoons Brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
• 4 cloves Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon Sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon Vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons Water
• 2 tablespoons Chopped green onions (for garnish)
• 1 tablespoon Toasted sesame seeds (for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and set aside.

Step 2

In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, and sesame oil to make the marinade.

Step 3

Place the chicken thighs in a large resealable plastic bag or a shallow dish, and pour the marinade over the chicken. Seal or cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2-4 hours for maximum flavor.

Step 4

Preheat a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat and add the vegetable oil.

Step 5

Remove the chicken from the marinade, reserving the marinade for later use, and place the chicken thighs skin-side down in the hot skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy.

Step 6

Flip the chicken thighs and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the other side is browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.

Step 7

In the same skillet, pour in the reserved marinade and bring it to a simmer. Let it cook for 5 minutes to thicken slightly and kill any bacteria from the raw chicken.

Step 8

In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Slowly stir this slurry into the simmering marinade to thicken it into a sticky glaze.

Step 9

Return the chicken thighs to the skillet, spoon the glaze over the chicken, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C). Occasionally baste the chicken with the glaze while cooking.

Step 10

Once the chicken is fully cooked and coated in the thick, sticky glaze, transfer it to a serving platter.

Step 11

Garnish the chicken with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Serve hot with steamed rice or your favorite vegetables.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(333.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	647.3

Total Fat 30.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 4.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 14.4g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 4622.2mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 87.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.4g	0%
Total Sugars 67.4g
Protein 14.0g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 151.7mg	0%
Iron 3.5mg	0%
Potassium 643.6mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 40.3%

Protein: 8.2%

Carbs: 51.5%