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    Home » Mains » 30 minute meals

    Caramel Chicken (easy 30-minute recipe)

    Published: Dec 18, 2022 · Modified: Jan 11, 2023 by Carmen Spillette · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    This easy Caramel Chicken is one of my favorite chicken recipes. A popular Vietnamese dish made with a sweet, lightly spicy, and savory caramel sauce. 

    You only need a few ingredients and a wok, and you’re good to go!

    Serve this with some rice, and enjoy! 

    caramel chicken with rice

    Why you will love this Vietnamese Caramel Chicken

    • Vietnamese caramel chicken has a distinct flavor thanks to the tangy Asian sauce that creates a sweet and umami-rich flavor.
    • Easy enough for beginners to make, has impressive cooking time, and requires only simple ingredients.
    • This fantastic 30-minute meal is the perfect dinner for busy weeknights and a unique dish for entertaining.
    • The savory and sweet caramel sauce is really great with steamed rice and vegetables like green beans or broccoli.
    caramel chicken vietnamese

    Ingredients and Substitutions

    Chicken thighs: Most recipes call for boneless skinless chicken thighs as they are the juiciest and most flavorful cut of chicken. You can also use chicken breast if you prefer, but I wouldn’t recommend it.

    Neutral oil: For browning the chicken. You can use just about any cooking oil, but neutral-flavored ones like avocado or canola oil are the most common.

    Garlic: Freshly minced garlic is best for this caramel chicken recipe, but you can also use garlic powder.

    Chili: Optional but recommended for a bit of heat. You can use anything from red pepper flakes to chili red peppers. Some use jalapenos. You do you, boo!

    Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work perfectly, but you can substitute white sugar or molasses.

    Fish sauce: Essential ingredient in Vietnamese cuisine that gives this dish its signature flavor, so don’t skip it! You can find fish sauce in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores. I love the 3 crab brand. Look for a bottle with 3 crabs.

    Dark soy sauce: This was not just for flavor but also for color. Sweeter than the lighter version. You can also use low-sodium soy sauce to keep the dish from becoming too salty, but you must adjust the sugar level.

    Black pepper: For seasoning.

    Caramel sauce: A combination of sugar, fish sauce, rice vinegar, and water. You can even use coconut water or chicken stock to thin out the sauce for added flavor.

    Green onions: White is for sautéing, and green is for garnishing.

    Cilantro: For garnishing. It adds a lovely freshness to the dish.

    caramel chicken on a bed of rice

    Equipment

    • wok with lid
    • or dutch oven
    • knife
    • cutting board
    • medium bowl
    • serving dish

    Tips for making the best Vietnamese Caramel Chicken

    • Use chicken thighs for the most flavorful and tender meat. I like to brown the skin side of my chicken as well.
    • Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken before taking it off the heat.
    • When heating the caramel sauce, simmer it over medium heat, so it doesn’t burn.
    • Add more chili for a spicy caramel sauce or more sugar for a sweeter version.
    • Reduce the sauce for a few minutes to allow it to thicken and intensify in flavor.
    • Make sure to use a good-quality fish sauce like Red Boat Fish Sauce or the 3 Crabs Brand for the best flavor.
    marinate the chicken
    do a quick marinade
    garlic
    prep the ingredients
    green onions
    garlic, green onions, chili and caramel sauce
    fresno chili
    make the caramel sauce an set aside
    brown the chicken
    brown the chicken slightly
    saute aromatics
    saute the aromatics
    put the chicken back and cook through
    put the chicken back and cook through and reduce the sauce
    chicken, rice and garnish
    serve and enjoy!

    Storage and Reheating Tips

    STORE – store the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.

    REHEAT – reheat in a microwave oven or wok to retain the best flavor and texture.

    FREEZE – freeze the cooked boneless chicken thighs in the freezer for up to 3 months.


    what to serve with Vietnamese Caramel chicken

    • Jasmine rice
    • Cauliflower Fried Rice
    • Garlic Braised Kale
    • Sesame Braised Cabbage
    • Air Fryer Eggplant Recipe
    • Sesame Cucumber Salad

    more chicken thigh recipes

    • Char Siu Chicken
    • Garlic Miso Chicken
    • Gochujang Chicken Thighs
    • Spicy Sesame Chicken

    Print
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    Caramel Chicken (easy 30-minute recipe)

    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Caramel Chicken is one of my favorite chicken recipes. A popular Vietnamese dish made with a sweet, lightly spicy and savory caramel sauce. 

    You only need a few ingredients and a wok, and you’re good to go!

    Serve this with some rice, and enjoy! 

    • Total Time: 30 minutes
    • Yield: 2-4 1x

    Ingredients

    Scale

    2 lbs boneless chicken thighs (5–6 pieces)

    3 tbsp of neutral oil (I used avocado oil)

    5 cloves of minced garlic

    1 Fresno chili

    green onion

    cilantro for garnish

    Marinade:

    2 tbsp sugar

    1 tbsp fish sauce

    1 tbsp dark soy sauce

    black pepper

    Caramel Sauce:

    1 tbsp fish sauce

    1 tbsp of sugar

    1 tbsp rice vinegar

    ¼ cup of water

    Instructions

    1. Add your chicken to a medium size bowl. Add the marinade ingredients and marinate your boneless chicken for 5-10 minutes while you prep the rest of your ingredients.
    2. Mince the garlic, and slice the green onions. Separate the white from the green parts. Mince your chili. You can keep the seeds in if your dish is extra spicy.
    3. In another bowl, combine the caramel sauce ingredients and set it aside.
    4. In medium heat, add a tiny bit of oil to the wok. Brown your chicken pieces. Don’t brown too much, as it will burn. Just a slight char would be perfect. Do it in batches. Remove and set aside.
    5. Add the remaining oil and the aromatics (garlic, white part of the green onions, and chili). Saute until fragrant – 1 minute.
    6. Add back the chicken and the caramel sauce mixture in the wok. Cover the wok with a lid and let it simmer for 10 minutes until the chicken is cooked. 
    7. Remove the lid, bring the to medium-high heat and let the sauce reduce and caramelize. 3-5 minutes.
    8. Add the rest of your garnish. Serve and enjoy!

    Notes

    Garnish ideas: more chilis, cilantro, and green part of the green onion.

    • Author: Carmen
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 25 minutes
    • Category: mains
    • Method: wok
    • Cuisine: vietnamese

    Keywords: vietnamese caramel chicken, caramel chicken, easy caramel chicken

    Did you make this recipe?

    PLEASE LEAVE A REVIEW

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Jon

      January 11, 2023 at 1:23 am

      Hi. Thanks for the recipe but confused about your instructions below. Not clear if the heat stays on when you say “cover the wok with a lid.” Shut heat off and then bring to medium-high heat and let sauce reduce?

      Add back the chicken.
      Add the caramel sauce mixture. Cover the wok with a lid. 10 minutes.
      Remove the lid, bring the to medium-high heat and let the sauce reduce and caramelized. 3-5 minutes.

      Reply
      • Carmen

        January 11, 2023 at 5:37 pm

        Sorry for the confusion. I have changed the instructions on the recipe card, so hopefully, it is more clear.
        Basically, you want to add the aromatics and the chicken and cover it with a lid to cook the chicken fully. The heat will be at a medium simmer. Remove the lid after 10 minutes to reduce the sauce and let it get thick and caramelized. Hope that makes sense. Thank you so much!!!

        Reply
    2. Mary Picone

      December 18, 2022 at 7:27 pm

      Where can I find the WOK that you use

      Reply
      • Carmen

        December 19, 2022 at 5:41 am

        Here is the link. hope that helps! https://amzn.to/3YzvFL1

        Reply

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