These insanely delicious sweet chili chicken thighs bring a tasty combo of sticky, sweet, and spicy flavors. These air fryer chicken thighs are an easy meal to whip up any night. You can air fry or bake these sweet chili chicken thighs - up to you.
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Irresistible chicken with sweet chili sauce is quick to prepare. Fantastic for a tasty lunch or a delicious dinner. It comes together in less than 30 minutes.
Try my other air fryer chicken recipes. Garlic Miso Chicken, Sesame Chicken, and my favorite easy Soy Sauce Chicken.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
- Avocado Oil: Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Garlic Powder: Fresh minced garlic or garlic paste
- Sweet Chilli Sauce: You can buy it, or make it. See my recipe for my homemade version.
- Soy Sauce: Tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.
- Other add ons: lemon or lime juice or rice vinegar for some tang and balance.
How to make (VIDEO)
How to make sweet chili chicken (photos)
You can air fry or bake these. See recipe card for the full instructions.
- Step 1: Season and air fry the chicken skin side down.
- Step 2: Halfway through cooking, baste the chicken.
- Step 3: Halfway through cooking, baste the chicken.
- Step 4: Flip the chicken baste it a few more times.
Use a pastry brush!
use a pastry brush to apply the sauce all over the chicken.
Top Tips for Success
- For a crispy chicken: Make sure the chicken is patted dry with paper towel. Air fry skin side down first.
- Caramelized chicken: Broil for an extra 2 minutes at the end to get the chicken extra sticky and caramelized.
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Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken - ready in 25 minutes
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to ensure a crispy chicken skin.
- Season the chicken thighs with avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Air fry the chicken skin side down at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
- Sticky Glaze: In a separate small bowl, mix together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
- Baste the chicken a few times with the sticky sauce while roasting or air frying. You want the chicken to be caramelized. I basted the chicken at least 3 times to get a nice coat of the glaze.
- Add more 10 minutes of cooking time to the chicken or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- For an extra crispy finish, broil for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye to prevent burning and ensure that the chicken skin becomes beautifully caramelized.
- Once done, remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Serve your Sticky Sweet Chilli Chicken Thighs over a bed of jasmine rice or with your favorite vegetable side dishes.
Notes
- Oven: Line the baking tray with parchment paper. Roast the chicken skin side down for 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Flip and roast for 10 minutes until the skin is crispy.
- For a crispy chicken: Make sure the chicken is patted dry with paper towel.
- Caramelized chicken: Broil for an extra 2 minutes at the end to get the chicken extra sticky and caramelized.
Darcy says
There is no way the chicken thighs were cooked through in that amount of time, mine still looked raw, skin was not crisp and I had to cook them wayyyyy longer, I liked the recipe but the directions didn't tell you when to turn the chicken over after the first 15 minutes, did I miss something??? confusing, I haven't tasted them yet, but there probably over cooked...oh well
Carmen Spillette says
this completely depends on the size of your chicken thighs and the quality of your air fryer. Always use an internal thermometer and make sure it reaches 165 degrees for doneness. Thank you, I hope you enjoy! Have a great day!
Jayne says
Lovely,very tasty and much appreciated by my husband.
Carmen Spillette says
This is amazing to hear. My husband loves this too!
Tami A Miller says
I use sweet chili sauce by Panda Express. you can find it in stores.
Suzanne says
What kind of sweet chili sauce do you like the best?
Carmen Spillette says
Any Thai brand would be great like Mae Ploy or Thai Kitchen.
Tami A Miller says
I use sweet chili sauce by Panda Express. you can find it in stores.
Amanda says
If I used boneless instead of boneless in, what would I adjust the cooking times to?
Carmen Spillette says
15 minutes, flipping it halfway. I would use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness.
Matthew says
So do you take it out every 3-4 minuntes to flip/baste? can you baste the top half when you before you start the air fryer?
Carmen Spillette says
you start skin side down. baste. flip and baste again. hope that helps.
Gordon Richard Oamilda says
do you start cooking skin side up or down
Carmen Spillette says
side down
Sammi says
Can you make this recipe with skinless boneless thighs?
Carmen Spillette says
Yes! Just lower the cook time.
Susan Kelch-Dyson says
I like the idea of giving instructions for the oven since I do not have an airfryer.
I will be trying a few of your recipes. I want to try the one with the cabbage for sure.
lyn says
Yup, basting it for couple of times is really the key for not ddrying and keeping it juicy, Good job on this one.
Smith says
🥰🥰🥰
Karen says
I made it spicier by adding more chili powder and now my mouth is on fire! Sorry haha!
Carmen Spillette says
lol be careful
Paul says
Amazing.So delicious, a real keeper. Thanks
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you Paul!!
Jay Harris says
I love this recipe, might be the best chicken thighs I've made. Sticky and full of flavor.
Nany H says
All I can say is wow 👏 Even my kids loved this dish and they're tough to please lol. Made this 3 times in the last two weeks and it's our new household fav!!
Carmen Spillette says
This makes me so happy!
Aimee says
I’m Making this now, but I can’t see the quantities so have no idea how it will turn out…
Carmen Spillette says
The quantities is in the recipe card below. Go to JUMP TO RECIPE or scroll down. Hope that helps.
Josh Boon says
10/10. I love Carmen's recipes because they're so easy and incredibly delicious. This is definitely one of my new favorites.
Carmen Spillette says
This is so good to hear.
Amillia B says
Absolutely unbelievable!! So much flavor and my whole family loved it!!
Carmen Spillette says
Thank you!