These insanely delicious sweet chili chicken 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 viral air fryer chicken recipes. Garlic Miso Chicken, Sesame Chicken, and my favorite easy Soy Sauce Chicken.
Jump to:
- Ingredients for easy sweet chilli chicken recipe
- How to make Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs
- Substitutions for sweet chili chicken
- Equipment
- How to store and reheat sweet chili chicken thighs air fryer
- Top Tips for Success
- Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs - FAQs
- Related chicken recipes
- Other quick and easy recipes you need to check out
- Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
- Food safety
Ingredients for easy sweet chilli chicken recipe
- Chicken thighs (bone-in or boneless)
- Avocado oil
- Lemon pepper
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Pepper
Sticky Sweet Chili Glaze:
- Sweet chili sauce
- Soy sauce
- Lemon juice
- Sesame oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs
Air frying chicken thighs is my favorite way to prepare chicken. It is simple, always come juicy - never dry! Once you start air frying, you will never go back.
Prep the chicken thighs. Season and set aside.
Air fry skin side down.
Make the glaze
Glaze and flip the chicken to get the skin crispy and caramelized.
Preparing the Chicken Thighs (oven or air fryer)
- Start by preheating your oven or 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
- In a small bowl, mix the avocado oil, lemon pepper, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this flavorful seasoning mix all over the chicken thighs, ensuring an even coating.
Air fry or Roast the chicken
- Air fry: Air fry the chicken skin side down at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
- 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.
Sticky Sweet Chili Glaze
- While the chicken is air fryer or roasted, prepare the sticky sauce.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
Applying the Sticky Glaze
- 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 4 times to get a nice coat of the glaze.
- Add more than 10 minutes of cooking time to the chicken or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Broiling for Extra Crispiness (Optional - highly recommended)
- For an extra crispy finish, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye to prevent burning and ensure that the chicken skin becomes beautifully caramelized.
Serving
- 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 side dishes.
Substitutions for sweet chili chicken
- Avocado Oil: Olive oil or vegetable oil
- Lemon Pepper: Lemon zest and black pepper
- Garlic Powder: Fresh minced garlic or garlic paste
- Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt (available in grocery store)
- Pepper: Black pepper or red pepper flakes
- Sweet Chilli Sauce: Make a homemade version using honey, brown sugar, or maple syrup, spicy sauce, fish sauce, red pepper flakes, and garlic.
- Soy Sauce: Tamari, hoisin sauce, dipping sauce, or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.
- Lemon Juice: Lime juice or rice vinegar for some tang and balance.
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Bowls
- Measuring spoons
How to store and reheat sweet chili chicken thighs air fryer
Storage:
- Refrigeration: Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: If you want to freeze leftovers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer-safe container. Label and date.
Reheating:
- Microwave: For a quick reheat, place a portion in a microwave-safe dish, cover, and heat in short intervals, stirring in between until thoroughly heated.
- Air fryer: This is how I prefer to reheat this dish. It makes the skin crispy again.
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.
Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs - FAQs
You do not need to marinate this chicken. A quick season, air fry, then baste. It is so easy, you will love it!
Cook thighs to 165°F (74°C) using a meat thermometer to ensure succulence without overcooking.
To achieve crispy chicken thighs, pat the chicken thighs dry before cooking and broil at the last 2 minutes of cooking for a crispy and caramelized finish.
Related chicken recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these other chicken recipes
Other quick and easy recipes you need to check out
Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer
These insanely delicious Sweet Chili chicken thighs in air fryer bring a tasty combo of sticky, sweet, and spicy flavors. These air fryer chicken thighs are an easy meal to whip up any night. Air fry or bake in the oven - up to you.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 chicken thighs 1x
- Category: Mains
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients
8 bone-in chicken thighs
1 tbsp avocado oil
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
Sticky Glaze
½ cup sweet chili sauce
3 tbsp of soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
Instructions
Step 1: Preparing the Chicken Thighs (oven or air fryer)
- Start by preheating your oven or air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with a paper towel to ensure a crispy chicken skin.
Step 2: Season the chicken
- In a small bowl, mix the avocado oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Rub this flavorful seasoning mix all over the chicken thighs, ensuring an even coating.
Step 3: Air fry or Roast the chicken
- Air fry: Air fry the chicken skin side down at 375 degrees for 15 minutes.
- 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.
Step 4: Sticky Sweet Chili Sauce
- While the chicken is air fryer or roasting, prepare the sticky sauce.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and oyster sauce.
Step 5: Applying the Sticky Glaze
- 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).
Step 6: Broiling for Extra Crispiness (Optional - highly recommended)
- For an extra crispy finish, turn on the broiler for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Keep a close eye to prevent burning and ensure that the chicken skin becomes beautifully caramelized.
Step 7: Serving
- 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
- 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.
Food safety
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
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.
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!