Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs (2024)

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. Chicken with sweet chili sauce will blow your mind!

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 infamous air fryer chicken recipes. Garlic Miso Chicken, Sesame Chicken, and my favorite easy Soy Sauce Chicken.

Ingredients for chicken with sweet chili sauce

• 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 chicken with sweet chili sauce

• 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

or the Sauce:

• 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 a tangy twist.

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Bowls
• Measuring spoons

How to store and reheat chicken with sweet chili sauce

Storage:

• Refrigeration: Allow Sweet Chili Chicken to cool to room temperature before storing. Place them in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
• Freezing: If you want to freeze leftovers, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer-safe container. Label with the 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.

Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs - FAQs

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these other chicken recipes

What to serve with sweet chili chicken recipe

These are my favorite side dishes to serve with Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs

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Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken Thighs in Air Fryer

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5 from 7 reviews

Print Recipe

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.

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 6 chicken thighs 1x

Ingredients

Scale

6 bone-in chicken thighs
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

Sticky Glaze

½ cup sweet chili sauce

3 tablespoon of soy sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil

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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, lemon pepper, 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 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 4 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

See Also

Ham and Cheese Sliders w/ Poppy Seed Sauce - I Heart Naptime

• 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.
  

Equipment

Air Fryer

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Glass Bowl with Lid

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measuring spoons

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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.

• Author: Carmen Spillette
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: mains
• Method: air fryer
• Cuisine: asian

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

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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