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Closeup of grilled chicken thighs with a stick sweet Asian sauce, green onions and sesame seeds
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5 from 3 votes

Asian Chicken Recipe

Quick cooking chicken thighs in a thick, sweet, sticky, garlic sauce you won't soon forget. On the table in about 30 minutes!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinating1 hour
Total Time1 hour 35 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: Asian, chicken, grilled
Servings: 4
Calories: 370kcal
Author: Tricia

Ingredients

  • 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs trimmed (2 1/2 to 3 pounds)

For the marinade and sauce:

  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup hoisin sauce
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce low sodium
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon chili-garlic sauce more or less to taste
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
  • 2 cloves garlic minced

For garnish:

  • scallions sliced thin
  • toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Place the chicken pieces in a large zipper bag or bowl.
  • In a small bowl combine all the marinade ingredients and whisk until blended. You should have about 1 ⅓ cups of sauce. Transfer ⅓ cup of the marinade to the chicken and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate the chicken for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours.
  • Cover and refrigerate the remaining sauce until ready to cook or grill the chicken.

To grill the chicken:

  • Transfer the remaining 1 cup of sauce to a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the sauce starts to boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce reduces to about ½ cup and thickens, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
  • When ready to cook the chicken clean and scrape the grill grates. Using tongs coat the grill grates with vegetable oil soaked paper towels. Preheat the grill on high for 10 minutes.
  • Cook the chicken thighs over the hot side of the grill until charred on one side. Turn the chicken over and brush the grilled side with the sauce. Continue grilling until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
  • Transfer to a platter and serve garnished with sliced scallions and toasted sesame seeds.

To cook the chicken on the stovetop:

  • Do not marinate the chicken before pan searing. Blot the chicken dry with paper towels then season with salt and pepper.
  • Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat until shimmering.
  • Add the chicken thighs in a single layer. This can be done in two batches to prevent overcrowding the pan. Cook until browned on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove to a clean plate and tent to keep warm.
  • Reduce the heat to medium and add all the sauce. Simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened and reduced, about 5 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet and cook turning and stirring occasionally until the chicken cooked through and coated in the sticky, sweet sauce, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  • Serve garnished with toasted sesame seeds and slices green onions.

Notes

Nutritional information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered as an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1259mg | Potassium: 675mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 132IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg