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Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe with Easy Sesame Fried Rice

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A quick and easy recipe featuring juicy bone-in chicken thighs glazed with a sticky honey garlic sauce, paired with nutty sesame fried rice. Perfect for cozy weeknight dinners with a sweet-savory punch.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (around 2 pounds or 900 grams)
  • 3 tablespoons honey (raw or wildflower honey preferred)
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low-sodium recommended)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or canola oil
  • 3 cups cooked and cooled white rice (preferably day-old jasmine rice, about 600 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with black pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and rice vinegar until blended. Set aside.
  3. Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When hot, place chicken thighs skin-side down and press gently with tongs. Sear for 5-7 minutes until skin is golden and crispy. Flip and cook the other side for about 4 minutes.
  4. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken. Spoon sauce over chicken as it simmers uncovered for 8-10 minutes, turning every few minutes to coat.
  5. Increase heat slightly to medium towards the end to thicken the sauce into a sticky glaze. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
  6. Remove chicken from skillet and let rest for 5 minutes to lock in juices.
  7. While chicken simmers, heat 1 tablespoon sesame oil in a wok or saucepan over medium heat. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant without browning.
  8. Add cold cooked rice, breaking up clumps with a spatula. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until heated through. Drizzle soy sauce over rice and mix. Toss in sliced green onions and cook for another minute.
  9. Remove rice from heat, drizzle with remaining teaspoon of sesame oil, and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on top.
  10. Serve chicken thighs alongside a generous scoop of sesame fried rice. Spoon extra sauce over chicken and rice.

Notes

Use day-old rice for best fried rice texture to avoid mushiness. Pat chicken dry thoroughly for crispy skin. Simmer sauce on medium-low heat and stir frequently to prevent burning. Rest chicken after cooking to keep it juicy and allow sauce to cling better. If sauce thickens too fast, lower heat or add a splash of water or broth.

Nutrition

Keywords: honey garlic chicken, sticky chicken thighs, sesame fried rice, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Asian comfort food, sweet and savory chicken

Find it online: https://zestynora.com/sticky-honey-garlic-chicken-thighs-recipe-with-easy-sesame-fried-rice/