Spicy Caramel Chicken

Spicy Caramel Chicken
  • PREP TIME
    15 mins
  • COOK TIME
    15 mins
  • TOTAL TIME
    45 mins
  • SERVING
    4 People
  • VIEWS
    173

Experience an explosion of flavor with this updated classic! Tender chicken thighs, bathed in a rich and spicy caramel sauce, deliver the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and heat. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser that's ready in minutes!

Ingridients

Adjust Servings

Nutrition

  • Carbohydrate
    94 g
  • Cholesterol
    191 mg
  • Fiber
    3 g
  • Protein
    50 g
  • Saturated Fat
    12 g
  • Sodium
    1934 mg
  • Sugar
    43 g
  • Fat
    48 g
  • Unsaturated Fat
    0 g

Follow The Directions

01

Step

In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, minced garlic, grated ginger, hot pepper sauce, and soy sauce until well combined. (2 minutes)

02

Step

Place the chicken pieces in a separate bowl. Add ¼ cup of the brown sugar sauce and toss until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Let it marinate for 15 minutes. (17 minutes)

03

Step

Heat the vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over high heat until the oil just begins to smoke. Add the marinated chicken in a single layer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken starts to caramelize and turn a deep, rich brown. This should take approximately 8 to 10 minutes. (10 minutes)

04

Step

Reduce the heat to medium. Stir in the sliced jalapeños, red peppers, roasted peanuts, and ½ cup of chopped green onions. Continue to cook and stir for 1 minute, allowing the flavors to meld together. (1 minute)

05

Step

Add the remaining brown sugar sauce to the skillet and simmer until heated through, about 1 to 2 minutes. The sauce should thicken slightly and coat the chicken beautifully. (2 minutes)

06

Step

Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the chopped fresh cilantro. (1 minute)

07

Step

Serve the spicy caramel chicken immediately over hot cooked white rice. Garnish with additional chopped green onions for a fresh, vibrant finish. (2 minutes)

For a milder flavor, reduce the amount of hot pepper sauce or substitute it with a pinch of red pepper flakes.
If you don't have fresh ginger on hand, you can use 1 teaspoon of ground ginger. However, fresh ginger provides the best flavor.
To add more depth of flavor, consider adding a splash of Shaoxing rice wine to the sauce.
Feel free to substitute the chicken thighs with chicken breast, but be mindful not to overcook them. Chicken breast cooks faster than thighs and can become dry if overcooked.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Adaline Welch

Written by

Our recipe authors are passionate food lovers who share thousands of diverse dishes from around the world. They bring daily cooking inspiration with delicious, easy-to-make recipes for every occasion.

RECIPE REVIEWS

Avarage Rating: 4.7/ 5 ( 57 Ratings)
Total Reviews: (8)
  • Bobbie Hessel

    The fish sauce adds such a unique depth of flavor to the caramel sauce. Don't skip it!

  • Fern Jakubowski

    I made this for a dinner party, and everyone raved about it. It's definitely a crowd-pleaser!

  • Albina Quitzon

    Easy to follow and the result was restaurant-quality chicken.

  • Nigel Barton

    This recipe is fantastic! The caramel sauce is so flavorful, and the chicken is perfectly tender.

  • Jayme Wuckert

    I added a little honey to the sauce for extra sweetness. Delicious!

  • Hillard Botsford

    I doubled the recipe and it worked great for leftovers.

  • Vada Medhurst

    The spice level was perfect for my taste. I will be making this again!

  • Wilton Murphy

    My family loved this! Even my picky eaters enjoyed it.

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