Asian Chicken Thighs

Total Time Prep: 15 min. Cook: 50 min.
Yield 5 servings
Contest Winner
Test Kitchen Approved
We're always looking for new Asian chicken thigh recipes, and this one doesn't disappoint. The bone-in chicken thighs simmer in a delightful sauce made from orange juice, soy sauce and Chinese five-spice powder.

Ingredients

  • 5 teaspoons olive oil
  • 5 bone-in chicken thighs (about 1-3/4 pounds), skin removed
  • 1/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 teaspoon Chinese five-spice powder
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Sliced green onions
  • Optional: Hot cooked rice and cilantro

Directions

  1. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook until golden brown, 8-10 minutes on each side. In a small bowl, whisk water, brown sugar, orange juice, soy sauce, ketchup, vinegar, garlic, pepper flakes and five-spice powder. Pour over chicken. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until chicken is tender, 30-35 minutes, turning chicken occasionally.
  2. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and cold water until smooth; stir into pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until sauce is thickened, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with green onions. If desired, serve with rice and cilantro.

Nutrition Facts

1 chicken thigh: 291 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 87mg cholesterol, 382mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (13g sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein.

The thick, tangy sauce makes this dish one of my favorite Chinese chicken recipes. Serve the chicken over long grain rice or with ramen noodle slaw. —Dave Farrington, Midwest City, Oklahoma
Recipe Creator

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