Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken is the crispy, sweet, and savory dinner you’ve been craving. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to a perfect charred crust. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Meal Prep Farro Salad with Roasted Summer Vegetables and Authentic Pot Birria Tacos Recipe for Easy Dinner.

What You'll Need for Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Vegetable oil, for cooking
• Optional: Green onions, chopped
• Optional: Sesame seeds, toasted

How to Make Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and five-spice powder. Mix well.
2. Step 2: Add chicken thighs to the marinade. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off excess. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Sear chicken skin-side down until golden, about 5 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for 2 minutes.
5. Step 5: Transfer skillet to preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Step 6: Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve with green onions and sesame seeds. Drizzle with remaining marinade.

Storing & Reheating Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed when ready to serve.

Freezing Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the pan juices after removing chicken.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
• Make-ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If chicken is not browning, increase heat or use a higher smoke point oil.

Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner

⏱

Prep

30 mins

🍳

Cook

25 mins

⏳

Total

55 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp grated ginger
• 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder

Seasonings

• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Vegetable oil, for cooking

Optional Toppings

• Green onions, chopped
• Sesame seeds, toasted

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and five-spice powder. Mix well.
2. Step 2: Add chicken thighs to the marinade. Toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours.
3. Step 3: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil.
4. Step 4: Remove chicken from marinade, shaking off excess. Season both sides with salt and pepper. Sear chicken skin-side down until golden, about 5 minutes. Flip and sear the other side for 2 minutes.
5. Step 5: Transfer skillet to preheated oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Step 6: Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Slice and serve with green onions and sesame seeds. Drizzle with remaining marinade.

Notes

• Chef tip: For a thicker sauce, mix 1 tbsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water and stir into the pan juices after removing chicken.
• Best substitution: Substitute chicken thighs with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Adjust cooking time accordingly.
• Make-ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed when ready to serve.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If chicken is not browning, increase heat or use a higher smoke point oil.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F (180°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until warmed through.
• Make ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed when ready to serve.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 450
• Protein: 45g
• Fat: 15g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 2300mg
• Cholesterol: 150mg
• Sat. Fat: 4.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Easy Sticky Char Siu Chicken Recipe for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!