This is a very special recipe because it’s the first one I published on my website when I started it in 2014! It reflects the heart and soul of the type of recipes I share: dinners for busy people who still want to eat tasty food. This one is extra great because it uses ingredients you probably already have. Hence the name – Sticky Pantry Chicken!
It’s a chicken thighs recipe slathered in a country-style glaze that’s sweet, sticky and optionally spicy with incredible flavour for such a quick recipe. I hope you love it! – Nagi x
Any day chicken thighs recipe
The sauce for this quick chicken thigh recipe tastes like a country style sauce, with a kick of heat if you so desire. The beauty of this recipe is that it’s made with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. Hence why I call it a Sticky PANTRY chicken thigh recipe.
Simple it may be, but the combination of ingredients creates a sauce that’s got terrific depth of flavour, and though I usually make this dish as a quick “OMG what am I going to make with this chicken tonight??!”, I’d proudly serve this up for company as well.
Chicken thighs, breast or tenders!
This recipe is suited to thighs, breast or tenders (aka chicken tenderloins). I usually tend to choose chicken thighs over breast simply because they have more flavour and are far more juicy than breast, and typically better value at the grocery store!
But this will work just fine with breast too – just halve them horizontally to make thin steaks, then cook per the recipe.
What to serve on the side
Make dinner extra fabulous by serving these chicken thighs with this addictive Mushroom Rice! Add this Everyday Cabbage Salad for crunch (a great standby salad) or make a quick garden salad.
Otherwise, try a lovely crisp salad with French Dressing, Italian Dressing or Balsamic Dressing.
Hope you enjoy! – Nagi x
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Sticky Pantry Chicken Thigh recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp oil (for frying)
- 6 (1.5-2lb / 750g-1kg) chicken thigh fillets , boneless skinless
- 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 cup water
Sauce
- 1/3 cup ketchup or tomato sauce (Australian)
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp dijon or American mustard
- 2 tbsp hot sauce (optional)
- 2 tbsp vinegar (any)
- 2 1/2 tbsp honey
- 2 garlic cloves , crushed
Instructions
- Sauce – Whisk the ingredients in a medium bowl.
- Sprinkle each piece of chicken with the salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil in a large non-stick pan over medium high heat.
- Coat chicken – Quickly dip a piece of chicken in the Sauce, shake off excess, then place in the pan. Repeat with as many pieces of chicken as you can fit in the pan.
- Cook the first side for 3 minutes, until it caramelises and is dark golden, then turn and cook the other side for 2 minutes until the chicken is almost cooked through.
- Sauce – Add the remaining Sauce and water. Bring to a rapid simmer, stirring occasionally, scraping the bottom of the pan to get all the brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan. When the sauce has thickened (around 1 to 2 minutes), remove the pan from the stove. Turn chicken in Sauce to coat.
- To serve, place chicken on plate and spoon over Sauce.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Recipe originally published in April 2014. Updated with new photos in 2022, and some writing tidied up in 2024.
More skinless, boneless chicken thigh recipes
Life of Dozer
The day I bought Dozer in 2012. For a 50% discount!!! Bargain of my life. ❤️
This did not turn out for me. The chicken did not caramelize and the sauce was all watery. I’m wondering if I should have used a cast iron pan. What did I do wrong?
Delicious, super easy to make and reheats well.
I served with rice and steamed green veggies and was a hit with the family.
For those who like less spicy, I reduced the sriracha sauce and added more tomato sauce. But I do love the spicy sriracha flavour too.
The first one I’ve made from the new book. WINNER!! Simple, and a lot of it can be prepared early. Thanks!
Super tasty! My only comment is that it took a LOT longer than the times mentioned. Like 10min longer. At the times listed in the recipe, the internal temps were still 40C or so, wayyy unsafe!
Flavours of the sauce were absolutely amazing. I started with only 1 tsp of Sriracha but next time I’ll definitely add 2, then slowly increase it till I find the limit that we like. Didn’t get the charred look on the chicken, and the sauce didn’t go as dark and thick as Nagi’s, I added a bit of cornflower and that worked.
I’ve made this beautiful recipe several times now, and it never fails to impress! Quick, easy and budget friendly too – what more could you want?! Thanks Nagi. Big hugs to Dozer xx
This is really really good. Even the teenagers who doesn’t normally give out compliments said that chicken is SO good! Best part is it’s so easy and quick. Added 1 tbsp of sweet baby rays buffalo sauce and didn’t have fresh garlic so just used powder. Was still delicious. Served with Nagi’s smashed potatoes and a vegetable stirfy…..will definitely putting this on the weekday menu…..Thanks again Nagi🥰
Are the notes in this recipe for a different recipe? Brown sugar, rice and broccolini are all mentioned, but not in the ingredients.
This was seriously a quick and easy, and delicious, supper on a bed of rice.
This was so tasty & easy to make. Loved that I had everything I needed in the pantry. It took longer to cook than the recipe said, but some things are worth waiting for.
Left overs make fabulous sandwiches as well.
Another Nagi winner. Delicious and super easy to cook.
So easy. Literally only had to buy the chicken. Such an easy yummy dish. Definitely one we will bring doing again.
Great taste, spicy, had it with garlic zucchini. Wife loved it and so did I.
Fantastic recipe – I make this almost every week. So easy and oh so tasty.
You’ve done it again Nagi! Thanks 😋
I made this tonight. Mine didn’t look as good as yours Nagi but it was quick, easy and delicious! I served it with herbed rice, steamed broccoli, and loads of the sauce Yum! You were right I had everything I needed in the pantry – perfect 👌🏻
Another family favourite! Simple, packed with flavour and super easy!!!
I have skinless, bone-in thighs. Please tell me how to bake them – temperature and for how long please?
I made this dish for dinner tonight-amazing!!! This was so delicious!!! This recipe is a keeper!!
I love a dish with plenty of sauce and this chicken dish does just that. Man, it’s so simple and is super duper easy to make and so delish.
I sure added the hot sauce…. We bought it online “Sh%t the Bed” which packs a punch.
This chicken recipe is fantastic, you’ve done it again Nagi.
Hello! If I have bone in thighs with skin can I sear the meat first then pop it in the oven (how long?) then finish it in the stove simmering in the sauce?
Hi Carmela, yes you can definitely do that although the caramelising of the sauce in the oven gives the great flavour. N x