Crispy Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs

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Crispy and flavorful, these Soy Garlic Chicken Thighs are a quick and easy one-pot meal. Perfect any night of the week, you'll love the savory and sweet soy garlic sauce, along with a perfectly crisp exterior.

A skillet with soy garlic chicken thighs.

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When I need a meal that's ready in a pinch but doesn't sacrifice flavor, these crispy chicken thighs are a go-to. Great to serve with rice and your favorite veggie side!

Table of Contents

Why This Recipe Works

Ready in under 30 minutes, this crispy garlic chicken recipe will become an instant favorite in your regular rotation! It features juicy chicken thighs in a savory sauce with just a hint of sweetness and heat.

Thanks to a simple breading, the chicken thighs have an amazing crispy exterior. Paired with the tender interior, this is a chicken dish that's sure to satisfy!

And if you love cooking with chicken thighs, my Chili Crunch Chicken Thighs and my Cilantro Lime Chicken Thighs are also amazing options.

Ingredients Needed

All of the ingredients for these Soy garlic chicken thighs .

Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs: Chicken breasts can also be used.
Salt and Black Pepper
Cornstarch: The "secret" ingredient that leads to perfectly crispy chicken.
Vegetable Oil: You can also use another neutral oil like canola oil.
Butter
Garlic: I prefer to use fresh garlic because it's such a prominent flavor in this dish, but jarred minced garlic is a no-prep substitute.
Grated Ginger: Paste or powder can also be used.
Brown Sugar: Balances out the savory with some rich sweetness.
Red Pepper Flakes: Provide a kick of spicy heat.
Soy Sauce: Light or dark will work
Garnish: I top my chicken thighs with sesame seeds and green onions!

How to Make this Soy Garlic Chicken

Steps 1 through 4 for making soy garlic chicken.

Step 1: Season the chicken with salt and pepper and coat well with corn starch.
Step 2: Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 6 minutes.
Step 3: Flip and cook another 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown and fully cooked. Remove and set on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
Step 4: In the same pot, melt the butter and cook the garlic and ginger until fragrant.

Steps 5 and 6 for making soy garlic chicken thighs.

Step 5: Add brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and soy sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened.
Step 6: Return the chicken thighs to the sauce and coat them well. Cook until everything is warm, then serve and enjoy!

Recipe Tips

Picking up a piece of soy garlic chicken from a skillet.

This recipe can be made with chicken breasts, but be aware that they tend to cook a bit faster than thighs. Cooking time will also depend on the thickness of your chicken breast.
Use an instant-read thermometer to check for an internal temperature of at least 165 F to make sure the chicken is done.
Using a cast iron skillet can help with more even cooking, but any kind of large skillet should work for this easy recipe.

A plate of soy garlic chicken with rice and broccoli.

Recipe FAQ's

How do you know when chicken is fully cooked?

Once the chicken is no longer pink at all on the inside and hits a temperature of 165, it's good to go! If you use a food thermometer to check, be sure to check the thickest part of the thigh.

What kind of oil is best for fried chicken?

Aside from vegetable oil, canola oil and peanut oil are also popular options for frying chicken. They don't add too much flavor and have high smoke points, so it's much harder to burn the oil in the process.

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