Firecracker Chicken Thighs are seasoned and coated boneless, skinless chicken thighs seared and glazed with spicy firecracker sauce, then baked in the oven until tender and juicy. It is such a flavorful way to serve chicken, and it’s made in one oven-safe skillet for easy cleanup! And, once you taste the homemade firecracker sauce, you will want to use it in so many other ways, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Chicken: I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. They are a little juicier after cooking with a bit more flavor. However, you could use chicken breasts; be sure to adjust the cooking time as needed. Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Cornstarch: Each chicken thigh will be coated in cornstarch before cooking, creating a crispy exterior.
Firecracker Sauce: The star of this dish is homemade firecracker sauce. It is an Asian-inspired sauce that is a little bit sauce and a little bit spicy! I encourage you to make your own sauce, but store-bought would also work.
What To Serve With Firecracker Chicken Thighs
Firecracker Chicken Thighs pairs well with a variety of side dishes to create a complete meal. Here are some delicious options:
- White or Brown Rice
- Fried Rice (or Air Fryer Fried Rice)
- Roasted Asparagus or Green Beans
- Cucumber Salad
- Coleslaw
- Egg Rolls
- Mashed Potatoes (or Cauliflower Mashed)
Can I Make Firecracker Sauce Ahead Of Time?
Yes, to make this recipe even quicker to prepare, you can make the firecracker sauce up to two weeks in advance. Once made, store the sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator.
How To Store Firecracker Chicken Thighs
To store Firecracker Chicken Thighs, first, let the chicken cool to room temperature. Then, store the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat the chicken in the microwave, on the stovetop, or in the oven.
Firecracker Chicken Thighs
Ingredients
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup (64 g) cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 recipe firecracker sauce*, or 1 cup storebought
- green onion, chopped for garnish
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Pat the chicken thighs dry with paper towels. Evenly season each thigh with salt and pepper.
- To a shallow plate, add the cornstarch. Dredge each thigh in the cornstarch, coating evenly on all sides. Shake off excess and set aside.
- To a large, oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. Once hot, add chicken thighs. Sear the chicken for about 4-6 minutes per side. (The chicken will not be fully cooked at this point.) Please note: The chicken will stick to the pan, so you may need to work it a bit to unstick it when flipping.
- Pour firecracker sauce all over the chicken. Let it simmer for 1-2 minutes. Then, transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 6 minutes, or until the internal temperature of each chicken thigh reaches 165°F.
- Spoon sauce over chicken thighs. Garnish with green onion and/or parsley. Serve.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
I'm a big fan of this firecracker sauce! This chicken is so good! I loved the tender chicken with the kick of heat. I had mine over rice. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
Elizabeth
Firecracker sauce is so delicious with chicken, especially if you love sauce with a little bit of heat to it! And, this can be made in about 30 minutes!
Rachael
This firecracker sauce goes well on everything! Yet another hit, these firecracker chicken thighs would be amazing on some sticky rice. Quick dinner and delicious!
Annabelle
So flavorful! This is a simple recipe that will really knock your socks off!
Bella
This has a kick to it! It is perfect with chicken. A side of white rice would make this an even more fulfilling meal!!
Selena
Super spicy and SO good. I am in love with our firecracker sauce!
This is without a doubt the best recipe I’ve tried in years! My husband loves it so much he wants it made with beef and pork as well. Than you 😊
I don’t have a comment for this recipe but I’d sure love some side dish recipes that don’t have potato, rice or grains.
This chicken is so good. It’s a little crispy from the cornstarch. The sauce is spicy but not overwhelmingly spicy. Had it with rice and asparagus. Will definitely put the sauce on salmon next time. This recipe is a keeper.
These chicken thighs are fabulous, juicy, tender, and the sauce is the bomb! My husband and I loved these. And it’s a beautiful dish.
It’s refreshing to find great content such as this. Continue the good work.
Where’s the sauce?
You can click on the link right in the recipe card, it is underlined FIRECRACKER SAUCE. Here it is again:
https://iamhomesteader.com/firecracker-sauce/
How do you make the firecracker sauce what is in it
You can click the link right in the recipe card or in the blog post or here it is again:
https://iamhomesteader.com/firecracker-sauce/