30 Minute Easy Caramel Chicken

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Caramel Chicken is a quick and easy chicken thigh recipe. The chicken is braised then simmered in a sweet and savory brown sugar sauce. It’s irresistible and easy to make. Serve it over RiceSelect® Jasmati Rice with a side of vegetables. Adults and picky kids will love it!

Interested in trying out the RiceSelect Rice? Hover over the photo to click through to Walmart.com for purchasing.

I absolutely love this chicken recipe. It has been one of my family favorites, and I had no intentions on making this recipe again for my blog because I thought it was already there.

That’s until one of my subscribers told me she couldn’t find my caramel chicken recipe. I’m still trying to figure out what happened to the recipe, hmmm.

A picture of a bowl of rice topped with caramel chicken

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So, it’s only fair that I make this caramel chicken again. You can find all of the ingredients to make this fantastic dinner at Walmart. While I was shopping at Walmart, I picked up my favorite rice, RiceSelect Jasmati rice. 

You like saving money on your groceries right? If you do, then just click on this Ibotta coupon. And if you love to purchase your groceries online, you can order all your groceries online at Walmart.

I use RiceSelect high quality Jasmati rice because they make the highest quality perfect rice.

Secondly, they package the rice in a cute premium reusable plastic container that’s BPA free.

Thirdly, RiceSelect is Non-GMO, which simply means the rice doesn’t have crazy ingredients like artificial preservatives or flavors.

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

This is a quick prep recipe and perfect for a busy weekday. It’s done in under 30 minutes! It’s budget friendly. With RiceSelect Jasmati rice, it is a restaurant quality dinner thats easy to make. 

It’s a crowd pleaser. Every time I make this, it disappears in seconds. Caramel chicken is usually made with boneless skinless chicken thighs because they’re just more flavorful than chicken breast and can cook longer than chicken breast and won’t become dry. 

You can make this using ingredients you have in your pantry. The caramel sauce is simple. It’s basically just melted and cooked brown sugar with additional ingredients, which makes a great sweet and tangy slightly spicy sauce. 

HOW TO MAKE IT

It’s so easy to make caramel chicken. First, cut the chicken up into 1 1/2 – 2 inch pieces.
Then add them to bowl. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Add the garlic and onion powder.
Add the vegetable.  Toss to coat the chicken in the seasonings and oil.

Next, over medium high heat sear the chicken on both sides for a couple of minutes.

A skillet of caramel chicken

Then add the chicken broth mixture to the skillet, which includes, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger, crushed red peppers, brown sugar and garlic. Let the chicken simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove about 1/2 cup of liquid from the skillet. Add it to a small bowl. Add the cornstarch. Whisk like crazy until the lumps are gone.

This is called a slurry and it will thicken your sauce pretty quickly. Pour the slurry into the skillet and mix well. Let the sauce come to a boil. Then let is simmer for about 5 minutes.

A picture of a brand of jasmine rice called Jasmati from RiceSelect

To make the RiceSelect rice, just follow the instructions on the back of the container. Then serve over RiceSelect Jasmati rice or your favorite RiceSelect rice, as RiceSelect®​ Arborio rice would also be a great option. Garnish with green onions.

a bowl of RiceSelect Jasmine Rice and a bowl of caramel chicken

WHAT TO SERVE WITH CARAMEL CHICKEN?

Coleslaw

Mashed potatoes 

Peruvian fried rice 

Garden salad

Iceberg lettuce  (Use this caramel chicken recipe to make lettuce wraps).

TIPS TO MAKE THIS 

Can I use another sweetener besides brown sugar? Yes you can! You can try honey, maple syrup or your favorite sweetener.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch. Yes, but the sauce won’t be as glossy. 

Will this recipe work in the oven? Unfortunately, I haven’t tried this in the oven yet. 

Can I make this in advance? Yes you can! Once the cooked chicken and sauce is done and cooled off, place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate. Use within 3-4 days.

What other ingredients can I add? You can add hot peppers like jalapenos, or chili peppers. Lemongrass. You can add onions, sesame oil to the sauce or drizzle a bit over the finished dish. Top the finished dish with sesame seeds.

What kind of chicken can I use? I suggest using dark meat to make this caramel chicken. Chicken legs, chicken wings, leg quarters work well. 

Can I use chicken breast? You can but I wouldn’t suggest it. The chicken breast will become dry. Chicken thighs have way more flavor than chicken breast and they can survive longer cooking times and still be juicy and tender.  

What else can I use besides fish sauce? You can use oyster sauce. Adjust to your taste.

Caramel chicken in a bowl over rice

Caramel Chicken Recipe

April Boller Wright
Caramel Chicken is a simple chicken thigh recipe. The chicken is braised then simmered in a sweet and savory brown sugar sauce. It's irresistible and easy to make. Serve it over your favorite rice with a side of vegetables. Adults and picky kids will love it!
 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 3 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 5 chicken thighs boneless and skinless
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red peppers
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tbsp minced garlic
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • Juice of half of a small lemon
  • slice green onion for garnish
  • salt and pepper for taste season very lightly

Instructions
 

  • Cut the chicken up into 1 1/2 - 2 inch pieces and add to a bowl.  
  • Lightly season with salt and pepper. Season with garlic and onion powder. Add the vegetable oil.  Toss chicken in oil and seasonings.
  • Over medium high heat sear the chicken on both sides for a couple of minutes.
  • Add the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, fish sauce, ginger, crushed red peppers, brown sugar and garlic to the skillet. Let the chicken simmer for 20 minutes.

To make the slurry

  • Remove about 1/2 cup hot liquid from the skillet. Add it and the cornstarch to a small bowl.Whisk like crazy until lumps are gone.
     
  • Pour the slurry into the skillet with chicken and mix well. Slurry thickens the sauce. Let the sauce come to a boil. Then let is simmer for about 5 minutes. Serve the caramel chicken over Riceselect rice. Top with sliced green onions.

RiceSelect rice

  • To make the RiceSelect rice, just follow the instructions on the back of the container. Serve over RiceSelect Jasmati rice or your favorite RiceSelect rice, as RiceSelect®​ Arborio rice would also be a great option. Garnish with green onions.

Notes

TIPS TO MAKE THIS 

  1. Can I use another sweetener besides brown sugar? Yes you can! You can try honey, maple syrup or your favorite sweetener.  
  2. Can I use flour instead of cornstarch. Yes, but the sauce won't be as glossy.  
  3. Will this recipe work in the oven? Unfortunately, I haven't tried this in the oven yet.  
  4. Can I make this in advance? Yes you can! Once the cooked chicken and sauce is done and cooled off, place it in an airtight container. Refrigerate. Use within 3-4 days.  
  5. What other ingredients can I add? You can add hot peppers like jalapenos, or chili peppers. Lemongrass. You can add onions, sesame oil to the sauce or drizzle a bit over the finished dish. Top the finished dish with sesame seeds.  
  6. What kind of chicken can I use? I suggest using dark meat to make this caramel chicken. Chicken legs, chicken wings, leg quarters work well.  
  7. Can I use chicken breast? You can but I wouldn't suggest it. The chicken breast will become dry. Chicken thighs have way more flavor than chicken breast and they can survive longer cooking times and still be juicy and tender.  
  8. What else can I use besides fish sauce? You can use oyster sauce. Adjust to your taste.
Keyword caramel chicken, caramel chicken recipe
Like this? Leave a comment below!Let us know how it was!

Save this caramel chicken recipe to your Pinterest board. It will come in handy on a busy weeknight!  Don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest too!

CHECK OUT THESE SIMILAR CHICKEN THIGH RECIPES 

SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

TERIYAKI BAKED CHICKEN LEGS

HAWAIIAN SHOYU CHICKEN

 

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