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    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs

    Aug 4, 2018 · 20 Comments

    9.3K shares
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    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs is a one skillet chicken dish, prepared in under 30 minutes. It’s a perfect chicken recipe for a weeknight dinner or when you don’t have a lot of time on your hands and don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen.

    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs

    Just brown the chicken and then add the combo of maple syrup, Tamari soy sauce and apple cider vinegar! Super delicious and irresistible.

    Why make Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs

    • EASY Simple ingredients that produce foolproof recipe
    • AMAZING FLAVOR Sweet and salty flavor of maple syrup/Tamari soy sauce/apple cider combination is amazing with chicken thighs
    • ONE SKILLET RECIPE Minimal clean up since everything is cooked in the same skillet
    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs in a pan

    Chef Tips on making sweet and salty chicken thighs

    • Use 1 pound of boneless and skinless chicken thighs in this recipe. If you are using more than that, increase the amount of sauce accordingly.
    • If your boneless and skinless chicken thighs are large, make sure to halve them. Mine were so small, I only had to cut two of them.
    • Make sure to pat dry chicken thighs with paper towel before it’s ready for the pan. This will remove extra moisture and guarantee nice browning of the chicken!
    • Do not overcrowd the pan when browning the chicken. There should be plenty of space for any liquid to evaporate to ensure proper browning.
    • If you are cooking more than 1 pound of chicken, either use multiple pans or make them in batches.
    Chicken Thighs chunks close up

    How to make sweet and salty syrup mixture:

    Simply combine maple syrup, Tamari sauce (which is gluten free version of soy sauce) and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and set aside.

    Can I use regular soy sauce instead of Tamari?

    Yes, regular soy sauce can be used. Keep in mind that it’s not gluten free, if that’s a concern. Also Tamari sauce has a darker color and richer flavor than regular sauce.

    Sauce in a bowl with soy sauce, maple syrup and apple cider vinegar

    When to add sweet and salty mixture to chicken?

    Sauce being poured onto chicken thighs

    The mixture is added after chicken is added to the hot skillet and then reduced to a syrup consistency which is what coats the chicken thighs.

    This amazing syrup makes the perfect coating for the chicken thighs!

    Sweet and Salty Chicken

    This recipe can be doubled very easily. If you decide to double the recipe, avoid crowding the chicken thighs into one pan. Cook the chicken thighs in several batches to ensure they get the nice brown and crispy coating.
    Interested in more delicious chicken recipes?

    • Oven Baked Peri Peri Chicken
    • Easy Pan Seared Chicken
    • Parmesan Crusted Chicken
    sweet and salty boneless chicken thighs
    Print Recipe
    4.22 from 14 votes

    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs

    Just brown the chicken and then add the combo of maple syrup, Tamari soy sauce and apple cider vinegar! 
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Total Time25 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: boneless chicken thighs
    Servings: 4
    Author: Olya

    Ingredients

    Sweet and salty mixture:

    • 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1½ tablespoons tamari sauce, (or regular soy sauce)
    • 1½ tablespoons maple syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Chicken:

    • 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, (small, about 8 pieces)
    • Sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon butter

    Instructions

    Sweet and Salty Mixture

    • Combine apple cider vinegar, tamari, maple syrup and ground pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
    • Paper towel dry the chicken thighs dry and season generously with salt.
    • Heat the olive oil and butter in a large skillet set over medium-high heat.
    • When the oil and butter are shimmering, add the chicken thighs and brown on each side for 4-5 minutes per side ( 8-10 minutes total), flipping only once. 
    • Pour over the maple syrup mixture and bring it to a boil.
    • Reduce the heat slightly and let the sweet and salty mixture simmer and reduce, while you flip the chicken thighs every 2 minutes or so to ensure they are completely coated in the glaze.
    • When the chicken thighs are cooked through and the sweet and salty mixture is thick and syrupy, remove the chicken from the heat and serve immediately.
    Nutrition Facts
    Sweet and Salty Boneless Chicken Thighs
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 350 Calories from Fat 135
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 15g23%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Cholesterol 222mg74%
    Sodium 604mg26%
    Potassium 584mg17%
    Carbohydrates 5g2%
    Sugar 4g4%
    Protein 44g88%
    Vitamin A 140IU3%
    Calcium 29mg3%
    Iron 2mg11%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

    Notes

    Original recipe: Kiwi and Bean 
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sharon White says

      June 07, 2022 at 11:14 pm

      Olya,
      Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I’ve made it many times just as it is written! I can tell you there is never any leftovers and it’s so easy!

      Reply
      • Olya says

        June 08, 2022 at 11:47 pm

        My pleasure, Sharon! No leftovers means a lot to me:).

        Reply
    2. Taryn says

      June 06, 2022 at 1:41 pm

      What do you normally make with this? Sounds good, just need some ideas for sides ☺️

      Reply
      • Olya says

        June 07, 2022 at 5:42 pm

        I have many ideas! Creamy Garlic Potatoes or Honey Mustard Brussels Sprouts Salad or Creamy Garlic Spaghetti!

        Reply
    3. Sharon Goldblatt says

      March 27, 2020 at 11:53 pm

      I’m almost finished cooking this for the first time. I used mango chutney instead of syrup. I just tasted a little and it is terrific! My only regret is that I got distracted and didn’t pour off the excess fat. The sauce would have been just as you describe it if I had. Tonight it will just have to be a little too greasy. But tomorrow, after the leftovers have chilled in the fridge overnight, I can remove the solidified fat and microwave the rest. It will be even better!

      Reply
      • Olga says

        March 28, 2020 at 7:46 pm

        Sharon, it sounds delicious with mango chutney!

        Reply
    4. cathy MANNUCI says

      February 12, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      can the thighs be frozen after cooked and cooled.

      Reply
      • Olga says

        February 13, 2020 at 11:30 am

        Yes!

        Reply
    5. Judith Kane says

      November 20, 2019 at 7:19 pm

      This was a hit! Sweet but not too sweet. I Used soy sauce but next time I’ll have to try the tamari sauce. There WILL be a next time and a time after that and . . .

      Reply
      • Olga says

        November 21, 2019 at 11:11 am

        Oh!! That’s so nice to hear. Thank you so much!

        Reply
    6. Vanessa says

      November 15, 2019 at 4:11 pm

      Thanks for sharing! Does it reheat well?

      Reply
      • Olga says

        November 16, 2019 at 12:41 am

        I would do it in the microwave.

        Reply
    7. Suzanne says

      November 15, 2019 at 4:10 pm

      This looks so good! Is this sauce good on any other types of meat?

      Reply
      • Olga says

        November 16, 2019 at 12:42 am

        Thin pork chops would be great with it!

        Reply
    8. Julie says

      July 15, 2019 at 10:56 am

      Can I use honey instead of maple syrup?

      Reply
      • Olga says

        July 16, 2019 at 2:21 pm

        Yes, honey will be perfect.

        Reply
    9. Sandra Jass says

      March 03, 2019 at 6:45 pm

      I’ve made this recipe numerous times. It’s a BIG hit even with my picky eaters. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Olga says

        March 03, 2019 at 7:02 pm

        I loved reading your review – thank you!

        Reply
    10. Tarsa Risinger says

      October 24, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      Is the amount of the sweet and salty mixture enough to cover and baste 8 chicken thighs?

      Reply
      • Olga says

        October 25, 2018 at 8:35 am

        How big are your chicken thighs? If it’s a pound or less – then it’s enough. If you were to lets say double the liquids – it might not have a chance to evaporate enough and as a result it won’t become sticky to create the coating for the chicken.

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Olya! Welcome to the online home of my recipes that will make you look like a pro, yet without having to spend too much time in the kitchen! More about me →

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