Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs
Tender chicken thighs coated in a sweet-savory five-spice glaze. This asian-inspired chicken ready in about 40 minutes pairs Chicken thighs, Oyster sauce, Soy sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb bone-in, skin-on Chicken thighs
- 3 tbsp Oyster sauce
- 2 tbsp Soy sauce
- 1.5 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Rice vinegar
- 1 tsp Five-spice powder
- 3 minced cloves Garlic
- 1 tbsp grated Ginger
- 1 tsp Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Sesame oil
- 1 tbsp for garnish Sesame seeds
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat chicken thighs dry and season with 1/2 tsp salt. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken skin-side down and cook for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and skin is crispy, then flip and cook 5 more minutes.
- Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp oyster sauce, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1.5 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tsp five-spice powder, 3 minced garlic cloves, and 1 tbsp grated ginger.
- Step 3: Pour sauce mixture over chicken, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
- Step 4: In a small bowl, mix 1 tsp cornstarch with 1 tbsp water to make a slurry. Stir slurry into sauce until it thickens to a glossy glaze that clings to the chicken, about 1 minute.
- Step 5: Remove chicken from skillet, drizzle with 1 tsp sesame oil, and garnish with 1 tbsp sesame seeds. Serve immediately with steamed rice.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs take to make?
Total time is about 40 minutes (15 min prep + 25 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep chicken thighs from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 2 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 2). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Chen's Five-Spice Glazed Chicken Thighs?
Asian chicken like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★★
Used half the salt and it was still plenty flavorful.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 25-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
