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Crispy baked sweet and sour chicken thighs on a white plate garnished with green onions and sesame seeds

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken Thighs

These baked sweet and sour chicken thighs deliver a perfect blend of crispy texture and bold flavor, making them the best baked chicken thighs recipe you'll ever try. With a delightful homemade sweet and sour sauce that caramelizes in the oven, this easy sweet and sour chicken recipe is ideal for any occasion.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Servings 8 servings
Calories 450 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons garlic salt
  • 8 (5-ounce) bone-in chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or as needed
  • 1 pinch onion salt, or to taste
  • 1 pinch garlic salt, or to taste
  • 1 pinch Ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). While it heats, prepare the chicken.
  • Set up a breading station: Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl. In a separate shallow bowl, mix the cornstarch and garlic salt.
  • Dip each chicken thigh in the egg first, then press it into the cornstarch mixture, ensuring a full coating on all sides.
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken thighs for 3-5 minutes, turning to brown all sides lightly. Sprinkle with onion salt, garlic salt, and ground black pepper as they cook.
  • Arrange the browned chicken thighs in an even layer in a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
  • Prepare the sweet and sour sauce: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the white sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce until fully combined.
  • Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken thighs in the casserole dish.
  • Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 40-60 minutes. About halfway through, spoon some sauce over the chicken to keep it moist. The chicken is done when its internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
  • Serve hot over rice for a complete and satisfying meal.

Notes

A delicious sweet and sour sauce simply made with ketchup, sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce is baked into the breading of fried chicken thighs. Most often requested recipe of my family. Worth the effort every time. Serve over white rice.