For those who love large flavour with minimal faff, this chilli lime rooster goes straight into your weeknight rotation. It’s shiny, sweet-tangy, and slightly fiery, with juicy rooster thighs and a sauce that adheres superbly to each chunk. I first developed this one for my guide Fast & Straightforward Dinners and it’s been a agency household favorite ever since. All finished in a single pan and prepared in below half-hour!
Nicky’s Notes
This chilli lime rooster is tremendous simple; no-marinade, one-pan, sticky-glaze-in-minutes!
We’re utilizing juicy thigh fillets for built-in tenderness, then doing slightly cornflour double-act: a lightweight dusting on the rooster for quick browning, plus a contact whisked into the soy–lime sauce so it reduces right into a pro-level, clingy gloss.
Contemporary pink chilli brings brightness and a clear warmth which you can dial up with chilli flakes on the finish.
It’s precisely the type of speedy one pan dinner I wrote for my Fast & Straightforward guide—minimal faff, most flavour, and that satisfying second when the sauce turns shiny and sticks superbly to each piece of rooster.
Why This Chilli Lime Hen Works
- No marinade time: Cornflour + sizzling pan = fast browning and prompt sauce thickening.
- Flavour layering: Soy for savoury depth, lime for zing, honey/sugar for steadiness, garlic and chilli for heat.
- One pan: Fry, glaze, serve. Midweek dinner finished.
- Constructed-in flexibility: Dial the warmth up or down; swap thighs for flattened breasts if you happen to like.
📋 Elements
***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card under***
Greatest lower of rooster to make use of
Boneless, skinless thigh fillets are my high decide right here—they’re naturally juicy, laborious to overcook, and ideal for that sticky glaze to cling to. The little little bit of fats helps with browning and retains each chunk tender.
Want breasts? Use can use 4 rooster breasts, place them between sheets of clingfilm and bash to half their unique thickness (rolling pin or meat tenderiser). This helps them prepare dinner shortly and evenly—sear till golden, then end within the sauce simply till cooked by way of in order that they keep succulent.
Abbreviated Recipe
***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card under***
Toss flattened rooster thighs with cornflour, salt and pepper; sear in an a big frying pan, turning as soon as, till golden.
Whisk soy, lime juice, honey, brown sugar, garlic, chillies and cornflour; pour into the pan, carry to the boil, then simmer 5 minutes till shiny and cooked by way of.
End with sesame seeds, chilli flakes, lime wedges and sliced spring onions; serve with rice or noodles.
Recipe Ideas
- As soon as the soy–lime combination goes in, flip the warmth to a regular simmer and cease shuffling the rooster. When the sauce coats the again of a spoon and a spatula leaves a short path, you’re there. If it seems a contact thick, stir in slightly splash of sizzling water off the warmth to loosen to shiny perfection.
Pin this now to seek out it later
🍽️ What to serve it with
I Like nothing greater than serving this over some boiled rice with a sprinkling of sesame seeds, chilli flakes and spring onions. That chili lime sauce soaking into the rice is simply cooks kiss 🤌.
For those who wished you might additionally attempt it with:
📺 Watch how one can make it
-
Place the rooster thigh fillets on a board. Combine collectively 2 tablespoons of the cornflour with the salt and pepper and sprinkle it on either side of the rooster thighs.
8 boneless skinless rooster thigh fillets, 2 tablespoons cornflour (cornstarch), ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
-
Warmth the sesame and impartial oil in a big frying pan (skillet) over a medium-high warmth.
1 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon impartial oil
-
Add the rooster thighs and fry for 6-7 minutes, turning as soon as, till golden.
-
In the meantime, combine collectively the soy sauce, lime juice, honey, brown sugar, garlic, chillies and remaining 1 tablespoon of cornflour in a small bowl.
2 tablespoons gentle soy sauce, 4 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch), 2 tablespoons gentle brown sugar, 3 garlic cloves, 2 pink chillies
-
As soon as the rooster is golden brown, pour the combination everywhere in the rooster thighs, within the pan. Deliver to the boil, then simmer for five minutes, till the sauce has thickened.
-
High the rooster with sesame seeds, chilli flakes, lime slices and sliced spring onions, then serve. I like to serve these up with boiled rice or noodles.
Sesame seeds, Chilli flakes, Wedges of lime, Sliced spring onions (scallions)
Can you utilize rooster breast?
Substitute the 8 rooster thighs for 4 rooster breasts if you happen to desire. Place the rooster breasts between items of clingfilm and bash with a meat tenderiser or rolling pin to flatten, so the rooster breasts are half as thick. This can assist them prepare dinner faster and extra evenly.
Can I make this gluten free?
Sure, substitute the soy sauce with tamari.
Can I freeze it?
Sure, though the rooster gained’t be fairly as tender (it’ll nonetheless style nice by way of). Prepare dinner, shortly cool and canopy the rooster, then freeze. Defrost in a single day within the fridge, and reheat within the oven at 180C/350f on a baking tray. Cowl the rooster with foil earlier than inserting within the oven to assist stop it drying out.
Prepare dinner for 12-Quarter-hour till piping sizzling all through. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add a splash of sizzling water to loosen up the sauce when reheating.
Can I make forward or save leftovers and reheat?
Sure, though the rooster gained’t be fairly as tender when reheated (it’ll nonetheless style nice by way of). Prepare dinner, shortly cool and canopy the rooster, then refrigerate. Reheat within the oven at 180C/350f on a baking tray. Cowl the rooster with foil earlier than inserting within the oven to assist stop it drying out.
Prepare dinner for 12-Quarter-hour till piping sizzling all through. It’s possible you’ll want so as to add a splash of sizzling water to loosen up the sauce when reheating.
Dietary info is calculated robotically and is per serving with out the serving ideas.
Energy: 431kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 45g | Fats: 16g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 4g | Monounsaturated Fats: 7g | Trans Fats: 0.04g | Ldl cholesterol: 215mg | Sodium: 1000mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 16g
Vitamin info is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
This Sticky Chili Lime Hen Recipe was first posted in Nov 2025.
🥡 Extra Sticky Hen Recipes
It’s within the guide!
This chilli lime rooster recipe is featured in my guide. Fast & Straightforward accommodates 90 recipes that may be made in half-hour or much less!
A number of the hyperlinks on this put up could also be affiliate hyperlinks – which suggests if you happen to purchase the product I get a small fee (at no further price to you). For those who do purchase, then thanks! That’s what helps us to maintain Kitchen Sanctuary operating. The dietary info supplied is approximate and may fluctuate relying on a number of elements. For extra info please see our Phrases & Circumstances.
