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Prepared in simply 20 minutes, this Caramel Hen is crispy on the surface, tender inside, and coated in a sticky, sweet-savory caramel sauce. It’s restaurant-quality however really easy to make at dwelling—excellent for any night time of the week! Serve it with steamed rice for the final word consolation meal.

Vietnamese Caramel Hen
I’ve all the time been drawn to Vietnamese meals—it’s recent, flavorful, and simply completely scrumptious. Over time, I’ve fallen arduous for dishes like Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Banh Mi, and Garlic Noodles, and this Vietnamese Caramel Hen is one in every of my go-to recipes. It’s sticky, savory, and has a delicate kick from jalapeños, putting the proper stability of flavors. And the very best half? It’s prepared in simply 20 minutes, making it a lifesaver for busy nights.
If you happen to’re craving one thing fast, flavorful, and somewhat completely different, this Caramelized Hen is your reply. Serve it with steamed rice, and also you’ve acquired a meal that’s as simple as it’s scrumptious. Belief me, this one’s a keeper—give it a try to let me know the way it seems! Make sure you try my suggestions and methods under to nail this recipe each time.
Add This Recipe To Dinner Tonight


My simple Caramel Hen recipe is so easy, you’ll surprise why you haven’t tried it sooner. Add it to your dinner plan tonight—it’s a dish you’ll wish to make time and again!
- Dinner in a flash. Craving one thing superb however quick on time? This recipe is prepared in simply 20 minutes—excellent for busy weeknights once you want a fast win.
- Taste explosion. Suppose sticky, shiny caramel sauce hugging tender hen, with a kick of warmth from jalapeños and a savory punch from fish sauce. It’s candy, salty, and spicy all of sudden—pure magic.
- Crispy, juicy perfection. The hen pores and skin crisps up fantastically whereas the meat stays succulent and tender. Each chunk is crispy on the surface, juicy on the within, and coated in that impossible to resist sweet-savory caramel sauce—you’ll be hooked from the primary style.
Substances You’ll Want


- Hen thighs – I used boneless hen thighs (with pores and skin on), however you should utilize boneless, skinless thighs for those who desire.
- Sugar
- Fish sauce – If you happen to don’t have fish sauce, you’ll be able to swap it with oyster sauce—the flavour will likely be a bit completely different since oyster sauce is thicker and sweeter, however don’t fear, it’ll nonetheless be scrumptious! I nonetheless extremely suggest choosing up a bottle of fish sauce (or oyster sauce). Take a look at the procuring information under for the very best choices.
- Black pepper
- Water
- Rice vinegar – Apple cider vinegar works as an awesome substitute.
- Oil – Use vegetable or canola oil.
- Garlic
- Jalapeño – Larger ones are normally milder, whereas smaller ones carry extra warmth. If you would like much less spice, simply take away the seeds and membranes earlier than slicing.
Take a look at the recipe card under for all the small print on every ingredient.
Procuring Information: If you happen to’re not a fan of fish sauce due to the odor, I get it! However belief me, a good-quality one like Crimson Boat, Three Crabs Model, or Magic Chef makes all of the distinction. They’re made with simply anchovies and salt, so that you get all of the wealthy umami taste with out the sturdy, funky aroma.
How To Make Caramel Hen


First, toss the hen with all of the marinade elements and let it sit for about 10 minutes. In the meantime, combine every little thing for the caramel sauce in a bowl and set it apart.
Warmth up a skillet over medium-high warmth (a forged iron one works greatest in case you have it). Add a tablespoon of oil, then place the hen in, skin-side up. Let it prepare dinner till the underside will get somewhat crispy and golden. Flip it over and prepare dinner till the pores and skin is properly charred. As soon as it appears good, take the hen out and set it apart!
Add the remainder of the oil to the skillet, then toss within the garlic and let it sizzle till aromatic. Subsequent, put the hen again in, then pour within the caramel sauce combination. Let all these flavors come collectively!
Flip the warmth right down to a simmer and let the sauce prepare dinner down till it thickens and turns a deep amber colour. Be sure to flip the hen a few occasions so it will get coated in all that caramelized goodness!
Throw within the jalapeño and let it prepare dinner for a few minute. That’s it! Serve it up sizzling with some steamed rice and dig in.
Secrets and techniques To The Greatest Caramelized Hen
- I all the time use hen thighs for this recipe—they’re juicier, extra flavorful, and maintain up so a lot better to the caramel sauce than breasts. If you happen to’re unsure the right way to debone them, try my information, Learn how to Debone Hen Thighs, for a simple step-by-step.
- Double the caramel sauce for those who’re like me and love further sauce. It’s superb drizzled over rice or noodles.
- Control the caramel sauce because it reduces. You need it to show a wealthy amber colour, however stir often and decrease the warmth if it’s effervescent an excessive amount of.
- Modify the spice degree to your style. I really like including further jalapeño for warmth, however you’ll be able to take away the seeds to maintain it milder.
Continuously Requested Questions
Completely! You possibly can marinate the hen forward of time (as much as 24 hours) and hold it within the fridge. The caramel sauce can be made upfront and saved individually. Simply prepare dinner every little thing recent once you’re able to serve.
Completely! This recipe scales up simply, making it excellent for meal prep or feeding a crowd. Simply use a bigger skillet or prepare dinner in batches to keep away from overcrowding.
Put on gloves or wash your palms totally after dealing with jalapeños, and keep away from touching your face. Take away the seeds and membranes with a spoon for much less warmth.
Sure! Prepare dinner the hen within the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 12-Quarter-hour, flipping midway via. Make the caramel sauce individually on the stovetop, then toss the cooked hen in it.
Sure. Bake the hen at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, flipping midway via. In the meantime, make the caramel sauce on the stovetop, then toss the baked hen in it earlier than serving.
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. The flavors truly deepen in a single day, making it even tastier the subsequent day! Reheat gently on the stovetop or within the microwave.
This recipe is simply 447 energy per serving.


What To Serve With Caramel Hen
For a simple and healthful weeknight dinner, I like to recommend the next recipes:
I hope you get pleasure from this put up as a lot as I do. If you happen to strive my recipe, please depart a remark and take into account giving it a 5-star score. For less difficult and scrumptious recipes, discover my Recipe Index, and keep up to date by subscribing to my e-newsletter and following me on Fb, Pinterest, and Instagram for brand spanking new updates.
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Marinate the hen with the marinade elements for 10 minutes. In a bowl, combine all of the elements for the caramel sauce and put aside.
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Warmth up a skillet (forged iron most popular) on medium to excessive warmth. Add 1 tablespoon of oil. Pan-fry the hen (pores and skin facet up) till the underside turns barely crispy and brown. Repeat the identical for the pores and skin till it turns into barely charred. Switch the hen out of the skillet.
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Add the remaining oil into the skillet and sauté the garlic. Then, add the hen again into the pan, adopted by the caramel sauce combination.
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Decrease the warmth to a simmer and proceed to prepare dinner till the caramel sauce reduces and turns into amber in colour. Make sure you flip the hen a few occasions throughout cooking.
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Add the jalapeño and proceed to prepare dinner for about 1 minute. Dish out and serve instantly with steamed rice.
- I all the time use hen thighs for this recipe—they’re juicier, extra flavorful, and maintain up so a lot better to the caramel sauce than breasts. If you happen to’re unsure the right way to debone them, try my information, Learn how to Debone Hen Thighs, for a simple step-by-step.
- Double the caramel sauce for those who’re like me and love further sauce. It’s superb drizzled over rice or noodles.
- Control the caramel sauce because it reduces. You need it to show a wealthy amber colour, however stir often and decrease the warmth if it’s effervescent an excessive amount of.
- Modify the spice degree to your style. I really like including further jalapeño for warmth, however you’ll be able to take away the seeds to maintain it milder.
Serving: 3folks, Energy: 447kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 25g, Fats: 34g, Saturated Fats: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fats: 8g, Monounsaturated Fats: 16g, Trans Fats: 0.2g, Ldl cholesterol: 148mg, Sodium: 1060mg, Potassium: 363mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 7g, Vitamin A: 145IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 1mg
Diet data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.