When you love huge flavour with minimal faff, this chilli lime hen goes straight into your weeknight rotation. It’s shiny, sweet-tangy, and somewhat fiery, with juicy hen thighs and a sauce that adheres fantastically to each chew. I first developed this one for my e-book Fast & Simple Dinners and it’s been a agency household favorite ever since. All achieved in a single pan and prepared in below half-hour!

Nicky’s Notes

This chilli lime hen is tremendous simple; no-marinade, one-pan, sticky-glaze-in-minutes!

We’re utilizing juicy thigh fillets for built-in tenderness, then doing somewhat cornflour double-act: a lightweight dusting on the hen for quick browning, plus a contact whisked into the soy–lime sauce so it reduces right into a pro-level, clingy gloss.

Recent purple chilli brings brightness and a clear warmth you can dial up with chilli flakes on the finish.

It’s precisely the sort of speedy one pan dinner I wrote for my Fast & Simple e-book—minimal faff, most flavour, and that satisfying second when the sauce turns shiny and sticks fantastically to each piece of hen.

Why This Chilli Lime Rooster Works

• No marinade time: Cornflour + scorching pan = fast browning and prompt sauce thickening.
• Flavour layering: Soy for savoury depth, lime for zing, honey/sugar for stability, garlic and chilli for heat.
• One pan: Fry, glaze, serve. Midweek dinner achieved.
• Constructed-in flexibility: Dial the warmth up or down; swap thighs for flattened breasts for those who like.

📋 Substances

***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card under***

Greatest lower of hen to make use of

Boneless, skinless thigh fillets are my high choose right here—they’re naturally juicy, onerous to overcook, and ideal for that sticky glaze to cling to. The little little bit of fats helps with browning and retains each chew tender.

Choose breasts? Use can use 4 hen breasts, place them between sheets of clingfilm and bash to half their unique thickness (rolling pin or meat tenderiser). This helps them prepare dinner rapidly and evenly—sear till golden, then end within the sauce simply till cooked by in order that they keep succulent.

Abbreviated Recipe

***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card under***

Toss flattened hen 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, deliver to the boil, then simmer 5 minutes till shiny and cooked by.
End with sesame seeds, chilli flakes, lime wedges and sliced spring onions; serve with rice or noodles.

🍽️ 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 🤌.

When you wished you can additionally attempt it with:

📺 Watch learn how to make it

• Place the hen thigh fillets on a board. Combine collectively 2 tablespoons of the cornflour with the salt and pepper and sprinkle it on each side of the hen thighs.

  8 boneless skinless hen 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 hen 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 mild soy sauce, 4 tablespoons lime juice, 2 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon cornflour (cornstarch), 2 tablespoons mild brown sugar, 3 garlic cloves, 2 purple chillies

• As soon as the hen is golden brown, pour the combination all around the hen thighs, within the pan. Carry to the boil, then simmer for five minutes, till the sauce has thickened.

• Prime the hen 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 employ hen breast?

Exchange the 8 hen thighs for 4 hen breasts for those who want. Place the hen breasts between items of clingfilm and bash with a meat tenderiser or rolling pin to flatten, so the hen breasts are half as thick. It will 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 hen gained’t be fairly as tender (it’ll nonetheless style nice by). Prepare dinner, rapidly cool and canopy the hen, then freeze. Defrost in a single day within the fridge, and reheat within the oven at 180C/350f on a baking tray. Cowl the hen with foil earlier than putting within the oven to assist forestall it drying out.
Prepare dinner for 12-Quarter-hour till piping scorching all through. You might want so as to add a splash of scorching water to loosen up the sauce when reheating.

Can I make forward or save leftovers and reheat?

Sure, though the hen gained’t be fairly as tender when reheated (it’ll nonetheless style nice by). Prepare dinner, rapidly cool and canopy the hen, then refrigerate. Reheat within the oven at 180C/350f on a baking tray. Cowl the hen with foil earlier than putting within the oven to assist forestall it drying out.
Prepare dinner for 12-Quarter-hour till piping scorching all through. You might want so as to add a splash of scorching water to loosen up the sauce when reheating.
 
Dietary data is calculated routinely and is per serving with out the serving solutions.

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

Diet data is routinely calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.

This Sticky Chili Lime Rooster Recipe was first posted in Nov 2025.

🥡 Extra Sticky Rooster Recipes

It’s within the e-book!

This chilli lime hen recipe is featured in my e-book. Fast & Simple accommodates 90 recipes that may be made in half-hour or much less!

Among the hyperlinks on this submit could also be affiliate hyperlinks – which suggests for those who purchase the product I get a small fee (at no further value to you). When you do purchase, then thanks! That’s what helps us to maintain Kitchen Sanctuary working. The dietary data offered is approximate and may fluctuate relying on a number of components. For extra data please see our Phrases & Circumstances.