Dad's Pan-fried Chicken Thighs, Perfected Over 61 Years
Why this recipe
Most pan-fried chicken thighs recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.
I know you'll love it as much as our community does! This recipe has over 5.5M views, 109.9K likes on YouTube.
Master the basic yet irresistible pan-fried chicken thigh with our easy-to-follow recipe! It's a straightforward dish that is enjoyed especially as the main star of the famous Hong Kong diner lunch sets, but fits great in any meal of the day.
Thank you, Kikkoman!
This recipe is brought to you in part by Kikkoman. My dad has been using Kikkoman flavors throughout his 50-year career as a chef, and it's a privilege to get to partner with them on such an iconic recipe, Pan-fried Chicken Thighs!
- Kikkoman products are a major flavor enhancer and bring out the “umami” taste, and help balance and round out flavors
- Kikkoman® Less Sodium Soy Sauce is perfect for home cooks who are looking to cut down on their sodium levels, without sacrificing flavor
- Kikkoman offers a wide range of Gluten-Free Asian sauces, including Gluten-Free Oyster Sauce and Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce
- The KikkomanUSA.com Chinese site offers easy Asian recipes that home cooks can enjoy any night of the week
You can learn more about Kikkoman and follow them on social media here:
- Website: https://www.KikkomanUSA.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KikkomanChineseUSA (Kikkoman 萬字在美)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kikkomanusa_chinese/ (Kikkoman 萬字在美)
Ingredients
Instructions
Prepare marinade
To prepare the marinade, combine oyster sauce (1 tbsp), light soy sauce (1 tbsp), cooking wine (1 tbsp), salt (1 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), white pepper (0.50 tsp), and cornstarch (2 tbsp) in a small bowl.
Mince the ginger (0.50 oz) and add it to the bowl. Stir to combine.
Cut aromatics
Cut the white onion and the red onion into slices; the thickness is up to how crunchy you like your onions. Slice them more thinly if you want them to melt into the dish, or cut thicker slices if you prefer crisp bites of onion.
Mince the garlic (3 clove).
Debone & trim chicken
It’s optional to debone the chicken (17 oz), and to trim the skin and excess fat; we like to do both for a better eating experience. To remove the bone, angle your knife towards it and slice down both sides. When the bone is more exposed, pull it up vertically and slice around it to release it from the flesh.
Slice through the thicker parts of the flesh for even cooking. If you don’t, the thinner parts of the chicken will finish cooking before the thicker parts do.
Marinate chicken
Dry each piece of chicken with a clean towel or paper towel, then place them into the bowl of marinade. Coat each piece thoroughly, then set aside for about 10 minutes. For maximum penetration of the flavor into the chicken, keep the meat-side down facing the marinade (as opposed to the skin side which wouldn't absorb the marinade as well).
When they’ve finished marinating to your satisfaction, spread an even layer of cornstarch (3 tbsp) on a plate, and coat each side of the thighs with a thin layer of cornstarch. Gently shake off excess cornstarch.
Pan-fry chicken
Heat a skillet or flat-bottomed wok on high heat. Once it’s hot, add oil (2 tbsp).
When the oil’s shimmering, turn the heat to medium-low, and place each piece of the chicken skin-side down. Cook until golden brown, or about 2-3 minutes.
Flip the chicken over and cook the other side until it’s also golden brown, or about 5-6 minutes.
When both sides are beautifully golden brown, flip all the pieces back to the skin side and cook for another 1-2 minutes to make it crispy.
Add aromatics & final seasoning
Make some room by pushing the chicken to the sides of the pan. Add the minced garlic to the now-vacated middle of the pan, and cook until fragrant, or 10 seconds.
Add the sliced onion and spread it out in the pan as you cook until that’s also fragrant, or 20 seconds.
Pour cooking wine (1 tbsp) into the pan and immediately cover with the lid. This allows the steam to cook everything further while melding all the aromas and flavors together.
Turn the heat to high to reduce the sauce down. Cook covered like this for just 30-40 seconds.
Uncover the pan and sprinkle garlic salt (0.50 tsp) over the chicken for a final touch of seasoning. Give everything a quick mix to distribute. Plate your creation by creating a bed of onions on the bottom, perching the chicken thighs on top, and decorating with the most beautiful pieces of onion on top. Enjoy!





