Go Back
+ servings
Thai grilled chicken with sweet chili sauce is a delicious way to mix up your summer grilling.
Print Recipe
4.88 from 8 votes

thai grilled chicken with sweet chili sauce

Kissed with smoke, this Thai grilled chicken with sweet chili sauce is sure to please.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 25 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Thai
Keyword: sweet thai chili sauce, thai chicken, thai grilled chicken
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 253kcal
Author: romain | glebekitchen

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 8 pieces chicken I used boned, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 1 tsp grated ginger
  • 5 good sized sprigs of cilantro leaves, stems and even roots if you have them
  • 2 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper - white is more authentic if you have it
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp Thai red curry paste
  • 2 Tbsp neutral vegetable oil

Sweet Thai chill sauce

  • 3 Tbsp sambal oelek chili paste
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp cornstarch
  • good handful of chopped cilantro

Instructions

Chicken

  • Combine all the ingredients except the chicken in a food processor and pulse until you get a smooth paste.
  • Toss the marinade with the chicken and set aside for up to an hour.
  • Prepare your grill for indirect heat. Place a drip pan under the chicken. Grill, skin side up, for about 10 minutes. Turn the chicken and continue to grill another 5 minutes. Keep the grill lid down for this step.
  • Working with two or three pieces at a time, place the chicken over direct heat and grill to crisp and colour the skin. The lid stays up the whole time. It will flare up so be ready to move it out of the way. Repeat until all the chicken is coloured up.
  • Return the chicken to indirect heat, cover again and cook until an instant read thermometer registers 160 for white meat and 170 for dark meat. Allow the chicken to rest briefly and serve with sweet Thai chili sauce.

Sweet Thai chili sauce

  • Combine all the ingredients except the cilantro. Stir to combine thoroughly and heat, over medium low heat until it comes to a gentle boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Cool.
  • When cool, add the chopped cilantro and stir to combine.

Notes

The sweet Thai chili sauce is from Mai Pham's The Best of Vietnamese and Thai Cooking. I have never found a better one. It's a really good book. If you can find a copy, grab it.
When you add the cornstarch the sauce will turn this horrible pasty white colour. Don't freak out. It will go clear once it reaches the boiling point.
The Thai red chili paste is available in most grocery stores and all Asian markets. My favourite is a brand called Maesri but pretty much anything will work.

Nutrition

Serving: 4servings | Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 1447mg | Potassium: 115mg | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 205IU | Vitamin C: 4.7mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.4mg