Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs Recipe

Experience the rich, savory flavors of authentic Chinese cuisine with this mouthwatering Red Cooked Chicken Thighs recipe! Tender chicken thighs are braised in a luscious soy sauce-based mixture, turning a deep, dark reddish-brown and infused with aromatic ginger, fennel, and orange. The incredible aroma alone will have you hooked! This recipe, adapted from Cooking Light (June 1998), is surprisingly easy and delivers restaurant-quality results in just an hour. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

Prep Time 15 mins

Cook Time 60 mins

Calories 554.7 kcal

Protein 66g

Rating Be the first

102

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

The Forktionary Kitchen Team

Adapted from Food.com, then tested & standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs

Sherry Wine
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Low Sodium Soy Sauce
1/2 cup water
Fennel Seed
Fresh Ginger
Orange Rind
2 cinnamon sticks
1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Boiling Water
Cellophane Noodles

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs

In a Dutch oven, combine 1/4 cup dry sherry, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/2 cup water, 1 teaspoon crushed fennel seeds, 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon orange zest (strips of rind), and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 10 minutes to meld the flavors.
Add 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs to the Dutch oven. Partially cover and simmer for 45 minutes, turning the thighs occasionally, until cooked through and tender.
Remove the cinnamon sticks and orange zest using tongs or a slotted spoon. Discard.
Prepare bean threads (cellophane noodles): In a heatproof bowl, pour 1 cup boiling water over 4 oz dried bean threads. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until softened. Drain thoroughly.
Serve the delicious red-cooked chicken thighs over the bean threads or your favorite noodles. Garnish with chopped green onions (optional).

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

22 g

Sugar

41g

Fat

40g

Carbs

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Main Dish / Dinner Poultry Chicken Recipes Asian Chinese Fall Recipes One Pot Meals

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

60 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Occasion Main Dish Poultry Easy Diabetic Dinner Party Kid Friendly Chicken Dietary Comfort Food Meat Chicken Thighs Legs Taste Mood Savory

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to make Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs?

Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs takes about 75 minutes from start to finish — roughly 15 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.

How many calories are in Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs?

Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs has approximately 554.7 calories per serving, with about 66 g protein, 8 g carbohydrates and 44 g fat.

What ingredients do I need for Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs?

The key ingredients for Chinese Red Cooked Chicken Thighs are Sherry Wine, Sugar, Low Sodium Soy Sauce, Water, Fennel Seed, Fresh Ginger. See the full list with measurements above.