Description

This Spicy Vinegar Chicken over Tomatoes is a vibrant and flavorful skillet dish featuring tender chicken thighs simmered in a tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce made with apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and cherry tomatoes. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, it balances savory, spicy, and slightly sweet flavors with a fresh herb garnish, making it a delicious and comforting meal served over rice, quinoa, or crusty bread.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce and Vegetables

1 small onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

Garnish

Chopped fresh basil or parsley

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Instructions

Season and Sear Chicken: Season the chicken thighs evenly with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until well browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics: Reduce the heat to medium. Add the sliced onion to the same skillet and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
Create Sauce and Simmer: Pour in the apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Stir the mixture well, scraping up any browned bits from the pan bottom to incorporate deeper flavors. Return the seared chicken to the skillet, then add the halved cherry tomatoes on top.
Cover and Cook: Cover the skillet and let it simmer on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through, tender, and the tomatoes have softened into a flavorful sauce.
Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Garnish the dish with chopped fresh basil or parsley. Serve the chicken and tomato sauce over your choice of rice, quinoa, or with crusty bread for soaking up the delicious sauce.

Notes

For enhanced flavor, bone-in chicken thighs can be used, but increase cooking time accordingly to ensure doneness.
Apple cider vinegar can be substituted with rice vinegar for a milder, slightly different tang.
This dish beautifully balances tangy, spicy, and savory elements for a harmonious flavor profile.