This Whole30 Asian chicken thighs and spicy green beans recipe is ideal for a lunch meal prep recipe, or a healthy, paleo weeknight dinner. The sticky Asian marinade is full of flavor and so easy to prepare. With the green bean side, you’ll have a low carb and delicious meal in under 30 minutes!
This post is in partnership with Ello Products, and all opinions are my own. I’m happy to work with a company I love, use and believe in so much. Thanks for your support here on the blog and your support for Ello Products!
Sticky Asian Chicken Thighs Ingredients
Chicken thighs are my go-to option for this recipe, and when meal prepping chicken in general. They are so much juicier and don’t dry out like chicken breast does, which makes it an awesome choice for when you know you’ll be reheating something. You can substitute the thighs for chicken breasts if you prefer though.
You’ll also need a few common Whole30 and paleo ingredients for the marinade, such as coconut aminos, toasted sesame oil, and red wine vinegar. You’ll also need to gather minced garlic and ginger and onion powder. You don’t need much to make a huge flavor impact here!
How to Make The Whole30 Sticky Chicken Thighs
To start the prep on this recipe, I like to marinate the chicken thighs for at least a half hour. You can do this overnight as well if you have the time. Then you’ll want to heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once it’s hot, transfer the thighs and sauce into the skillet, flat side down, and let them be for a few minutes.
The sauce will look thinner at first, but just keep cooking! After about 5 minutes, flip the thighs and cook for another 5 minutes. Then flip one more time so the flat side is down again and move the thighs around a bit to coat/soak up the remainder of the sauce. Once they’re done remove the chicken thighs.
In the same skillet, add a few tablespoons of cooking oil and stir it around to incorporate with what was left of the sauce and return it to a liquid. Then add in the green beans with the red pepper flakes and toss. Cook the green beans to the softness you prefer. I only do mine for a few minutes here, especially if I’m meal prepping them because they will cook again when reheated.
Meal Prepping This Recipe
This recipe is so perfect for healthy, Whole30 weekday lunches because it’s quick and easy to cook, and reheats so well even a few days later. For meal prepping and, really, all of my food storage, I use my 10 piece Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Set containers. Their Meal Prep Line includes 5 glass meal prep containers, one for all five days of the work week!
I’ve been working on switching over all of our storage containers to glass, and I love these ones from Ello Products because they’re BPA free and also dishwasher, microwave, oven and freezer safe- allowing me to put leftovers or meal prep meals into the freezer and then directly into the oven for quick meal options.
These Ello Meal Prep Set containers also keep food fresher longer with the Tritan lids which are air-tight and leak proof! Plus, the durable silicone sleeves protect the glass containers from any scratches or cracks and can also go with the container into the freezer, oven and dishwasher!
For this recipe, once your chicken is done, you’ll just transfer the chicken right to the meal prep containers, and then do the same when the green beans are done. Let them cool in your Ello Duraglass ™ containers before placing them in the refrigerator. Once your containers are full and cooled, place them in the fridge and enjoy all week! You can reheat them in the oven, in the microwave, or even in the air fryer if you want to!
Other Meal Prep Recipes You’ll Love:
PrintWhole30 Sticky Asian Chicken Thighs & Spicy Green Beans: Paleo, GF Meal Prep
This Whole30 Asian chicken thighs and spicy green beans recipe is ideal for a lunch meal prep recipe, or a healthy, paleo weeknight dinner. The sticky Asian marinade is full of flavor and so easy to prepare. With the green bean side, you’ll have a low carb and delicious meal in under 30 minutes!
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 2.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (8 thighs)
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp Chinese 5 Spice Powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Optional to garnish: green onion, sesame seeds
For the Green Beans:
- 1 lb fresh green beans
- 1–2 tsp red pepper chili flakes (adjust to spice level preference)
- 1/2 tsp mustard powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients for the chicken and marinade and coat the chicken well. Set aside and marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight
- Then, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1 tbsp cooking oil and then transfer the chicken and marinade into the skillet, placing the chicken thighs flat side down
- Let cook without disturbing for 5 minutes and then flip. Cook for another 5-8 minutes on that side, and then flip once more. Reduce the heat a bit. The sauce should be thicker at this point. Use your tongs or spatula to move the thighs around to coat them in the remaining sauce thats in the pan during the last few minutes of cooking. Once cooked through, remove from heat
- In the same skillet, add another tbsp of cooking oil and stir in with the remainder of the sauce that was left in the skillet to incorporate. Then add in the green beans, tossing them in the pan with the salt, mustard powder and red pepper flakes. Cook them until they reach your desired softness, tossing/stirring frequently. 3 minutes for crisp/blistered, and up to 10 for very soft. Add additional oil if needed while cooking
- Portion the chicken thighs and green beans into your Ello Duraglass Meal Prep Containers, and place in the fridge when cooled, for up to 4 days
Nutrition Facts:
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 393
- Fat: 18.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.1 g
- Fiber: .5 g
- Protein: 45.6 g
Susan S. says
Despite not being on a Whole30 round, I decided to give this recipe a try. It was amazing and might actually be the most delicious Whole30 meal I have ever cooked. It may be the most delicious meal I have ever cooked…period, lol! So easy, quick to pull together, and full of flavor!!! I look forward to checking out more recipes on this site. This was a 10/10!!!
Alicia S says
This. Is. AMAZING!
I made it exactly as written except with mirin subbed for the red wine vinegar (which I didn’t have). I used frozen green beans that I warmed up a bit in the microwave before sauteeing in the skillet.
My package had six thighs. I have prepped six containers with one thigh and 1/6th of the green beans. I calculated the calories with these portions and came up with 300 cals, 17 grams of fat and 28 grams of protein. Perfect for my current plan!
Thank you for the delicious recipe!
Meagan says
This is SOOO yummy and has been on repeat for months! I love how easy and tasty the marinade is – a family favorite for sure!
paleobailey says
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so, so much!
Heather B says
So wonderfully delicious and addictive! Definitely going on my menu rotation!
paleobailey says
I’m SO glad you enjoyed!! Thank you so much!
amanda says
Are there 2 chicken thighs per portion? It’s hard to tell in the photos. But 2.5 pounds of thighs is a lot more than 4 thighs. Just trying to figure it out. Plan to make this tomorrow!
paleobailey says
Hi! In the recipe card it says 8 thighs 🙂 The boneless thigh packages I typically get have 8 and they generally ranges from 2-2.5 lbs. In the photos, I added 2 thighs in each container!
amanda says
Thanks! I guess the more i looked at the image the more they bled into one another and i couldn’t tell if it was one or two in the container. 😆 I got a little over 2.5 pounds. Was the closest i could get, but no worries there!! Thanks again!
Miss says
Is a cast iron the best skillet to use or would a non-stick work just as well?
paleobailey says
Yeah I think that would be fine!
Cassie says
So flavourful, quick & delicious! I didn’t have Chinese 5 spice so used garam masala as a sub and it turned out great!
Elizabeth says
How do you think the thighs would turn out if I baked or broiled them instead of cooking them on the stovetop? Thanks!
paleobailey says
I haven’t tried, but I think it would probably change the consistency a bit of the “sticky” sauce, but you could give it a try!
Melanie says
Made this last night with a few tweaks to use what I had on hand. I made it with chicken breast and for the veggies I just used some miscellaneous steamed veggies I had. This marinade is THE. BOMB. So good and the leftovers today were even better.
paleobailey says
I’m SO glad that you enjoyed it!! I love the leftovers of this, too!! Thank you, Melanie! <3 - B
Michelle says
This was SO good. I have 5 kids ages 6-13, and the chances of all 5 of them really enjoying a new recipe I try, especially if it’s healthy, are pretty slim. I doubled the recipe, and all that’s left is one half of a chicken thigh. My youngest asked if I could please make this meal every night. That’s a huge win in my book. 🙂
paleobailey says
LOVE to hear this! Thank you so, so much for taking the time to come back and let me know! It’s greatly appreciated! <3 - B
Astrid says
Thank you so much for this recipe! My family and I love the flavors!
paleobailey says
I’m so happy to hear that, Astrid! Thank you so much!
M White says
I probably make this once a week. My husband is doing whole 30 and it is so easy and delicious!?
Esther Rivera says
My daughter made this a few months ago. It was so good and I’ve been craving it ever since so I finally made it tonight. It’s so easy and So delicious! Thank you for such a great recipe!
Natosha says
I made this over the weekend and had it for dinner tonight. So easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing.
Jennifer says
These were delicious! Had no leftovers for my lunch because my husband and kids (who didn’t think they’d like it) ate all the extras! Yummy yummy and now will be part of my rotation! Next time a triple batch will be made
paleobailey says
This is SO great to hear!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make it, and to come back and leave a review!! It’s so, so appreciated! <3 - B
Emily B says
These were SO good! Served them with broccoli instead of green beans but wow the chicken was amazing
paleobailey says
SO happy to hear this! Thank you so much!!
Sharon says
Looks really good. Any idea on what the calories would be for this recipe?
paleobailey says
Yes, they’ve been added to the bottom of the recipe 🙂
Jackie says
We grilled these last night for the rest of the week and they were SO GOOD!!
paleobailey says
LOVE to hear it! Thank you!! <3 - B
Lisa says
Do you take the silicone off when washing in the dishwasher?
paleobailey says
I don’t, but you can! They’re easy to slip on and off, but unless the outside of the container gets messy I leave it on 🙂