Description
Crispy Sweet Chili Chicken is a flavorful and satisfying dish featuring golden fried chicken pieces tossed in a tangy-sweet sauce made with garlic, ginger, chili, and soy. Served over steamed rice with fresh toppings, it’s a perfect balance of crunch and glaze for an easy weeknight meal or dinner party favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 600g (1.3 lbs) chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 1 egg
- ½ cup (60g) cornstarch
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
Sauce
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp minced ginger
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- ¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
- ¼ cup rice vinegar (or substitute with white, apple cider, or lime juice)
To Serve
- Steamed rice
- Sliced scallions
- Sesame seeds
- Optional: Sliced cucumbers, steamed greens
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken, egg, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch. Mix well until chicken is evenly coated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches for 5–6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Make the Sauce: In a clean pan, heat a drizzle of oil. Add garlic and ginger, sauté briefly. Stir in sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and vinegar. Simmer for 2–3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Combine: Add the fried chicken to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve: Plate over steamed rice. Garnish with sliced scallions, sesame seeds, and optional vegetables.
Notes
You can air-fry or oven-bake the chicken for a lighter version. Adjust the chili sauce for more or less heat. For extra crunch, double fry the chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Frying & Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion (1/4 recipe with rice)
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 1050mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 160mg