Description
Crispy sweet chili chicken is a fast, flavorful dish with juicy chicken bites fried until golden, then tossed in a sticky, tangy-sweet chili glaze. Ready in under 30 minutes and perfect with rice.
Ingredients
600 g (1 lb 5 oz) boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh, 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 (60 g) cornflour (cornstarch)
Oil, for frying
For the Sweet Chili Sauce:
1 tsp freshly minced garlic
1 tsp freshly minced ginger
½ cup (125 ml) sweet chili sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) tamari or all-purpose soy sauce
¼ cup (60 ml) rice vinegar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lime juice
To Serve:
Steamed rice
1 spring onion (scallion), finely sliced
1 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
1. Place chicken in a bowl with paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, egg, and cornflour. Mix until a paste forms around chicken.
2. In another bowl, combine all sauce ingredients. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a large, deep frying pan over medium-high. Fry chicken for 5–6 minutes, turning once, until golden and cooked through.
4. Drain fried chicken on paper towel. Discard oil and wipe pan clean.
5. Add sauce to pan over medium-low heat. Cook for 2–3 minutes until it starts bubbling and thickens.
6. Return chicken to pan and coat thoroughly in sauce.
7. Serve hot over steamed rice, topped with spring onions and sesame seeds.
8. Optional: Add a few tablespoons of hot water to loosen extra sauce for drizzling.
Notes
Air Fryer Version:
Skip adding cornflour to the bowl mix. Instead, dip each coated chicken piece in cornflour individually.
Spray air fryer basket with oil. Place chicken in a single layer and spray with oil again.
Air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 6–8 minutes, flipping or shaking halfway through.
Toss with sauce before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop or Air Fryer
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: crispy sweet chili chicken, chicken recipes, weeknight dinner, sweet chili sauce, Skinless chicken breast, sweet chilli sauce, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, spring onion