Description
Sweet Chili Chicken features crispy chicken bites coated in a sticky, sweet, and mildly spicy chili sauce. This easy and flavorful dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and pairs wonderfully with rice for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup cornstarch
For Frying and Sauce
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Place 1 ½ pounds of boneless skinless chicken pieces into a large bowl. Season with ¼ teaspoon garlic salt and ½ teaspoon paprika. Crack 1 large egg over the chicken and massage it with your hand to coat the pieces evenly.
- Coat the Chicken: Transfer the chicken to a large Ziplock bag. Add 1 cup cornstarch, seal the bag, and shake vigorously to coat the chicken pieces thoroughly.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat ⅓ cup vegetable oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked through and golden brown on all sides.
- Toss in Sauce: Pour 1 cup sweet chili sauce over the cooked chicken in the skillet. Toss the chicken well to ensure every piece is evenly coated in the sticky sauce.
- Serve: Optionally garnish with diced green onion for freshness. Serve the sweet chili chicken hot over cooked rice and enjoy your flavorful dinner.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftover chicken in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through or reheat on the stovetop in a pan over low heat.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute cornstarch with rice flour and ensure sweet chili sauce is gluten-free.
- Adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the sauce by mixing in honey or chili flakes respectively.
- Make this dish healthier by air frying the chicken coated in cornstarch instead of frying in oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
