Crispy Baked Firecracker Chicken Recipe: Spicy & Sweet Magic

Crispy, zesty baked firecracker chicken delivers a spicy punch that’ll make your taste buds dance with excitement.

Marinades work magic in transforming ordinary poultry into an extraordinary meal.

Tender chicken pieces coated in a fiery sauce promise intense flavor without overwhelming heat.

Bold spices and simple ingredients create a restaurant-quality dish you can easily prepare at home.

Quick weeknight dinners demand recipes that pack maximum satisfaction in minimal time.

Weekends or busy evenings call for this crowd-pleasing favorite that brings everyone together around the table.

Prepare to be amazed by how simple ingredients can create such an unforgettable culinary experience.

Why Baked Firecracker Chicken Packs A Flavor Punch

• Spice Up Your Meal: Transform ordinary chicken into a flavor-packed dish with bold, fiery seasonings that dance on your taste buds.
• Foolproof Cooking Technique: Master a simple baking method that guarantees crispy exterior and juicy interior without complex cooking skills.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dinner Option: Create a restaurant-quality meal that appeals to both spice lovers and those who enjoy a touch of heat, perfect for family gatherings or casual weekend dinners.
• Customize Your Heat Level: Easily adjust the spiciness by modifying hot sauce and red pepper flake quantities to suit individual preferences and tolerance levels.

All You Need For Baked Firecracker Chicken

• Chicken: Lean protein that serves as the base of this spicy and crispy dish.
• Eggs: A binding agent that helps the seasoned flour coating stick to the chicken.
• Flour: Creates a crispy exterior and helps the seasonings adhere to the chicken.

• Salt, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder, Red Pepper Flakes: Blend of spices that adds depth and heat to the chicken coating.

• Sweet Chili Sauce, Hot Sauce, Honey, Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar: A combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy ingredients that create a bold and flavorful sauce coating.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Fresh herbs and seeds that add color, texture, and a subtle nutty flavor to the finished dish.

How To Bake Baked Firecracker Chicken Without Fuss

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Baking Surface

Crank up your oven to 400°F and grab a baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper to make cleanup a breeze and help your chicken get super crispy.

Step 2: Create Egg Wash

Grab a shallow bowl and whisk eggs until they’re smooth and well-combined, creating the perfect sticky base for your chicken coating.

Step 3: Mix Breading Blend

• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Garlic powder
• Red pepper flakes

Stir these ingredients to create a flavor-packed breading mixture.

Step 4: Coat Chicken Pieces

Dunk each chicken piece into the egg wash, making sure it’s completely covered. Then roll it in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess coating.

Step 5: Arrange on Baking Sheet

Place the breaded chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet. Give each piece some breathing room to ensure even browning and crispiness.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Pop the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. You’re looking for a beautiful golden-brown color and an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 7: Whip Up Firecracker Sauce

• Sweet chili sauce
• Hot sauce
• Honey
• Soy sauce
• Rice vinegar

Step 8: Simmer Sauce

Heat the sauce over medium heat, stirring constantly. Let it simmer for 3-4 minutes until it becomes slightly thickened and has a gorgeous glossy finish.

Step 9: Sauce the Chicken

Pull the chicken out of the oven and brush it generously with the spicy firecracker sauce. Make sure every inch gets covered in that delicious coating.

Step 10: Caramelize the Sauce

Return the sauced chicken to the oven for 3-5 minutes. This will help the sauce caramelize and create an incredible flavor crust.

Step 11: Rest and Set

Take the chicken out and let it rest for 2-3 minutes. This helps the sauce set and makes the chicken even more delectable.

Step 12: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle chopped green onions and sesame seeds over the top. Serve hot and get ready for a flavor explosion!

Best Tips For Juicy Baked Firecracker Chicken

• Prevent Soggy Coating: Pat chicken completely dry before breading to ensure crispy, golden exterior and maximum breading adherence.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes quantity to match your personal heat tolerance without compromising flavor balance.
• Achieve Perfect Sauce Consistency: Continuously stir sauce while simmering to prevent burning and create smooth, glossy texture that clings beautifully to chicken.
• Optimize Baking Results: Use a wire rack on baking sheet for extra crispiness, allowing hot air to circulate underneath chicken pieces evenly.
• Check Chicken Temperature: Always use meat thermometer to confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe and perfectly cooked chicken.

Tasty Takes On Baked Firecracker Chicken

• Spicy Citrus Firecracker Chicken: Add orange zest and lime juice to the breading mixture, creating a tangy, zesty flavor profile that complements the heat.
• Korean-Inspired Firecracker Chicken: Replace sweet chili sauce with gochujang, incorporate ginger into the breading, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro.
• Buffalo-Style Firecracker Chicken: Swap hot sauce with classic buffalo sauce in the coating, use blue cheese crumbles as a garnish, and serve with a cool ranch dipping sauce.
• Mediterranean Herb Firecracker Chicken: Mix dried oregano, thyme, and rosemary into the flour coating, use olive oil instead of eggs, and finish with crumbled feta cheese on top.

What To Serve With Baked Firecracker Chicken

• Cool Down with Cucumber Salad: Create a refreshing cucumber salad with rice vinegar, dill, and a light sesame oil dressing to balance the fiery chicken's intense heat and provide a crisp, cooling counterpoint.
• Pair with Coconut Rice: Prepare creamy coconut rice that absorbs the spicy firecracker sauce while offering a smooth, sweet backdrop that neutralizes the chicken's bold flavors and adds textural contrast.
• Match with Crisp Asian Beer: Select a light Japanese lager like Sapporo or Asahi, whose clean, crisp profile cuts through the spicy sauce and provides a refreshing palate cleanser between bites.

How To Store Baked Firecracker Chicken Right

• Store leftover firecracker chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Ensure the chicken is completely cooled before sealing to prevent moisture buildup.
• Wrap individual pieces or the entire batch in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. Freeze for maximum 2 months. Label with the date to track freshness.
• Warm refrigerated chicken in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes to maintain crispiness. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy texture. Brush with extra sauce if needed for moisture.
• Keep extra firecracker sauce in a sealed glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Use as a dipping sauce or additional coating when reheating chicken.

Got Questions About Baked Firecracker Chicken?

• What makes the firecracker sauce unique?

The firecracker sauce combines sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, creating a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors that coat the crispy chicken.

• Can I adjust the spice level of the dish?

Yes, you can control the heat by reducing or increasing the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes in the recipe. Start with less and add more to suit your taste preferences.

• Is this recipe good for meal prep?

Absolutely! The baked chicken can be prepared ahead of time and reheated. Just store the chicken and sauce separately to maintain the crispy texture and prevent sogginess.

Baked Firecracker Chicken Recipe

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4.6 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Firecracker chicken delivers a spicy-sweet explosion of flavor that dances across your palate with bold Korean-inspired zest. Crispy baked chicken pieces glazed in a tangy sauce guarantee a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken:

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 lb chicken thighs

Main Sauce:

• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• 3 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

Coating and Seasoning:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Garnish:

• 2 green onions, chopped
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and optimal chicken crispiness.
2. Whisk eggs in a shallow bowl, creating a smooth binding mixture for the chicken coating.
3. Combine flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in another bowl, creating a seasoned breading mixture.
4. Dip each chicken piece into the egg wash, ensuring complete coverage, then coat thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off excess.
5. Arrange breaded chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece to promote even browning.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken turns golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
7. While chicken bakes, prepare the firecracker sauce by whisking sweet chili sauce, hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar in a saucepan.
8. Simmer the sauce over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until slightly thickened and glossy.
9. Remove chicken from oven and immediately brush generously with the spicy firecracker sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
10. Return chicken to oven for an additional 3-5 minutes to caramelize the sauce.
11. Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to set.
12. Garnish with chopped green onions and sprinkle sesame seeds before serving hot.

Notes

• Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and achieve crispy exterior, ensuring even heat distribution and easy cleanup.
• Pat chicken dry before breading to help coating adhere better and create a crunchier texture.
• Adjust spice levels by reducing red pepper flakes or hot sauce for milder palates, or increasing for extra heat.
• For gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend, maintaining the same crispy coating technique.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 550
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 850 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 72 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 150 mg