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