Description
Sweet Chili Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender bite-sized pieces of chicken breasts marinated in a tangy sweet chili and soy sauce mixture, coated in seasoned cornstarch, then pan-fried to golden perfection. The chicken is glazed with the thickened marinade sauce and garnished with green onions and sesame seeds. This dish pairs perfectly with rice or noodles for a satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Marinade
- 1.5 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
Coating & Cooking
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Garnish & Serving
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (for garnish)
- Rice or noodles, for serving
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: In a bowl, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, minced garlic, and minced ginger. Add the chicken pieces and marinate for at least 30 minutes to infuse flavor.
- Prepare Coating: In a separate bowl, season cornstarch with salt and pepper. Coat the marinated chicken pieces evenly in the seasoned cornstarch to create a light crust when fried.
- Cook Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding, cooking for about 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked through. Remove from the skillet and drain on paper towels if necessary.
- Thicken Sauce: Pour the remaining marinade into the same skillet and simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly and becomes glossy.
- Glaze Chicken: Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the thickened sauce. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to glaze the chicken thoroughly and blend the flavors.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the chicken with sliced green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot over cooked rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are cut uniformly for even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the pan while frying chicken to maintain crispiness and proper browning.
- Adjust soy sauce quantity for preferred saltiness.
- Marinate for longer than 30 minutes if time permits for deeper flavor.
- Use gluten-free soy sauce if gluten intolerance is a concern.
