Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe You’ll Love to Make!

Ever find yourself craving something tasty but not wanting to mess with complicated food? The Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe totally answers that itch. I stumbled onto this after a week full of “blah” dinners (seriously, I considered eating boxed cereal). Now, it lives rent-free in my dinner rotation. What I love: it’s crazy simple, has the right amount of kick, and makes me feel like I’m pulling off a restaurant night at home.

If you’re into trying something a little different, but don’t want the stress, you’ll be all over this. If you’re ever out of ideas for chicken, you might also like this super easy crispy delicious air fryer chicken kiev recipe – trust me, it’s a winner too.

Ingredients & Substitutes

Let’s keep it real – nobody wants to hunt down unicorn ingredients. Classic Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe uses chicken breast or thighs, whichever you have on hand. Thighs stay juicier, but breasts are lighter. The star is the sweet chili sauce. You can grab a bottle from nearly any grocery, but if you’re feeling wild, toss together some honey, a bit of sriracha, soy sauce, and vinegar. Close enough.

Garlic and ginger bring that… oomph? I never skip them. Use fresh if you can, but powdered will do you fine. For crunch, go with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or chopped green onions. If you’re gluten free, use tamari instead of soy sauce. I forgot to mention – rice to soak up that sauce is a must. Boring white rice works. Jasmine rice makes it pop.
Also, don’t panic if you run low on something. Toss in random kitchen veggies. I’ve thrown in snap peas, red peppers, and even broccoli – no one complained.

Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe

Expert Tips

Alright, so after many not-so-well-done chickens in my life, here’s what I wish someone told me earlier. For the Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe, I always pat the chicken dry first. Soggy chicken never crisps. Ever.
Marinating is magic. Give it even 10 minutes in the sauce and it ups the flavor by miles.

A little cornstarch dusting on the chicken before cooking? The difference between sad and spectacular. Trust me, this is where the “crispy” magic happens. Oh, and high heat! Searing hot pan means the chicken stays juicy inside. Burnt bits are flavor, not a sign of failure.

Last thing – taste as you go. Everyone’s “spicy” and “sweet” are different. Sometimes I need a little more honey; sometimes extra chili sauce. Start easy, add more as you chop and stir.

I made this for my picky husband and he said it tasted better than our local place. We now have “Sweet Chili Chicken night” every Wednesday!

Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe

Storage & Reheating

So you made too much, huh? Been there. The Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe holds up well for leftovers. Let it cool a bit, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Stays good about three days.

Microwave works for reheating, just cover the dish so the chicken doesn’t turn into a Sahara desert. If you like things a bit crispy, pop it on a skillet with a splash of water, low heat, couple minutes – good as new. I avoid freezing; sauce gets funky and separates.
For meal-preppers out there, toss everything together just before you serve to keep the chicken lively.

Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe

Pairing Suggestions

Alright, what goes with this showstopper? Few top choices:

• Steamed jasmine rice, because it soaks up allll the flavor.
• Roasted baby broccoli or a green bean stir fry.
• Crusty bread if you’re serious about not wasting sauce.
• Little sprinkle of cilantro or green onion for color and a fresh bite.

When I want to pull out all the stops, I’ll toss a handful of cashews on top. Sounds weird, but it rules.

Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe

Is Sweet Chili Chicken Spicy?

Let’s address the burning (sometimes literally) question! Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe can have a little tingle but usually isn’t mouth-on-fire spicy. The store-bought sweet chili sauce is usually kinda tame, sweet with a slow, gentle warmth. If you want to add more fire, a little sriracha or crushed red pepper does the trick. My tip: start easy, you can always dial it up. If you’re cooking for kids or spicy-averse folks, honestly, it’s forgiving.

But…if you want it dangerously fiery, nobody’s stopping you (except maybe your tastebuds the next morning).
So yeah, you do you.

Okay, so that’s pretty much it – your playbook for this ridiculously good Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe. The hardest part is probably not eating the sauce straight from the pan (guilty, more than once). There’s almost zero ways to mess this up, I promise. If you want to double down on tasty chicken nights, check out these other recipes floating around, like the Quick & Easy Sweet Chili Chicken from Christie at Home or mix it up with a totally different twist using her Sweet Chili Chicken. Got questions, or a kitchen fail to vent? I’m your person.

Savory Sweet Chili Chicken Recipe

Sweet Chili Chicken

Print Recipe

A simple and delicious Sweet Chili Chicken recipe that brings the taste of restaurant-quality food to your home without the hassle.

• Author: helth-recipe
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Course
• Method: Pan-frying
• Cuisine: Asian
• Diet: Gluten-Free (if using tamari)

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb chicken breast or thighs
• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Rice for serving
• Optional: sesame seeds or chopped green onions for garnish

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
2. If desired, marinate the chicken in sweet chili sauce for at least 10 minutes.
3. Dust the chicken with cornstarch for extra crispiness.
4. Heat a pan over high heat and add the chicken, cooking until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Serve over rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or green onions.

Notes

For an extra kick, add sriracha or crushed red pepper. Use any leftover veggies to personalize your dish.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 serving
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 700mg
• Fat: 14g
• Saturated Fat: 3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 9g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 30g
• Cholesterol: 70mg

Sweet Chili Chicken

A simple and delicious Sweet Chili Chicken recipe that brings the taste of restaurant-quality food to your home without the hassle.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Asian

Calories: 400

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Main ingredients

• 1 lb chicken breast or thighs Thighs stay juicier, breasts are lighter.
• 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce Store-bought or homemade.
• 2 cloves garlic, minced Fresh is best.
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced Fresh is preferable.
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari Use tamari for a gluten-free option.
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1 tsp cornstarch For extra crispiness.
• to taste salt and pepper
• rice for serving Boring white rice works. Jasmine rice is preferred.
• Optional: sesame seeds or chopped green onions For garnish.

Method

 

Preparation

1. Pat the chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
2. If desired, marinate the chicken in sweet chili sauce for at least 10 minutes.
3. Dust the chicken with cornstarch for extra crispiness.

Cooking

1. Heat a pan over high heat and add the chicken, cooking until golden brown and cooked through.
2. Serve over rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds or green onions.

Notes

For an extra kick, add sriracha or crushed red pepper. Use any leftover veggies to personalize your dish.