Description
This Easy Sweet Chili Chicken recipe combines tender, bite-sized pieces of chicken thighs or breasts with a flavorful sweet chili sauce, garlic, and ginger. The dish is quickly cooked in a skillet, creating a glossy, savory glaze that’s perfect served over rice or noodles. Garnished with sesame seeds, green onions, and red pepper flakes for an added touch of flavor and texture, this recipe is a simple, delicious weeknight dinner that comes together in just 25 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Sauce and Cooking
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten‑free)
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 Tbsp water (slurry)
Garnishes (optional)
- Sesame seeds
- Sliced green onions
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Season the chicken: Season the bite-sized chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper to enhance their flavor before cooking.
- Brown the chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are browned and almost fully cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté aromatics: In the same skillet, add a little more olive oil if needed. Add the minced garlic and grated fresh ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant and aromatic.
- Prepare the sauce: Stir in the sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar into the skillet with the aromatics. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the browned chicken to the skillet. Stir well to coat the chicken evenly with the sauce, then cook together for an additional 2 to 3 minutes to let the chicken finish cooking and absorb the sauce flavors.
- Thicken the sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) to the skillet. Stir constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, thoroughly coating the chicken pieces.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the dish and adjust the flavors if needed by adding more honey for sweetness or more rice vinegar for tanginess according to your preference.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and crushed red pepper flakes for a tasty and visually appealing finish before serving.
Notes
- Use chicken thighs for juicier, more flavorful results, or chicken breasts for a leaner option.
- Serve with steamed rice, noodles, or vegetables for a complete meal.
- You can adjust the spice level by adding more crushed red pepper flakes or using a spicier sweet chili sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure tamari is used instead of soy sauce and verify the sweet chili sauce is gluten-free.
