Description
Sweet Chili Chicken is a flavorful dish combining tender chicken with a tangy, slightly spicy sweet chili sauce. Perfect for dinner, weeknight meals, or party appetizers.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for cooking)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey or brown sugar (optional for extra sweetness)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon ginger, freshly grated or minced
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for extra heat)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro (for garnish, optional)
- Sesame seeds (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Season the chicken breasts or thighs with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken to the skillet and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until fully cooked (internal temperature should be 165°F or 74°C). Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set it aside.
- In the same skillet, add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the soy sauce, sweet chili sauce, honey (if using), and rice vinegar. Bring the sauce to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it cook for about 3-5 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Once the sauce has thickened, return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the chicken to soak up the sauce and become glazed.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds and freshly chopped cilantro over the chicken for a nice garnish (optional). Slice the chicken into strips or serve whole, and drizzle any remaining sauce from the pan over the top. Serve with steamed rice, sautéed vegetables, or your favorite side dish.
Notes
- For extra heat, add more red pepper flakes, chopped fresh chili peppers, or a drizzle of sriracha sauce.
- Use tamari or a gluten-free soy sauce to make this dish gluten-free.
- Store-bought sweet chili sauce works as a shortcut, but homemade sauce gives you more control over the sweetness and spice level.
- For a vegetarian option, substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh, cooked in a similar manner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
