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Firecracker Chicken

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This firecracker chicken recipe is chunks of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. An easy dinner option that the whole family will love!

Firecracker Chicken Recipe | Asian Chicken | Spicy Chicken Recipe

A bowl of sweet and spicy firecracker chicken.

I am a big fan of Asian food, I have a ton of recipes on my site for everything from broccoli beef to chicken chow mein. This firecracker chicken is the latest recipe to add to the collection. It’s crispy, sweet, spicy and utterly delicious! This chicken is not deep fried, but is browned until crisp, then covered in sauce and baked to perfection.

A pan full of crispy firecracker chicken.

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Tips for achieving crispy firecracker chicken

The chicken in this recipe is dipped in egg and cornstarch, which forms a crust on the chicken when it hits the oil. The best way to get a browned and ultra crispy crust is to start with a very hot pan – crank up the heat! The next trick is to be sure that the chicken isn’t crowded in the pan. If the chicken pieces are too close together, they’ll steam instead of brown. You may need to brown the chicken in batches, but it’s totally worth it.

A bowl of rice topped with spicy firecracker chicken.

After the chicken pieces are browned, the sauce is poured over the top and the whole thing goes into the oven. The cornstarch in the chicken coating will help to thicken the sauce as it bakes. This is a spicy dish, so if you’re heat adverse, beware! If you’d like to turn down the heat, you can omit the red pepper flakes. I like to serve this firecracker chicken over rice, but it’s also nice over Asian rice noodles or chow mein noodles.

I love being able to make my own take out favorites at home – it’s cheaper, healthier and often tastes better!

You’ll love these other Asian food recipes

A bowl of sweet and spicy firecracker chicken.
5 from 9 votes
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Firecracker Chicken

This firecracker chicken recipe is chunks of crispy chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy sauce. An easy dinner option that the whole family will love!

Course Main
Cuisine Asian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 429 kcal
Author Dinner at the Zoo

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1/3 cup buffalo hot sauce
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.

  2. Place the chicken pieces on a plate and season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.

  3. Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs.

  4. Heat the oil over high heat in a large pan. Place the chicken in a single layer and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown. You may have to work in batches.

  5. Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the 9"x13" pan.

  6. In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar and red pepper flakes.

  7. Pour the sauce over the chicken. Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through to coat the chicken with the sauce. Top with green onions and serve.

Recipe Notes

Adapted from The Recipe Critic.

Nutrition Facts
Firecracker Chicken
Amount Per Serving
Calories 429 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 172mg 57%
Sodium 206mg 9%
Potassium 591mg 17%
Total Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Sugars 26g
Protein 32g 64%
Vitamin A 4%
Vitamin C 2.1%
Calcium 4.2%
Iron 6.4%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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Comments

  1. This Firecracker chicken looks so good. I am always looking for new dinner ideas. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Reply

  4. Nom! I love that this is baked and not fried. I am trying to find healthier meal options for my husband, who is trying to lose weight, and I know that this is a recipe that he will enjoy!

    Reply

  5. This looks amazing! I love the mix of flavors and I’m sure it tastes amazing. I’d love to make this for my husband and I one of these days. Thanks so much for the recipe.

    Reply

  9. This looks like an awesome recipe idea. I love Asian food too, and so is everyone in my family. We enjoy Mongolian Beef, Orange Chicken, and General Tso’s Chicken. I have to try this Firecracker Chicken too. Looks easy enough to make!

    Reply

  13. Essa receita chamou a minha atenção,nunca tinha visto uma receita de frango como essa, tem uma cor maravilhosa e muito apetitosa, Adorei porque além de fácil de fazer é adequada a vida corrida que tenho.

    Reply

  14. This looks so amazing! I just love Asian style chicken and I add a few more crushed red pepper flakes as we enjoy it spicy!

    Reply

  18. This looks beyond delicious !!
    I just fall in love with its name “firecracker chicken” and look.
    I want to make this ASAP for my family.

    Reply

  21. Recipe sounds great. Should the chicken pieces be dipped again in cornstarch after putting it into the egg mixture?

    Reply

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