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Home » Dinner » Firecracker Chicken

Published: October 30, 2017 Last Modified: July 17, 2019 By Sara 148 Comments

Firecracker Chicken

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Firecracker Chicken Recipe | Asian Chicken | Spicy Chicken Recipe #chicken #stirfry #dinner #dinneratthezoo

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 #chicken #stirfry #dinner #dinneratthezoo Firecracker Chicken Recipe | Asian Chicken | Spicy Chicken Recipe #chicken #stirfry #dinner #dinneratthezoo

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 topped with green onions.

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

  • Mongolian Beef
  • Sesame Shrimp
  • Moo Goo Gai Pan
  • Shrimp Chow Mein
  • Orange Beef Stir Fry
A bowl of sweet and spicy firecracker chicken.
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4.98 from 80 votes

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 429kcal
Author Sara Welch

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

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray.
  • 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.
  • Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten eggs.
  • 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.
  • Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the 9"x13" pan.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar and red pepper flakes.
  • 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.

Notes

Adapted from The Recipe Critic.

Nutrition

Calories: 429kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 172mg | Sodium: 206mg | Potassium: 591mg | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 1.7mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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Filed Under: Asian Food, Dinner, Featured Recipes

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    Comments

    1. Tracy says

      April 14, 2022 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      Hot damn lady this was good!!! I dont deep fry anything because my husband hates the way it makes the house smell and your method was spot on! Still had the great battered taste without the gross oder! We loved it! Thank you

      Reply
    2. Dana Rooney says

      November 7, 2021 at 5:10 am

      5 stars
      This dish is a staple in our home! I follow the recipe to a T and it is perfection! I have made this more times than I can count and each time everyone loves it. I pair it with a rice pilaf and it is to die for!!!!

      Reply
    3. Amy Curtis says

      August 31, 2021 at 8:36 am

      5 stars
      Incredible! I did everything in a wok. ( I thought baking would dry out the chicken). I doubled the sauce recipe (as other reviewers suggested) using 1/3 c Frank’s and 1/3 c Sriracha. I also added extra red pepper flakes…we love spicy foods! It was so delicious! YAY…my husband and I also had leftovers for lunch. Wonderful recipe!

      Reply
    4. Amy Curtis says

      August 30, 2021 at 8:08 am

      5 stars
      I am trying this tonight and was curious, can this be done in a wok? It seems like a stir-fry sort of dish and I have a HUGE wok. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Nathan says

        January 10, 2022 at 4:12 pm

        Yes it works in a wok and is much quicker! I just add a tablespoon if cornstarch to the sauce so it thickens up.

        Reply
    5. Jumanne Howell says

      July 4, 2021 at 3:58 pm

      5 stars
      My family loves it! I can’t have enough of the flavour and texture. This recipe is absolutely lovely, I made this for the second time today. First it was for Mother’s Day and now for the 4th of July, thank you guys for this. 100% recommended and it might seem intimidating but substitutes like ketchup and white vinegar are just as great! Good Luck ♡ ps- cornstarch keeps the chicken crisp and delicate.

      Reply
    6. Hannah says

      May 29, 2021 at 7:24 pm

      5 stars
      This is amazing!!! Made recipe as is except used apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar because it is what I had. So good, there was a mad dash for who got the left overs!

      Reply
      • Jill says

        October 11, 2021 at 3:54 pm

        5 stars
        We (husband and I) used Apple cider instead of rice vinegar also. This was a meal we both enjoyed making and eating!

        Reply
    7. Selena says

      May 21, 2021 at 11:58 pm

      5 stars
      I used sriracha and it was yummo! Definitely a winner!

      Reply
      • Sara says

        July 8, 2021 at 9:36 pm

        5 stars
        I make this recipe exactly as written. Everyone in the family loves it and we NEVER have leftovers. I have even quadrupled the recipe, hoping there would be some left for me to take to work. There never is. Thank you for posting such a yummy and easy recipe!!!

        Reply
    8. Kaci says

      April 23, 2021 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve made this for dinner several times now; I love it! It’s the perfect amount of mildly deliciously spicy.
      It only tends to come out a little dry after baking, so I coat it with a tiny bit of extra sauce at the end and it is perfect! Great recipe!

      Reply
    9. SR says

      March 28, 2021 at 2:29 pm

      5 stars
      Super easy and good. No matter how much I make, it all gets eaten. I keep upping the servings, but still no leftovers. I even added tofu one night, it still got completely devoured. We like extra spicy, so I substituted Frank’s Red Hot Cayenne which is one notch up from the Buffalo Style. Sometimes, when I’m in a hurry, I cut the protein smaller to reduce oven time.

      Reply
    10. Mellie says

      March 14, 2021 at 7:52 am

      Hi! This recipe looks great – I just have a problem getting Buffalo sauce here in The Netherlands. Do you have a recommendation for a substitute?

      Reply
      • Sara says

        March 14, 2021 at 6:47 pm

        Any other hot red pepper sauce is fine!

        Reply
    11. Kelly S says

      March 2, 2021 at 11:38 am

      5 stars
      I’m one of those people that doesn’t like eating the same meals week after week. I love trying out new recipes especially to get my kids used to all different foods. I will say I enjoy this recipe so much i make it at least twic a month. I love everything about it sweet, spicy, sour chicken you can’t go wrong. We typically do jasmine rice with steamed broccoli and roasted cauliflower.

      Reply
    12. Kate says

      February 18, 2021 at 5:15 pm

      5 stars
      So good!!!!!! I generally alter recipes when I make them but to me this didn’t need any changes. I served it with cauliflower rice and steamed broccoli, and we will absolutely be making this again.

      Reply
    13. Kim Erika Nichols says

      February 18, 2021 at 4:02 pm

      5 stars
      Very easy and very tasty. It is spicy so be prepared. I will definitely make this again!

      Reply
    14. Elizabeth says

      February 9, 2021 at 7:12 pm

      5 stars
      Thank you for this recipe! It came out dee-lish!!!! Its become a staple in my home ☺️

      Reply
    15. Lane says

      January 28, 2021 at 4:37 pm

      I made this recipe for the first time tonight and was so good!! I personally added a little more red pepper flakes because i like extra spicy. Overall this was super good!! I will be making this again

      Reply
    16. Danielle says

      January 24, 2021 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      I searched for this recipe trying to copy what a local restaurant serves! This is it!!!! Thank you!!!
      A tad spicy for us, but otherwise it’s fantastic! We tripled the sauce, next time we’ll do less red pepper flakes. We ate this with jasmine rice and steamed broccoli.
      I’ve made a handful of your recipes and they’ve all come out so good! I come straight to your website now when I’m looking for something 🙂 Thanks again!!

      Reply
    17. Kelli says

      January 13, 2021 at 5:19 pm

      5 stars
      This is at least a “monthly” dish in our house, we LOVE it! Served with basmati rice and either sauted or steamed veggies (mostly broccoli). We are sauce people so I double and it’s the perfect amount for us. Have turned on several people to this recipe and they love it just as much as we do! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Eric says

        January 22, 2021 at 5:15 pm

        5 stars
        Us too! I have been making this at least 1 time a month for the last year and half since I discovered the recipe. It NEVER gets old.

        Reply
    18. Cath says

      January 4, 2021 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      Spicy but so good

      Reply
      • Mark says

        February 2, 2021 at 11:27 am

        This recipe is legit! Really tasty dish served with Bell peppers, mangetout and basmati rice

        Cheers!

        Reply
    19. Angela says

      December 28, 2020 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      Delicious… I served it with boxing day fried rice (made with Christmas day leftovers)

      Reply
    20. Celeste siegmunf says

      December 27, 2020 at 8:37 pm

      We added 1/3 cup Sarah’s sauce and 1/3 cup Buffalo hot sauce , used flour instead of cornstarch. Double sauce. We used 2 of the 3 pkg of Costco chicken.

      Reply
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