Description
This Easy Sweet Chili Chicken recipe is a quick and delightful dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces cooked in a flavorful sweet chili sauce. With garlic, ginger, and a balance of honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar, it offers a perfect combination of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. Ready in just 25 minutes, it’s a simple skillet meal ideal for weeknight dinners, garnished with sesame seeds, green onions, and optional crushed red pepper flakes for an extra kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 1 lb (450 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Sauce
- 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 chicken pieces evenly with salt and pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Cook the chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pieces are browned and almost cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Sauté garlic and ginger: In the same skillet, add a little more oil if needed. Add the minced garlic and grated ginger, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant and aromatic.
- Add sauce ingredients: Stir in the sweet chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Bring the mixture to a simmer to meld the flavors together.
- Combine chicken and sauce: Return the chicken to the skillet and stir well to coat it with the sauce. Cook together for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing the chicken to finish cooking and absorb the sauce flavors.
- Thicken the sauce: Add the cornstarch slurry to the pan and stir constantly until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy, evenly coating the chicken pieces.
- Adjust seasoning: Taste the dish and adjust the seasoning as desired—add more honey for extra sweetness or more rice vinegar for tanginess.
- Serve and garnish: Garnish with sesame seeds, sliced green onions, and crushed red pepper flakes before serving to add texture, color, and a spicy kick.
Notes
- Use boneless skinless chicken thighs for juicier meat or breasts for leaner options.
- For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari and ensure the sweet chili sauce is gluten-free.
- You can adjust the sweetness and tanginess by varying honey and rice vinegar amounts to your preference.
- If you prefer spicier, add more crushed red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce.
- Serve with steamed rice or stir-fried vegetables to complete the meal.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
