Go Back
+ servings
Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken

Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken

This Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken recipe offers bite-sized pieces of chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce, perfect for serving over rice.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • large bowl
  • frying pan
  • medium bowl
  • Air Fryer

Ingredients
  

CHICKEN

  • 600 g boneless, skinless chicken breast or chicken thigh cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon sea salt flakes
  • 0.5 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
  • 0.5 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
  • Oil for frying, use high smoke-point oil

SWEET CHILLI SAUCE

  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon freshly minced ginger
  • 0.5 cup sweet chilli sauce
  • 0.25 cup tamari or all-purpose soy sauce
  • 0.25 cup rice wine vinegar, plain white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or lime juice

TO SERVE

  • Steamed rice
  • 1 spring onion (scallion) finely sliced
  • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Instructions
 

Preparation

  • Coat the chicken – Place the chicken in a large bowl with the sweet paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, egg and cornflour. Mix the chicken well until the other ingredients form a paste around it. Set aside.
  • Combine the sauce ingredients – To make the sauce, combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.

Cooking

  • Brown the chicken – Heat the oil over medium–high heat in a large, deep, heavy-based frying pan. Cook the chicken for 5–6 minutes or until it is cooked through and golden all over, turning once halfway through. Set aside on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
  • Drain the oil from the frying pan and wipe the pan clean.
  • Cook the chicken in the sauce – Heat the pan over medium–low heat and add the sauce. Stir for 2–3 minutes until the sauce begins to bubble gently and thicken. Turn the heat off and return the chicken to the pan, stirring so that it is evenly coated in the sauce.
  • Serve – Serve the chicken immediately, heaped on top of steamed rice. Top with finely sliced spring onion and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
  • Optional: Add 1–2 tablespoons of boiling water to the bottom of the pan once the chicken has been removed. Stir the water into the remaining sauce to pour over the completed dish.

Air Fryer Instructions

  • Coat the chicken in the egg, spices and seasoning as per the recipe – but don’t add the cornflour yet.
  • Once coated, dip each piece individually into the cornflour so it’s well covered. This step gives that signature crispy coating.
  • Cook the chicken – Spray the base of your air fryer basket with oil. Place the chicken in a single layer in the basket and spray generously with oil.

Notes

Use high smoke-point oil for frying to achieve a crispy coating. Olive oil can also be used for a denser coating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 700mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Asian cuisine, Chicken Recipe, Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken, Easy Dinner, fried chicken, sweet chilli sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!