Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe

Serve sweet, tangy, and spicy chicken thighs over jasmine rice. This simple homemade takeout recipe is a twist on the classic.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe

A complete meal in one bowl is a great way to save time. The sweet and spicy chicken will remind you of general Tso’s or orange sesame chicken. This is a healthier alternative to fried chicken as it uses honey, orange juice, and ginger.

Sweet and spicy chicken can be served over white rice. It’s a rich, flavorful, sticky, and sweet dish with white rice. The chicken is juicy and tender thanks to the chicken thighs, and won’t dry out like chicken breasts or tenders. This recipe is great with small broccoli florets. Make sure you have enough sauce to add some broccoli, and then give it a nice sticky coating!

Table of Contents

Sweet and Spicy Sauce

My sweet, spicy homemade sauce uses honey, orange juice, and Sriracha. It also includes minced garlic and fresh ginger. Cornstarch is used as a thickener. Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Cornstarch will help the honey caramelize and thicken. Cornstarch is a key ingredient. Without it, the sauce won’t thicken and will become watery.

One large naval orange can make about half a cup of fresh juice. You can make your OJ if you have it. Orange juice is something I don’t drink, so I don’t buy it.

How to make Sweet and Spicy Chicken?

For tender and juicy chicken thighs, use them. This recipe is also great with tenders or chicken breast. The chicken thighs are not as dry as other cuts. I always remove the fattier portions from the thighs to ensure there aren’t any unpleasing pieces.

Cornstarch can be lightly coated on the chicken chops to retain moisture. This amazing trick helps prevent smaller chicken pieces from drying out during cooking.

This is something I cannot emphasize enough. Cornstarch is necessary for the sweet and spicy sauce to thicken the sauce. You will have a thick sauce that won’t coat the chicken.

Nonstick pans are best for sauces and glazes. As the chicken simmers, use a rubber spatula and scrape the pan. Cast iron skillets are also good.

Fresh ginger and garlic make a huge difference in flavor. Freshly grated ginger tastes much better than its dried counterpart. When possible, I recommend fresh ginger to replace ground spices.

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Recipe

Quick Overview

PREP TIME 15
COOK TIME 15
TOTAL TIME 35 MINUTES
YIELD: 4
CATEGORY: DINNER
CUISINE: ASIAN

Serve sweet, tangy, and spicy chicken thighs over jasmine rice. This simple homemade takeout recipe is a twist on the classic.

Ingredients

2 pounds cubed boneless, skinless chicken legs, cubed
1 1/2 cups uncooked jasmine Rice
Two tablespoons of olive oil
2-3 green onions, thinly sliced diagonally
1 cup sesame seeds
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Salt and pepper to your liking

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup orange juice (1 freshly squeezed orange)
1 tablespoon Sriracha
1 tablespoon low-sodium soybean sauce
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions

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Mix all the sweet and spicy sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
Put chicken in a bowl. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of cornstarch on top. Mix to coat the chicken. As needed, add more.
Follow the package instructions to cook rice. Set aside.
Two tablespoons of olive oil can be heated on medium heat in a large skillet or pan while the rice is cooking. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook for about 10 minutes.
Bring the sauce to a simmer in a saucepan. Allow the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken for about 3-5 minutes.
Serve chicken over rice. Serve with green onions and sesame seeds.