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Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken

Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken

This quick and easy Crispy Sweet Chilli Chicken recipe is the perfect weeknight dinner.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Asian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • frying pan
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Air fryer

Ingredients
  

Chicken

  • 600 g boneless, skinless chicken breast or 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
  • 1 unit egg
  • 0.5 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
  • oil for frying

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 unit 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. Use a spoon to stir the water into the remaining sauce and use this extra sauce to pour over the completed dish.

Air Fryer Instructions

  • Coat the chicken – Coat the chicken in the egg, spices and seasoning but don’t add the cornflour yet.
  • Once coated, dip each piece individually into the cornflour so it’s well covered.
  • 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.
  • Air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 6–8 minutes, shaking the basket or turning the pieces halfway through cooking time, until golden and cooked through.
  • Make the sauce – Meanwhile, make the sauce on the stovetop as per the recipe, then toss the crispy chicken through the sauce to serve.

Notes

For frying, use high smoke-point oil such as vegetable or canola oil for a light, crispy coating.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 25gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 100mgSodium: 800mgPotassium: 500mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1.5mg
Keyword Comfort Food, crispy chicken, easy dinner, sweet chilli, takeaway alternative, Weeknight Meal
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