Sticky Chilli Chicken
A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savoury, this Sticky Chilli Chicken recipe delivers crispy, flavour-packed bites coated in a delicious homemade sticky sauce. Perfect for an easy dinner or an exciting meal with friends.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- whisk
- Tongs
- Frying pan or air fryer
- Wire rack (for baking method)
Ingredients
- For the Chicken:
- 500 g boneless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup cornstarch or potato starch for extra crispiness
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 egg beaten
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- Oil for frying if deep-frying
- For the Sticky Chilli Sauce:
- 1/3 cup honey or brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sweet chilli sauce
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch to thicken sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken:
- In a bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, baking powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne, and garlic powder.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with buttermilk.
- Dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture, then coat evenly in the dry mix.
- Cooking Methods:
- Deep-Frying: Heat oil to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches for 5-6 minutes until golden and crispy. Drain on a wire rack.
- Air-Frying: Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Spray chicken with oil and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Baking: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place coated chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Spray with oil and bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Make the Sauce:
- In a pan over medium heat, combine honey, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes, vinegar, sesame oil, and water.
- Mix cornstarch with a little water and stir into the sauce to thicken.
- Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Combine:
- Toss crispy chicken pieces in the sauce until well coated.
- Serve immediately, garnished with sesame seeds and chopped green onions.