Name: Firecracker Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1 1/4 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces; Salt and pepper to taste; 1/3 cup cornstarch; 2 eggs beaten; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/3 cup buffalo hot sauce; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste; 1/4 cup sliced green onions; Cooking spray

There’s just something about that perfect fiery blend of sweet heat that makes this Firecracker Chicken Recipe a showstopper on any dinner table. Crispy, saucy, and with just the right kick, it’s one of those dishes that keeps me coming back to the kitchen — and trust me, you’ll love making it too!

The image shows a close-up of a pan filled with multiple golden-brown fried nuggets covered in a shiny orange glaze. Each nugget has a crispy texture and is topped with small pieces of fresh green onion scattered evenly across them. The nuggets have a slight sheen from the sticky glaze, which looks thick and rich, adding a glossy finish. The pan is silver-colored, and the background is a white marbled texture. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Jump to:

Why You'll Love This Recipe
Ingredients & Why They Work
Make It Your Way
Step-by-Step: How I Make Firecracker Chicken Recipe
Top Tip
How to Serve Firecracker Chicken Recipe
Make Ahead and Storage
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Thoughts
Firecracker Chicken Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe

This Firecracker Chicken Recipe ticks all the boxes for a weeknight dinner that feels special but doesn’t take forever. I’ve made this countless times and the blend of sticky sweet, spicy heat never fails to impress everyone around the table — plus, it’s surprisingly simple.

Crispy Coating: The chicken gets coated in cornstarch and pan-fried to golden perfection before baking, giving just the right crunch.
Flavor Balance: The combo of buffalo sauce, brown sugar, and vinegar creates a sauce that’s sweet, tangy, and fiery all at once.
Easy Prep & Cleanup: Cooking in batches and then finishing everything in one pan makes it manageable even on busy nights.
Great for Customizing Heat: You control the spice level easily with the red pepper flakes — I’ll tell you how I do it.

Ingredients & Why They Work

Each ingredient plays a part in making this Firecracker Chicken Recipe the delicious, finger-licking dish it is. When you get good-quality chicken breasts and balance the spicy sauce with sweetness and acidity, you’re halfway to success.

Flat lay of fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces on a simple white ceramic plate, a small white bowl of cornstarch, two whole uncracked brown eggs, a small white bowl of bright orange buffalo hot sauce, a small white bowl of packed brown sugar, a small white bowl of clear rice vinegar, a small white bowl with red pepper flakes, a few fresh green onion sprigs sliced and arranged on a white ceramic dish, a small white bowl filled with golden vegetable oil, all placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997

Boneless skinless chicken breasts: Tender pieces cook evenly and soak up the sauce beautifully.
Salt and pepper: Essential for seasoning the chicken before anything else, making sure every bite has flavor.
Cornstarch: This is your secret to that crispy exterior without deep frying, helping the sauce stick.
Eggs: They act as a glue for the cornstarch to cling to the chicken.
Vegetable oil: Neutral oil high in smoke point, perfect for frying those chicken pieces crisp.
Buffalo hot sauce: Adds the signature spicy kick and depth to the dish.
Brown sugar: Sweetness balances the heat and gives the sauce a sticky glaze.
Rice vinegar: Adds a bright tang to cut through the richness and ramp up flavor complexity.
Red pepper flakes: Adjust the heat according to your spice tolerance.
Sliced green onions: Freshness and a mild onion crunch for finishing.
Cooking spray: Makes sure the pan doesn’t stick as the sauce caramelizes in the oven.

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Note: You'll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Make It Your Way

This Firecracker Chicken Recipe is a fantastic base to customize depending on whether you want something super spicy, a little smoky, or even a bit sweeter. I love how flexible it is — makes it perfect for all sorts of cravings!

Variation: Sometimes, I swap buffalo sauce for a smoky chipotle hot sauce to add a different spicy note — it’s delicious!
Less heat: If you or your family prefer mild, just cut back on the red pepper flakes and use milder hot sauce.
Veggie boost: Toss in some diced bell peppers during baking for a colorful, crunchy element.
Make it gluten-free: Use cornstarch as the recipe calls for and make sure your hot sauce is gluten-free — super easy swap.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Firecracker Chicken Recipe

A black plate holds a bed of white rice topped with several large pieces of golden-brown chicken covered in a thick, glossy orange sauce with small green chili slices scattered on top. A pair of dark red chopsticks lifts one saucy chicken piece above the plate. In the blurred background, a wooden bowl filled with red chili flakes sits on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Step 1: Season and Coat That Chicken

I start by cutting the chicken breasts into bite-size pieces — about 1 inch works perfectly for even cooking and saucing. Then I season them lightly with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the pieces and toss well; this step creates that crispy outer layer. After that, I dunk each piece into the beaten eggs, which helps the cornstarch stick and develop that satisfying crunch in the pan.

Step 2: Sear Until Golden

Heat the vegetable oil over high heat in a large skillet — you want it nice and hot before adding the chicken. Lay the pieces in a single layer and don’t overcrowd the pan; I usually work in batches. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Getting it just right here is my favorite part — the smell, the color, it’s like the whole kitchen perks up.

Step 3: Bake With That Fiery Sauce

Transfer the seared chicken into a greased 9"x13" baking dish so they’re in a single layer. In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo hot sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes to make the sauce. I taste this mixture before pouring it over the chicken to adjust heat or sweetness as needed — that control is key. Pour evenly over the chicken, pop it in a 350°F oven, and bake for 35 minutes. Remember to stir halfway through so the sauce coats every piece and gets that sticky, glossy finish.

Step 4: Garnish and Serve

Once baked, I sprinkle fresh sliced green onions over the top for a pop of freshness and a mild crunch. Then it’s ready to dig in — trust me, it’s hard to wait until it cools just a bit!

Top Tip

I’ve learned through making this Firecracker Chicken Recipe numerous times that a few small tweaks can elevate it from good to unforgettable. Here are my favorite little hacks to nail it every time.

Don’t skip seasoning the chicken first: It’s tempting just to rely on the sauce, but seasoning each piece before the coating step adds depth right from the start.
High heat when frying: Make sure your oil is truly hot before adding the chicken — this is what creates that perfect crust without sogginess.
Adjust sauce sweetness after mixing: Sometimes I add a little extra brown sugar if the buffalo sauce I use is extra tangy or spicy, balancing the flavors just right.
Baking with a single layer: Give the chicken room in the pan to avoid steaming and loss of crispiness. This ensures every piece stays delectably crunchy beneath that sauce.

How to Serve Firecracker Chicken Recipe

Firecracker Chicken - Serving Suggestion

Garnishes

I always finish this dish with sliced green onions — the freshness contrasts beautifully with the rich sauce. Sometimes I add a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds for a nutty crunch, or thinly sliced fresh jalapeños if I’m feeling extra spicy.

Side Dishes

Firecracker Chicken pairs great with a simple bed of steamed white or jasmine rice to soak up every bit of that phenomenal sauce. I also love crunchy slaws like a classic cabbage slaw or a tangy cucumber salad that offer a cooling crunch to balance the heat.

Creative Ways to Present

For a dinner party, I’ve served this Firecracker Chicken Recipe in mini lettuce wraps with a drizzle of lime crema on top — it’s a fresh, interactive way to enjoy all those flavors. Another fun idea is skewering the chicken pieces pre-baking to make spicy chicken bites perfect for appetizers.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. I find the chicken soaks up even more flavor after sitting, though the coating softens a bit — still delicious!

Freezing

Freezing Firecracker Chicken is a great option if you want to prep ahead. I recommend freezing the cooked chicken and sauce separately to preserve texture better. When thawed, just reheat together gently for best results.

Reheating

To reheat leftovers, I pop them in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of water to loosen the sauce, stirring gently until heated through. The stovetop helps bring back some crispiness better than a microwave.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I use chicken thighs instead of breasts for this Firecracker Chicken Recipe?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs add more juiciness and a richer flavor. Adjust cooking time slightly to ensure they’re cooked through but still tender and crispy on the outside.

How spicy is the Firecracker Chicken Recipe?

The spice level is moderate and totally adjustable thanks to the red pepper flakes and buffalo hot sauce. If you prefer milder flavors, simply reduce or omit the red pepper flakes and use a milder hot sauce for an easier-going heat.

Can I make Firecracker Chicken Recipe in an air fryer?

You sure can! Coat and season the chicken as usual, then air fry at 400°F for about 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway. Toss with sauce afterward and give a quick air fry or oven bake to set glaze. I like this faster method on busy nights.

What’s the best way to thicken the sauce if it’s too runny?

If your sauce seems too thin, simply pop the dish under the broiler for a couple of minutes at the end of baking — watch carefully to prevent burning. The heat helps caramelize and thicken the sauce into that lovely sticky coating.

Final Thoughts

This Firecracker Chicken Recipe is one of those dishes I keep close in my recipe arsenal for good reason — it’s a fiery, sweet, and crispy delight that comes together quickly but tastes like you spent hours perfecting it. I can’t recommend giving it a try enough; trust me, your taste buds will thank you! Whether you stick to the original or make it your own with personal twists, it’s sure to become a favorite in your kitchen too.