Description
Firecracker Chicken is a spicy, sweet, and tangy dish featuring crispy chicken pieces coated in a flavorful buffalo sauce with brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes, baked to perfection and topped with fresh green onions for a delightful kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 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
Sauce
- 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
Garnish
- 1/4 cup sliced green onions
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coat a 9"x13" pan with cooking spray to prepare for baking the chicken later.
- Season and coat chicken: Place the chicken pieces on a plate, season them with salt and pepper, then sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the chicken and toss to coat well.
- Dip in egg: Dip each cornstarch-coated chicken piece into the beaten eggs to ensure a light, crispy coating when cooked.
- Fry chicken: Heat the vegetable oil over high heat in a large pan, then add the chicken pieces in a single layer; cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown, working in batches if necessary.
- Arrange for baking: Place the fried chicken pieces in a single layer in the prepared 9"x13" pan to get ready for baking with the sauce.
- Prepare sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the buffalo hot sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, and red pepper flakes until combined.
- Bake with sauce: Pour the sauce evenly over the chicken in the baking pan and bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through to coat the chicken thoroughly with the sauce.
- Garnish and serve: After baking, top the sauced chicken with sliced green onions and serve immediately for a spicy, sweet, and tangy meal.
Notes
- For extra heat, increase the amount of red pepper flakes or add a dash of cayenne pepper.
- Substitute chicken thighs for a juicier, more flavorful dish if desired.
- You can use a non-stick skillet to reduce the amount of oil needed for frying.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Serve with steamed rice or a fresh green salad to balance the heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
