Firecracker Chicken
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
20 mins
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Cook Time
45 mins
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Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Asian
Firecracker Chicken
Description
Firecracker Chicken is prepared by dice-cutting boneless skinless chicken breasts, seasoning and coating them in cornstarch and egg, then frying briefly until golden. The sauce blends brown sugar, buffalo sauce, apple cider vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes to combine sweet, tangy, and spicy elements. After frying, the chicken is arranged in a baking dish, covered with the sauce, and baked at a low temperature to let the sauce thicken and caramelize around the chicken chunks. This process ensures a crispy but tender chicken texture infused with the bold sauce flavors.
The finished dish offers a sticky, slightly spicy sauce with a hint of sweetness and tanginess from the vinegar. The chicken pieces remain tender inside with a lightly crisped coating outside. It can be served immediately, pairing well with rice or steamed vegetables to balance the heat and richness of the sauce.
Baking the chicken in the sauce for about 45 minutes, turning every 15 minutes, allows for even coating and sauce thickening without drying out the chicken. The use of cornstarch in the coating helps achieve a crispy exterior that holds up well in the baking process.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch chunks
- salt to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
- black pepper to taste, Kosher salt and freshly ground
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 egg beaten, large
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
For the sauce
- ¾ cup light brown sugar Imperial Sugar brand
- ⅓ cup buffalo sauce or more, to taste
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or more, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9×13 baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
- To make the sauce, whisk together sugar, buffalo sauce, vinegar, salt, red pepper flakes and 1 tablespoon water in a large bowl; set aside.
- In a large bowl, season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in cornstarch and gently toss to combine. Working one at a time, dip the chicken into the eggs.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large saucepan. Add chicken and cook until golden brown, about 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate; discard excess oil.
- Add chicken to prepared baking dish. Top with buffalo sauce mixture. Place into oven and bake until the sauce has thickened, about 45 minutes, turning over every 15 minutes to evenly coat the chicken.
- Serve immediately.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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