Firecracker Chicken
User Reviews
4.6
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Prep Time
5 mins
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Cook Time
25 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4
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Calories
352 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner
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Cuisine
American
Firecracker Chicken
Description
This recipe uses a sauce made from garlic, ginger, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and black pepper to infuse flavor into chicken breasts. The baking step at 450°F quickly cooks the chicken through while thickening the sauce into a sticky coating. The result is tender, opaque chicken with a sweet-spicy glaze on the surface.
The sauce’s balance of sweetness from brown sugar and heat from red pepper flakes and hot sauce creates a layered flavor profile, enhanced by aromatics like garlic and ginger. The use of soy sauce adds umami depth.
Serving this firecracker chicken with simple sides like rice or steamed vegetables complements its bold flavors. Letting the cooked chicken rest ensures juices redistribute for a moist texture.
Chicken thighs or drumsticks can be substituted and baked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Leftovers store refrigerated up to five days or frozen for up to three months. Nutritional values are estimates and vary based on brands and portion sizes.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast boneless and skinless (about 1 1/2 lbs
Firecracker Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger fresh, chopped
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup soy sauce low sodium
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce such as Sriracha
- 1 teaspoon black pepper ground
Optional Garnish
- 1 green onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley fresh, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare oven: Preheat your oven to 450℉.
- Make sauce: In a small bowl whisk all the sauce ingredients together until combined.
- Apply sauce to chicken: Place chicken in a 9x13-inch baking dish and pour half the sauce over the chicken. Brush the sauce evenly over the entire surface of the chicken. Flip the chicken breasts over and pour remaining sauce over. Brush or spoon sauce from the pan over the chicken, making sure it's fully covered.
- Bake: Transfer the baking dish, uncovered, to the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 25 minutes. The baking time could different depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. The breast is cooked when it's completely opaque all the way through and registers 165 to 170 F on an instant-read thermometer.
- Wait and serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Serve with your favorite side dish.
Notes
- Chicken thighs or drumsticks can replace breasts; bake until reaching 165°F internal temperature.
- Allow baked chicken to rest 5 minutes before serving for better juiciness.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months in airtight containers.
- Nutritional information is approximate and varies with product brands and portion sizes.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 352 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1breast | |
| Calories | 352kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 37g | 74% |
| Fat | 18g | 28% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 108mg | 36% |
| Sodium | 826mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 676mg | 14% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 310IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 7mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 20mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1.2mg | 7% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.6
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