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    Home » Recipes » Chicken » Sweet and Spicy Chicken

    Sweet and Spicy Chicken

    Published: Jan 13, 2022 · Modified: Apr 6, 2023 by Tonia Larson

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    This Sweet and Spicy Chicken recipe will quickly become a family favorite. It’s easy to prepare and can be served with a side or on a salad.

    top down view of sliced sweet and spicy chicken breasts on a cutting board

    The chicken has a delicious combination of sweet and spicy. We love eating it with rice on the side, in tacos, or in chicken lettuce wraps. It’s juice on the inside with a flavorful, caramelized outside.

    ingredients in bowls and raw meat on parchment

    Sweet and Spicy Chicken Ingredients

    All of need to make this sweet and spicy chicken in chicken breast and the marinade ingredients. Feel free to swap out the ingredients in the marinade to whatever your family prefers. Scroll down for the complete recipe with ingredient measurements.

    • Chicken: We used about one and a half pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts. If you need more than that, simply increase the marinade ingredients.
    • Low Sodium Soy Sauce: The low sodium soy sauce is the main ingredient in the marinade. It adds a savory flavor and the salt tenderizes the meat. We chose the low sodium option to prevent the marinade from becoming too salty.
    • Olive Oil: The olive oil adds moisture and helps prevent the chicken from sticking to the pan. You could also use vegetable oil, canola oil, or peanut oil.
    • Sesame Oil: A little sesame oil adds so much flavor to the marinade!
    • Brown Sugar: The brown sugar adds sweetness that balances out the salt from the soy sauce. It also aids in carmelization on the outside of the chicken while cooking. You could also use honey or granulated sugar.
    • Minced Garlic: We used minced garlic to add flavor. You could substitue the minced garlic with garlic powder.
    • Crushed red pepper flakes: The crushed red pepper flakes bring the heat. You can add more or less depending on how spicy you want the chicken to be. Another option would be to use sriracha sauce.
    two cooked sweet and spicy chicken breasts

    How To Make Sweet and Spicy Chicken

    There are three easy steps to making sweet and spicy chicken. Prepare the chicken breasts, marinate them, and then cook the chicken. Scroll down for the printable recipe card and complete instructions.

    • Preparation: Trim the boneless, skinless, chicken breasts and place them between two sheets of parchment paper. Use a mallet or rolling pin to flatten the chicken breasts to an even thickness. Place the chicken in a galllon sized ziptop bag.
    • Marinade: Mix together the remaining ingredients to create the marinade. Pour of the chicken breasts in the bag, zip the top shut, turn to coat the chicken evenly, and place the bag in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
    • Cook: Remove the chicken from bag and discard the marinade. Cook the chicken in a greased cast iron grill pan or skillet over medium heat for 12-16 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.
    sliced sweet and spicy chicken on a cutting board

    Sweet and Spicy Chicken Frequently Asked Questions

    How do I cook chicken breast without drying it out?

    The most important thing to getting juicy chicken breast is not overcooking your chicken. Use a meat thermometer and check the thickest part of the chicken breast. Chicken breasts need to cook to an internal temperature of 165˚F. Additional tips include flattening the chicken breasts to an even thickness before cooking them, allowing the chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing, and cooking the chicken over medium heat.

    What should I serve with sweet and spicy chicken?

    Sweet and Spicy Chicken can be served with potatoes, coconut rice, or pasta. It would be delicious on top of fettuccine alfredo or even cauliflower rice. For sides, you could serve oven-roasted veggies, corn on the cob, or tomato cucumber salad.

    How do I make chicken in an air fryer?

    Marinate the chicken breasts as directed in the recipe. Preheat the air fryer to 380˚F. Lightly grease the air fryer basket before adding the chicken breasts. Cook at 380˚F for 7 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts over and continue cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F.

    side view of grilled chicken cut into slices

    Want more chicken recipes? Try these next:

    Juicy Cilantro Lime Chicken is bursting with flavor! Cook it on the grill or stovetop for an easy weeknight dinner with rice and veggies.

    This Honey Garlic Chicken recipe is so easy to prepare and will be a family favorite! Made with chicken breasts and a four-ingredient honey garlic sauce.

    Sesame Chicken is a favorite take-out choice and you can make it at home in less than 30 minutes! Serve over rice or noodles.

    This Chipotle Chicken recipe is packed with flavor and perfect for tacos, burritos, and nachos. The easy marinade coats the chicken with delicious seasonings!

    sweet and spicy chicken cut into strips

    Sweet and Spicy Chicken

    This Sweet and Spicy Chicken recipe will quickly become a family favorite. It's easy to prepare and can be served with a side or on a salad.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    ↑ Click stars to rate!
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes minutes
    Marinating Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 47 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
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    Equipment

    French Rolling Pin
    Gallon Storage Bags
    Cast Iron Skillet
    Non Stick Parchment

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • ¼ cup soy sauce
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 teaspoon sesame oil
    • ¼ cup brown sugar
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes add more or less as desired

    Instructions

    • Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of parchment paper and flatten them with a mallet or rolling pin. Transfer them to a gallon-size ziptop bag.
      flatten chicken breast in parchment
    • Whisk together the remaining ingredients in a small bowl to make the marinade.
      blending sweet and spicy marinade
    • Pour the marinade over the chicken breasts. Seal the bag and turn to coat. Place the chicken in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the marinade.
      chicken breasts with marinade in gallon size bag
    • Cook the chicken on the stovetop over medium heat in a greased grill pan or skillet for 12-16 minutes, turning the chicken halfway through cooking, until it reaches an internal temperature of 165˚F. (See notes for additional cooking methods.)
      cook chicken in grill pan

    Video

    Notes

    • Air Fryer: Preheat to 380˚F. Lightly grease the basket. Cook the chicken at 380˚F for 7 minutes, flip the chicken over and continue cooking for an additional 5-7 minutes.
    • Oven: Preheat to 400˚F. Place the chicken breasts on a greased baking sheet. Bake the chicken 400˚F for 18-23 minutes.
    • Grill: Preheat the grill to medium heat. Grease the grill gates and add the chicken breasts. Cover and cook for 6 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook for an additional 6-8 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 6oz | Calories: 414kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1005mg | Sugar: 11g
    Course: Chicken
    Cuisine: Asian
    Author: Tonia Larson

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    About Tonia Larson

    Hi! I’m Tonia, the owner and recipe creator at The Gunny Sack, where I’ve shared easy recipes for busy people for 12+ years! My family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and delicious desserts include mouthwatering photos, dynamic videos, and step-by-step instructions to help you cook at home.

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    Tonia Larson and Brian LarsonHi, We are Brian and Tonia Larson! We hope you enjoy our family-friendly meals, easy side dishes, and tasty desserts!
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