Description
Firecracker Chicken is a spicy and flavorful baked chicken recipe featuring a tangy firecracker sauce made from garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and hot spices. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and packs a punch with just the right balance of heat and sweetness. Serve this juicy chicken with rice, slaw, or roasted veggies to soak up the delicious sauce.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, about 1 1/2 lbs)
Firecracker Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger (chopped)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar (packed)
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Sriracha)
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional Garnish
- 1 green onion (chopped)
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it reaches the proper temperature for baking the chicken.
- Prepare Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the minced garlic, chopped ginger, olive oil, low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and ground black pepper until the sauce is well combined.
- Coat Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the firecracker sauce over the chicken. Brush the sauce evenly over the entire surface of each chicken breast. Flip the chicken over and pour the remaining sauce on the other side, ensuring each piece is fully coated.
- Bake Chicken: Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven uncovered. Bake the chicken for 25 minutes or until the chicken is completely opaque throughout and reaches an internal temperature of 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer. Note that baking time may vary depending on the thickness of the chicken breasts.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped green onion and parsley if using. Serve with your favorite side dish such as rice, slaw, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Adjusting Spice: Reduce the amount of red pepper flakes and hot sauce for a milder flavor, or double them for those who love extra spice.
- Chicken Options: Chicken breasts are quickest to cook, but thighs or drumsticks can also be used. Add extra baking time and ensure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the sauce and marinate the chicken up to one day in advance. Bake directly from the refrigerator, adding 5 extra minutes to baking time.
- Freezing: You can freeze the chicken baked or unbaked for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven for best results.
- Serving Idea: Pair this dish with rice, slaw, or roasted vegetables to enjoy the full flavor of the sticky-sweet firecracker sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
