Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Sticky crispy baked sweet chili chicken bites is better than takeout and so easy to make healthier at home. An easy dinner or game day appy. | aheadofthyme.com

Sweet Chili Chicken Bites


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 3 reviews

  • Author: Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4 servings

Description

Sticky crispy baked sweet chili chicken bites is so much better than takeout and so easy to make healthier at home. An easy weeknight dinner or game day appy.


Ingredients

  • 1 lb. chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups breadcrumbs
  • cooking oil spray
  • 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce, homemade or store-bought
  • 1 tablespoon green onions, finely chopped (for garnish)
  • 1 teaspoon white sesame seeds (for garnish)

For homemade sweet chili sauce:

  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons sambal oelek (or chili garlic sauce)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (or flour)
  • 2 tablespoons water

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  2. Pat dry chicken breasts completely with a paper towel and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place into a medium mixing bowl and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Set aside for at least 5 minutes.
  3. In a large ziploc bag, add flour and cubed chicken. Seal the bag and shake well to coat.
  4. Prepare a shallow plate with the beaten eggs and another with the breadcrumbs. Dip the chicken, one at a time, into the egg wash and evenly coat it. Then dip into breadcrumbs and fully coat. You can gently squeeze crumbs into each piece to adhere and fully coat. The flour will stick to the chicken, the egg wash sticks to the flour, and the breadcrumbs will stick to the egg wash.
  5. Arrange the breaded chicken on a large half sheet baking pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Spray the chicken with cooking oil spray. This helps create a crispy crust on the outside during baking.
  6. Bake the chicken for 25 to 30 minutes until chicken is fully cooked. The internal temperature for the chicken should be 165F.
  7. Transfer the cooked chicken to a large mixing bowl and add in sweet chili sauce (or if making homemade sweet chili sauce, add the chicken into the saucepan after the sauce has been cooked and thickened). Toss gently and well to coat evenly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.

To make homemade sweet chili sauce:

  1. To make homemade sweet chili sauce (instead of using store-bought), add vinegar, fish sauce, brown sugar, sambal oelek, cornstarch and water into a medium mixing bowl. Whisk well to combine until cornstarch and sugar dissolves.
  2. Transfer the sauce to a shallow saucepan and heat over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Stir until thickened to desired consistency.

Notes

Air fryer instructions: Place chicken bites in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray with oil to coat evenly. Cook at 375 F for 12-14 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature for the chicken reaches 165F. Shake the basket halfway during cooking to brown the chicken bites evenly.

How to serve: Serve baked sweet chili chicken over a bowl of steamed rice or vegetarian fried rice. For a complete Thai meal with other dishes, pair it with 10-minute chicken Pad ThaiThai coconut red curry with prawnsThai red curry mussels or Thai red curry noodle soup.

How to store: Store any leftover sweet chili chicken bites in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, heat on the stove over medium heat for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. If the sauce has thickened up too much, add a little water to thin it out.

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Chicken
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Thai