Description
Firecracker Chicken is a spicy, flavorful baked chicken dish glazed with a sticky and sweet sauce made from garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, and hot spices. Perfectly cooked in the oven, this recipe offers a quick and easy meal packed with bold flavors and a hint of heat, ideal for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts (boneless and skinless, about 1 1/2 lbs)
Firecracker Sauce
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon ginger (fresh, chopped)
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/4 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
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it is hot enough for baking the chicken evenly and developing a nice glaze.
- Make Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, ginger, olive oil, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and black pepper until the mixture is well combined.
- Prepare Chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a 9x13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the firecracker sauce over the chicken, then brush the sauce evenly over the entire surface of each breast. Flip the chicken over and pour the remaining sauce on the other side, then brush or spoon the sauce from the pan over the chicken to fully coat it.
- Bake Chicken: Transfer the uncovered baking dish to the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes. The chicken is done when it is completely opaque throughout and registers between 165 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer. Adjust time according to thickness.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with chopped green onion and parsley if desired, then serve with your favorite sides such as rice or roasted vegetables.
Notes
- Adjusting Spice: Reduce red pepper flakes and hot sauce for a milder flavor or double them to increase heat for spice lovers.
- Chicken Options: While chicken breasts cook fastest, you can use thighs or drumsticks; just increase baking time and check for an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Make Ahead: Mix the sauce and marinate the chicken up to one day ahead for enhanced flavor. Bake the chicken straight from the fridge, adding 5 extra minutes to the cooking 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 texture and flavor.
- Serving Idea: Serve with rice, coleslaw, or roasted vegetables to complement the sticky-sweet and spicy sauce.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast with sauce
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg
