Description
Firecracker Chicken brings explosive flavor right to your dinner table with tender, spicy-sweet chicken that comes together faster than takeout. Crispy edges and a killer sauce make this weeknight wonder a total crowd-pleaser your family will absolutely devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1.5 pounds chicken
Firecracker Sauce:
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger
Garnish:
- 1 green onion
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. This ensures your chicken won’t stick and creates an easy cleanup.
- Mince 3 cloves of garlic and chop 1 teaspoon of fresh ginger. These aromatics will infuse deep flavor into your sauce.
- Whisk together ¼ cup olive oil, ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon Sriracha, and 1 teaspoon black pepper in a small saucepan. Simmer this mixture for 5 minutes over medium heat to blend the flavors.
- Arrange 4 chicken breasts in the prepared baking dish, ensuring they are not overlapping. Pour the entire sauce evenly over your chicken, making sure each piece is well-coated.
- Bake the chicken uncovered at 375°F for 25-30 minutes. Check the internal temperature reaches 165°F at the thickest part to guarantee it’s fully cooked.
- Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, keeping your chicken tender and moist.
- Sprinkle 1 chopped green onion and 1 tablespoon fresh parsley over the top. The herbs add a fresh, bright finish to your spicy dish.
Notes
- Let the sauce simmer gently to develop rich, deep flavors without burning the spicy ingredients.
- Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe, perfectly cooked meat using a digital thermometer.
- For a low-carb version, replace honey with sugar-free syrup or monk fruit sweetener to maintain the sauce’s consistency.
- Marinate chicken in sauce for 30 minutes before baking to enhance flavor penetration and tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg