Description
Firecracker Chicken is a spicy, sweet, and savory baked chicken dish featuring a flavorful sauce made from garlic, ginger, soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, and hot sauce. Perfectly baked to juicy perfection and garnished with fresh green onions and parsley, this recipe delivers a quick and delicious meal embodying a vibrant Asian-inspired flavor profile.
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 tablespoons 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 reaches the proper temperature for baking the chicken evenly and thoroughly.
- Prepare Sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together minced garlic, chopped ginger, olive oil, low sodium soy sauce, brown sugar, red pepper flakes, hot sauce, and ground black pepper until fully combined to create the flavorful firecracker sauce.
- Coat Chicken. Place the boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Pour half of the firecracker sauce over the chicken and brush evenly to cover all surfaces. Flip the chicken breasts over and pour the remaining sauce. Brush or spoon the sauce from the pan over the chicken ensuring it’s fully coated on all sides.
- Bake Chicken. Transfer the baking dish, uncovered, to the preheated oven. Bake the chicken for 25 minutes or until the chicken is opaque all the way through and registers between 165 to 170 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read thermometer. The exact 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. This resting time allows the juices to redistribute. Garnish optionally with chopped green onion and fresh parsley. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes like rice, slaw, or roasted vegetables to soak up the delicious sauce.
Notes
- Adjusting Spice: Reduce red pepper flakes and hot sauce for a milder version or double them for extra heat lovers.
- Chicken Options: While breasts cook fastest, thighs or drumsticks can be used too; just increase baking time and ensure an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the sauce and marinate the chicken up to one day in advance; bake directly from the fridge adding 5 extra minutes to baking time.
- Freezing: Both baked and unbaked versions can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven for best results.
- Serving Suggestion: Pair with steamed rice, crunchy slaw, or roasted vegetables to complement the sticky-sweet and spicy flavors.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken breast (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
