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Firecracker Chicken

A flavorful sweet and spicy chicken dish with crispy cornstarch coating and sticky brown sugar hot sauce glaze. Better than takeout and ready in under an hour.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian-Inspired
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 0.5 cup Frank's Red Hot Sauce or similar cayenne-based hot sauce
  • 0.75 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari for gluten-free
  • 3 teaspoons rice wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 cup cornstarch for coating
  • olive oil or neutral cooking oil for frying
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • scallions chopped, for serving
  • white rice cooked, for serving

Equipment

  • medium saucepan
  • Large deep-sided skillet
  • oven

Method
 

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and position the rack in the middle.
  2. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, soy sauce, vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of water. Stir frequently until the sugar dissolves completely, then set aside.
  3. Season the chicken thighs generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
  4. Dredge each chicken thigh in cornstarch, coating all sides evenly and pressing to help it adhere.
  5. Heat enough oil in a large deep-sided skillet over medium-high to high heat to cover the bottom surface.
  6. Cook the chicken on all sides until browned and crispy, about 3 to 5 minutes per side.
  7. Turn off the heat and pour the prepared sauce over the chicken, using a spoon to coat each piece thoroughly.
  8. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes to crisp up the coating and marry the sauce with the meat.
  9. Sprinkle with sliced scallions and serve with hot cooked rice.

Notes

For less spicy version, reduce hot sauce to 1/4 cup and add 2 tablespoons ketchup. Chicken thighs work best as they stay juicy and are very forgiving. The cornstarch coating creates superior crispiness compared to flour. Best enjoyed fresh, though leftovers can be reheated in the oven at 375°F for 10-12 minutes.
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