Sweet and Spicy Chicken (One Pot)

Quick and easy sweet and spicy chicken recipe, made with simple ingredients over stovetop in 30 minutes. Tender chicken pieces are coated in a sticky sauce.

There is no frying in this hot and spicy chicken, which is inspired by Chinese and Korean flavors. That means clean up is easy and it's also healthier than the classic version! My family loves this meal just as much as my Cashew Chicken (One pot).

Jump to:

• Key ingredients
• Variations
• How to make homemade one pot sweet and spicy chicken from scratch?
• What to serve with sweet and spicy chicken?
• Tips and techniques
• Recipe FAQs
• Storage
• More One Pot Chicken Recipes
• Recipe

Key ingredients

• Oil- Used for sauteing and added flavor.
• Chicken breast- Best if cut into small cubes.
• Garlic- You will want this to be finely minced.
• Onion- It's okay to have larger chunks instead of minced in this recipe.
• Green peppers- Adds color and taste.
• Pineapples- Helps to sweeten the dish and cut the spice.
• Soy sauce- Use your favorite kind, just make sure it's low sodium.
• Sriracha sauce- Brings an additional spicy factor.
• Chicken broth- Be sure to use a low sodium option.
• Brown sugar- Brings in that sweetness to balance flavors.
• Salt and pepper- Add more or less according to your taste.
• Red chili flakes- Adds a spicy kick and can be adjusted according to personal preference.

Variations

• Make it spicy- This can be done, based on your preference by tweaking the amounts of sriracha sauce, black pepper and red chili flakes.
• Adjust the sweetness- This can be done, based on your preference too by tweaking the amount of brown sugar and pineapples.
• Add frozen vegetables- I only used onions and green peppers but use whatever frozen vegetables you like. Some popular choices are: broccoli, snap peas, carrots, green peppers and onions. Add them in the last 5-7 minutes until they are crisp but tender. Adding them near the end prevents the veggies from becoming over-cooked soft and mushy.
• Make chicken crispy- Coat chicken in some flour and stir fry it first. Keep aside. Then, prepare the sauce and coat the chicken pieces in this sauce. However, I feel like this is an unnecessary step and chicken in the leftovers becomes soggy and disgusting.
• Use different parts of chicken- To make wings, legs, thighs, or even popcorn chicken.

How to make homemade one pot sweet and spicy chicken from scratch?

1. Saute- Chicken until golden brown.
2. Add in- Onion, garlic, green peppers and onions.
3. Mix in- Soy sauce, sriracha sauce, broth, sugar, salt, pepper and red chili flakes.
4. Cook uncovered- Until sauce thickens to desired consistency.
5. Garnish- And enjoy.

What to serve with sweet and spicy chicken?

• Rice– Boiled jasmine rice is a great option and my personal favorite. You can also try Cilantro Lime Rice (One Pot).
• Fried rice– Vegetable fried rice is delicious or even cauliflower fried rice.
• Quinoa– A great alternative to rice.
• Noodles– Egg noodles and spaghetti taste awesome.
• Zoodles or zucchini noodles– An alternative to regular pasta
• Instant pot spaghetti squash– This is another low carb alternative to pasta.
• Bread- Make a sandwich but be sure to use a thick crusty bread so that it can absorb the sauce without becoming soggy.

Tips and techniques

• Use nonstick pan or pot- Because this prevents burning and sticking.
• Garnish options- Red chili flakes, roasted sesame seeds, green onions, cilantro, green chilies.
• Use low sodium soy sauce and broth– Because this prevents the meal from becoming too salty.
• Use dissolved cornstarch– Mix it with some water and then add it in with the other ingredients because this prevents little lumps from forming in the sauce.
• Thickening the sauce – Cornstarch is a key ingredient for thickening the sauce, so don't omit this ingredient. You can also thicken the sauce further by cooking it uncovered on medium heat for a few additional minutes until excess liquid evaporates.
• Pineapple can be omitted- They help cut the spice factor in this recipe but if you can handle the heat, omit it.

Recipe FAQs

Storage

• Make ahead- Prepare a head for a busy night by placing this in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply heat up again before serving.
• Refrigerate- Place in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving.
• Freeze- This can be placed in the freezer for up to 1 month. Just be aware that upon thawing, the vegetables become soggy. Thaw and warm before serving.
• Reheat- Warm over the stovetop or in the microwave.

More One Pot Chicken Recipes

• Black Pepper Chicken (One Pot)
• Chili Lime Chicken (One Pan)
• Honey Sriracha Chicken (One Pot)
• Apricot Chicken (One Pot)
• Mango Chicken (One Pot)

Recipe