Crispy Chilli Chicken
Crispy Chilli Chicken is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring tender bite-sized chicken pieces with a perfectly crispy double coating, tossed in a vibrant, tangy, sweet, and spicy sauce. This recipe delivers a perfect balance of heat and sweetness, ideal for family dinners or entertaining friends with restaurant-quality results in under 45 minutes.
- Author: Emilly
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
- Diet: Gluten Free (if using rice or chickpea flour and gluten-free soy sauce)
Chicken and Batter
- 500g boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1/2 cup cornflour (cornstarch)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (or rice flour for gluten-free)
- Pinch of salt
- Cold water, enough to make a thick batter
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 cup bell peppers, diced (mixed colors)
- 2 green chilies, sliced (or 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes)
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use gluten-free soy sauce for GF)
- 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons chili sauce or chili paste (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon sugar or honey
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces for even cooking. Lightly season with salt and a small amount of soy sauce to infuse flavor.
- Make the Batter: In a mixing bowl, combine cornflour, all-purpose flour, pinch of salt, and cold water. Whisk until a smooth, thick batter forms that clings well to the chicken without dripping.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan or wok to 175°C (350°F). Dip each chicken piece into the batter, ensuring it is fully coated, then carefully drop into the hot oil. Fry in small batches, avoiding overcrowding, until golden and crispy, about 5-7 minutes per batch. Remove and drain on paper towels. For extra crunch, fry the chicken twice, letting it cool slightly between frying.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Sauté minced garlic, ginger, and sliced onions until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add diced bell peppers and green chilies, cooking for another 2 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in soy sauce, vinegar, chili sauce, and sugar or honey. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine and Toss: Add the crispy fried chicken pieces to the sauce pan. Toss gently and quickly to coat every piece evenly while preserving the crispiness. Serve immediately for best texture.
Notes
- Use cold water in the batter for a lighter, crispier coating.
- Double frying the chicken results in extra crunch that lasts even after adding sauce.
- Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature and avoid soggy chicken.
- Drain fried chicken thoroughly on paper towels to remove excess oil.
- Toss chicken in sauce just before serving to keep it crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 150g)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: crispy chilli chicken, spicy chicken, asian chicken recipe, deep fried chicken, gluten free chicken, chili sauce chicken