This Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Recipe is the perfect combination of sweet and savory. You can cook sweet chili chicken in the air fryer or in the oven. It is easy to make and absolutely bursting with flavors - perfect for family dinner or weeknight meals.
Sweet Chili Chicken cooked in the air fryer is a healthy, high-protein meal that is not only quick and easy to make, but also full of flavors. If you are looking for a delicious, savory, and satisfying chicken dish, then this sweet chili chicken recipe is for you!
If you like air fryer chicken recipes, you should also try Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken and Air Fryer Sweet and Sour Chicken Wings.
Jump to:
- What Is Sweet Chili Sauce
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients
- How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce
- How to Make Sweet Chili Chicken in Air Fryer
- How to Make Sweet Chili Chicken in the Oven
- What to Serve with Sweet Chili Chicken
- Substitutions
- Equipment
- How to Storage and Reheat
- Top Tips for Success
- More Recipes You'll Love
- Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Recipe
What Is Sweet Chili Sauce
Sweet chili sauce is a popular condiment in many Asian countries. It is a sweet and tangy sauce typically made from chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and sometimes fish sauce. Sweet chili sauce is a versatile sauce that can be used as a dipping sauce for dishes like crispy fried wontons, crab rangoon dip, or Chinese egg rolls. It can also be used as marinade or glaze. Here in this recipe, I used Thai sweet chili sauce, which you can find in any grocery stores.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy. Made in the air fryer or in the oven, this sweet chili chicken recipe uses less oil and cooks up in no time. It is perfect for busy weeknights or weekly meal prep.
- Crispy and Juicy. The air fryer gives the chicken a crispy exterior wile keeping the inside tender and juicy!
- Sweet and Savory Flavor. The sauce combines sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and garlic, giving each bite an irresistible flavor.
Ingredients
You'll need the following ingredients to make the best Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken:
- Chicken thighs or chicken breast
- Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Oyster Sauce
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garli
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce
To make the sauce, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger together in a bowl.
For this recipe, divide the sauce into two separate bowls - one bowl for the glaze, and the other bowl for drizzle in the end.
How to Make Sweet Chili Chicken in Air Fryer
- Step 1: Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oyster sauce.
- Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Place the chicken in a single later in the air fryer basket. Cook for 5 minutes, flip over, then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Step 3: Brush the chicken with sweet chili sauce on one side, then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Step 4: Flip over, then brush the other side with more sweet chili sauce. Cook at 400°F for another 3-5 minutes for extra sticky and glossy glaze.
How to Make Sweet Chili Chicken in the Oven
You can bake the chicken at 375F for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Make sure to flip the chicken halfway and brush the sauce on both sides of the chicken frequently to achieve sticky and glossy glaze.
What to Serve with Sweet Chili Chicken
Drizzle the reserved sweet chili sauce on top of the chicken. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with a bowl of rice, noodles, or vegetables.
These are my favorite dishes to serve with sweet chili chicken:
- Smashed Cucumber Salad with Garlic
- 10 Minute Ginger Garlic Bok Choy
- 10 Minute Sesame Noodles
- Easy Chili Oil Ramen
Substitutions
- Chicken Thighs - you can substitute chicken thighs with chicken breast, chicken tenders, or wings.
- Soy Sauce - you can substitute with tamari or coconut aminos
- Sweet Chili Sauce - if you don't have sweet chili sauce, you can combine a little hot sauce with honey and a dash of rice vinegar.
Equipment
Air Fryer
How to Storage and Reheat
Sweet chili chicken can be stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat, you can either place them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes, or you can use a microwave.
Top Tips for Success
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. To ensure the chicken cook evenly, place them in a single layer in the air fryer, and make sure to leave some space in between each piece.
- Check the Internal Temperature. It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken is cooked through ((165°F or 74°C).
More Recipes You'll Love
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 4-6 chicken thighs or chicken breasts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
For Sweet Chili Sauce
- ½ cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 3 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tsp ginger, grated
For Garnish (optional)
- 2 green onions, chopped
- sesame seeds
Instructions
Sweet Chili Sauce
- In a small bowl, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, minced garlic, and grated ginger together.
- For this recipe, divide the sauce into two separate bowls - one bowl for the glaze/brushing, and the other bowl for drizzle in the end.
Cook the Chicken
- Preheat the air fryer or the oven to 375℉. *See Notes for oven cooking method
- Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Then season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oyster sauce.
- Place the chicken in a single later in the air fryer basket (skin side up). Cook for 5 minutes, flip over, then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Brush the chicken with sweet chili sauce, then cook for another 5 minutes.
- Flip over (skin side up), then brush with more sweet chili sauce. Cook at 400°F for another 3-5 minutes for extra sticky and glossy glaze.
- Drizzle the reserved sweet chili sauce on top of the chicken. Garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Serve hot with a bowl of rice, noodles, or vegetables.
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