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A skillet with cooked chicken bites in a red sauce.
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Firecracker Chicken

Spicy, sweet, and irresistible—this Firecracker Chicken is the perfect balance of heat and flavor. Quick to make and perfect for weeknight dinners!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
marinate30 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: chicken, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Lactose
Skill Level: Intermediate
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Rena

Ingredients

Marinade/Stir Fry Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup honey agave or brown sugar also work
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • ¼ cup harissa paste
  • Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Stir Fry

  • 1 pound chicken breast cut into bite-size chunks
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion large diced
  • 1 large red or orange bell pepper seeded and diced

Optional to serve with:

  • cooked rice
  • toasted sesame seeds
  • wedges of lime

Instructions

  • In a jug or bowl, whisk all the ingredients for the marinade. (1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil, 2 tablespoons sriracha sauce, 2 garlic cloves, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1/4 cup tomato paste, ¼ cup harissa paste, and Kosher salt and pepper)
  • Pour half of the mixture over the 1 pound chicken breast pieces and stir to evenly coat.
    Pouring red sauce over raw chicken pieces in a white bowl.
  • Allow the chicken to marinate for 30 minutes at the counter, or overnight in the fridge. Reserve the remaining sauce to use for the stir fry.
    Raw, seasoned chicken pieces in a white bowl.
  • Heat a large pan over medium heat. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and add the marinated chicken in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes, then stir and continue to cook until the chicken is almost cooked through.
    Cooked chicken cubes in a skillet.
  • Stir in the 1 medium sweet onion and 1 large red or orange bell pepper. Continue to cook, stirring often, for around 5 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked through. Pour over the reserved sauce and stir to combine; remove from heat.
    Tongs stirring chicken and vegetables in a skillet.
  • Serve over cooked rice and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and wedges of lime, if desired.
    Wooden chop sticks held over chicken and rice.

Notes

  • Marinate overnight: For deeper flavor, let the chicken marinate overnight in the fridge.
  • Don’t skip the sesame seeds: They add a nice crunch that makes this dish pop.
  • Serve with rice: This Firecracker Chicken is perfect over cooked rice to soak up that delicious sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1825mg | Potassium: 643mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 294IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg