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    Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

    Sweet Chili Chicken

    Author: Peter · Published: Jun 30, 2024

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Sweet Chili Chicken is a flavorful weeknight dinner that everyone will love. Sweet Thai Chili Sauce is infused with garlic and ginger, sweet with a hint of spice, Oven Baked, Grilled or made in an Air Fryer. You'll love this recipe because it's easy, budget friendly and can be prepared in advance.

    sweet chilli chicken plate

    Ingredients

    • Chicken Drumsticks - I usually use drumsticks because they are budget friendly and easy to eat (but can substitute with any chicken pieces)
    • Sweet Thai Chili Sauce - homemade tastes best, but easily found in supermarkets
    • Soy Sauce
    • Juice of a Lime - (2-3 tablespoons of lime juice)

    How to Make Thai Sweet Chili Chicken

    1. Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    2. Preheat - set oven to 375°F (190°C).
    3. Oven Bake - Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place marinated Chicken Pieces on the paper and bake for about 45 minutes, or until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced.
    4. Baste - brush with the Sweet Chili Sauce while cooking.
    5. Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.
    sweet chili chicken marinade in bag
    uncooked chicken on tray

    Grilled Sweet Chili Chicken

    1. Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    2. Preheat Grill - heat grill to 375°-400°F (190°-200°C).
    3. Grill - remove chicken from marinade and place on grill over direct heat. Cook 6-8 minutes per side, until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced.
    4. Baste - in the last 2 minutes of grilling, brush with extra Sweet Chili Sauce.
    5. Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.

    Air Fryer Sweet Chili Chicken

    Air Fryers are a popular method to quickly cook meals, however are limited by basket size. This recipe is best to cook 2 pounds (1kg) chicken as space in the Air Fryer basket allows. Alternative use a dual Air Fryer with XXL basket.

    1. Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    2. Preheat Air Fryer - heat Air Fryer to 375°F (190°C).
    3. Assemble - spray basket with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Place chicken in the basket in a single layer. Lightly spray chicken with oil.
    4. Air Fry - cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping over halfway through, until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced.
    5. Baste - in the last minute of cooking, brush with extra Sweet Chili Sauce.
    6. Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.
    drumsticks on baking tray

    Recipe Tips and FAQs

    • Chili Sauce - for a different spicy marinade - substitute Sweet Thai Chili Sauce with Sriracha by mixing ½ cup Sriracha, ¼ cup Honey, ¼ cup Soy Sauce, 2 tablespoons Lime Juice and 1 tablespoon grated Ginger
    • Chicken Pieces - while drumsticks are easy and affordable, substitute with your favorite chicken pieces like Chicken Wings, Chicken Thighs, Chicken Marylands or Chicken Breast
    • Prep Ahead - prepare the Chicken to marinate the night before to save time and maximum flavor. Toss in sauce, place in fridge and when you're home from work, it's ready to cook
    • Add Vegetables - toss extra vegetables when roasting your chicken like broccoli, bell peppers, cauliflower
    • Change Protein - instead of marinating Chicken, try Pork, Beef, Seafood, Prawns or Tofu
    sweet chili drumsticks plate

    Can I Prepare This in Advance?

    Absolutely. Perfect if you want to meal prep or just make in advance for an easy dinner. Marinate the chicken, place in a Ziploc bag or bowl covered in cling wrap and keep refrigerated for up to 2 days in advance.

    Storage

    • Fridge - place in an airtight container and keep refrigerated. Enjoy within 3-4 days.
    • Freezer - place in an airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 2 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

    Reheating

    • Oven - preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Place chicken in baking dish with a 2 tablespoons of water, cover with foil and warm for about 20-25 minutes until heated through.
    • Microwave - place chicken on a plate an microwave for 1-2 minutes. Heat in additional 30 second bursts until heated through.
    • Air Fryer - heat Air Fryer to 375°F (190°C) and warm for 3-5 minutes.
    serving sweet chili chicken on plate

    Serving Suggestions

    • Fried Rice
    • Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Soy Sauce
    • Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
    • Thai Cauliflower Rice
    • Steamed Rice (White, Jasmine or Brown Rice)
    • Snow Peas
    • Crispy Asian Potatoes
    • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
    • Asian Grilled Chicken Wings
    • Chow Mein Noodles

    A Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken dinner, sticky and sweet with authentic Thai flavors. Oven Baked, Air Fried or Grilled, 3 ways to enjoy chicken drumsticks, an Asian family favorite. You won't need Shake n Bake for your chicken again, this is much tastier and healthier! Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    sweet chili chicken

    Sweet Chili Chicken (Video)

    Sweet Chili Chicken prepared 3 ways - oven baked, air fryer or bbq grilled. You'll love this sticky, sweet and spicy marinade with authentic Thai flavors. Incredibly easy to make for a weeknight dinner.
    4.41 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 50 minutes mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine Asian, Thai
    Servings 6 people

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 lbs (2kg) Chicken Drumsticks Thighs, Marylands, Breast, skin-on
    • 1 cup Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce
    • ¼ cup Soy Sauce
    • 1 juice of a Lime

    Instructions
     

    Oven Method

    • Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    • Preheat - set oven to 375°F (190°C). 
    • Oven Bake - Line a baking tray with baking paper. Place marinated Chicken Pieces on the paper and bake for about 45 minutes, or until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced. 
    • Baste - brush with the Sweet Chili Sauce while cooking.
    • Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.

    Air Fryer Method

    • Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    • Preheat Air Fryer - heat Air Fryer to 375°F (190°C).
    • Assemble - spray basket with cooking spray or line with parchment paper. Place chicken in the basket in a single layer. Lightly spray chicken with oil.
    • Air Fry - cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping over halfway through, until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced.
    • Baste - in the last minute of cooking, brush with extra Sweet Chili Sauce.
    • Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.

    Bbq Grill Method

    • Marinate - place Chicken, Sweet Chili Sauce, Soy Sauce and Lime Juice into a Ziploc bag or bowl. Marinate for at least 4 hours (overnight in fridge is best).
    • Preheat Grill - heat grill to 375°-400°F (190°-200°C).
    • Grill - remove chicken from marinade and place on grill over direct heat. Cook 6-8 minutes per side, until Chicken is cooked at 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of the Chicken when pierced.
    • Baste - in the last 2 minutes of grilling, brush with extra Sweet Chili Sauce.
    • Garnish - with thinly sliced Green Onions or Cilantro before serving.

    Video

    Notes

    • This is a proper family size recipe that feeds 6 (assuming 2 drumsticks per person). This feeds a family of 4 with leftovers. Alternatively reduce chicken to 2 pounds or 1kg.
    • When chicken is cooked in the oven, before serving, add a final glaze of Sweet Chilli Sauce and broil for a few minutes to get a nice golden color.
    • Air Fryers are a popular method to quickly cook meals, however are limited by basket size. This recipe is best to cook 2 pounds (1kg) chicken as space in the Air Fryer basket allows. Alternative use a dual Air Fryer with XXL basket.
    Keyword sweet chili chicken, sweet chili sauce chicken, sweet thai chili chicken

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2021, updated June 2024

    sweet chili chicken pin
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    Peter's Food Adventures - where you'll find Russian recipes, Slavic and International favorites with some fun travel and cooking videos. A Russian Food Blogger.

    Hi, I'm Peter!

    Are you looking for a little inspiration in the kitchen? Let me show you how to create tasty meals for your family!

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