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.
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
- 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.
Grilled Sweet Chili Chicken
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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
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 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 (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.
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.
©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2021, updated June 2024
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