Crispy hen coated in a sticky, candy and barely spicy sauce. This crispy chilli hen is such a fantastic Friday night time dinner, and it’s prepared in half-hour!

Nicky’s Notes

My entire household completely love this crispy chilli hen… presumably as a result of it’s noticeably low on greens…. but additionally as a result of it’s precisely the form of factor they’d all select on the takeaway.
Crispy chunks of hen, coated in a shiny, sticky sauce that’s candy, a bit bit spicy, and fully moreish… it’s a kind of dinners that disappears quick.
📋 Components for Crispy Chilli Rooster
***Full recipe with detailed portions within the recipe card under***

Rooster Thighs
Rooster thighs work greatest on this recipe as they’re are higher at standing as much as excessive warmth cooking, while staying juicy. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to exchange them with hen breast items if you happen to want.
Abbreviated Recipe
***Full recipe with detailed steps within the recipe card under***
Combine the hen with the egg, then coat within the cornflour and seasonings. Fry within the oil in a wok, working in 2 batches, then take away hen from the wok. Fry onion, then chilli, ginger and garlic, then add sauce elements. Permit to bubble, add hen again in to warmth by means of and serve.
Recipe Ideas
- Working in two batches when frying the hen is essential, so the coating will get crispy.
- It feels like plenty of sugar, however it is a sweet-spicy sauce. You’ll be able to cut back the sugar or exchange some or all with a sugar different, simply ensure that it’s heat-stable (appropriate for cooking).

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🍽️ What to serve it with
Make forward and Leftovers Information
- This recipe works greatest when made and served instantly. Freezing/chilling then reheating means the hen received’t be crispy.
- Nonetheless, it does nonetheless style actually good. So if you happen to did need to chill/freeze it, then cool, cowl and refrigerate/freeze. If frozen, defrost in a single day within the fridge and reheat completely within the wok or a microwave till piping scorching all through. You’ll be able to add a splash of water if it’s a bit dry.
📺 Watch easy methods to make it
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Place the hen items in a bowl and add the egg. Combine collectively to completely coat the hen within the egg.
750 g (1.65 lbs) skinless, boneless hen thigh fillets (trimmed), 1 egg
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Add the cornflour, salt, pepper, and white pepper.
6 tbsp cornflour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp white pepper
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Toss collectively to coat the hen. It will likely be a sticky combination.
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Warmth 3 tbsp of the oil in a big frying pan (skillet) or wok over a excessive warmth till very popular.
4 tbsp oil
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You’ll in all probability must work in two batches, so when the oil is scorching, add in half the hen – a chunk at a time – and unfold it out.
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Fry the hen till golden and crispy. Strive to not transfer the meat round an excessive amount of as this reduces the quantity of crispiness you get. It usually takes about 5 or 6 minutes to crisp up the hen with about 3 or 4 stirs throughout that point.
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Utilizing a slotted spoon or tongs, take away the hen from the pan and place in a bowl. Put to at least one aspect.
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Add an extra tablespoon of oil and repeat – cooking the second batch of hen after which putting within the bowl with the primary batch.
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When you’ve eliminated all of the hen from the pan, add the remaining ½ tbsp of oil to the pan and switch the warmth all the way down to medium.
1/2 tbsp oil
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Add within the sliced onion and prepare dinner for two minutes till barely softened.
1 medium onion
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Add within the finely chopped chilli, minced ginger, and minced cloves of garlic and prepare dinner while stirring for 30 seconds.
1 crimson chilli, 1 tsp minced ginger, 3 garlic cloves
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Add the rice vinegar, soy sauce, tomato puree, sugar, tomato ketchup, and candy chilli sauce to the pan.
2 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 tbsp soy sauce – mild or all-purpose, 2 tbsp tomato puree , 6 tbsp caster sugar, 2 tbsp tomato ketchup, 2 tbsp candy chilli sauce
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Stir all of it collectively and switch up the warmth and let it bubble for a few minutes till the sauce begins to cut back a bit.
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Add the hen again in, give it a stir and warmth by means of for 1-2 minutes – till the hen is scorching.
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Serve with rice or noodles.
Can I freeze it or make it forward?
This recipe works greatest when made and served instantly. Freezing/chilling then reheating means the hen received’t be crispy.
Nonetheless, it does nonetheless style actually good. So if you happen to did need to freeze it, then cool, cowl and freeze. Defrost in a single day within the fridge and reheat completely within the wok or a microwave till piping scorching all through. You’ll be able to add a splash of water if it’s a bit dry.
Ingredient swaps/additions
Swap out the hen thighs for breast if you happen to want.
If you wish to make a beef/steak model, use my crispy chilli beef recipe.
Add thinly sliced bell peppers, mange tout, snap peas or small items of chopped broccoli, if you wish to add some greens. Add them as the identical time because the onion.
Cooking for two?
You’ll be able to halve many of the elements, however might want to make a few changes:
- Egg – calmly whisk the egg and discard half of it earlier than including to the hen.
- Use 1 small onion (or half a medium onion)
- Use a small crimson chilli (or half of a daily one)
Prepare dinner as per the common directions, however it is possible for you to to prepare dinner the hen in a single batch, as an alternative of two.
Dietary data is per serving and doesn’t embrace rice or garnishes
Energy: 555kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 40g | Fats: 25g | Saturated Fats: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 6g | Monounsaturated Fats: 13g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 219mg | Sodium: 1448mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 27g
Vitamin data is robotically calculated, so ought to solely be used as an approximation.
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