A copycat Chinese takeout staple, spicy firecracker chicken is insanely delicious, full of flavor, and can be made right from the comfort of your home.
3large boneless skinless chicken breastsapproximately 2 to 2.5 pounds
¾cupcornstarch
2eggs
½cupvegetable oil
1cupbuffalo wing sauceI used Frank’s brand
½cupgranulated sugar
1tablespoonapple cider vinegar
½teaspoonkosher salt
⅛teaspoonred pepper flakes
Garnish
¼cupgreen onionschopped
1tablespoonsesame seeds
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a large rimmed baking tray with foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
Prepare your chicken breast by cutting it into 1-inch pieces. Place your cut chicken pieces into a large shallow dish.
Sprinkle your cut chicken with the cornstarch and toss them to evenly coat all sides of the chicken. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk your eggs. Taking 3 to 4 pieces at a time and shaking off any excess cornstarch, gently toss your cornstarch-coated chicken pieces into the beaten eggs. Place the coated chicken pieces onto a large plate. Repeat until all of your chicken pieces are coated in the cornstarch and egg.
In a very large skillet, on medium-high heat, add your vegetable oil. Once your oil is hot (about 350°F), gently place ½ of your coated chicken pieces into the oil in a single layer. You want to make sure that the pieces are not touching and the skillet is not overcrowded.
You will cook your chicken on the first side for 1 to 2 minutes, then flip and cook for another 1 minute. You are not trying to cook your chicken all the way through at this point. You are only very lightly frying the chicken so that your coated chicken will hold the sauce once cooked in the oven.
Once your chicken has lightly fried, remove it to a paper towel-lined tray and repeat until all the chicken is fried.
In a small bowl, you will make your sauce by whisking together the buffalo wing sauce, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and red pepper flakes.
Transfer your fried chicken pieces to the prepared rimmed baking tray. Make sure your chicken pieces are in a single layer.
Slowly and evenly, pour your sauce over the chicken pieces and gently toss to coat all the chicken.
Bake your sauce-coated chicken for 20 to 25 minutes. Once your chicken has cooked, give it another toss on the tray to make sure all your sauce is coating the chicken. The sauce will thicken slightly as it cools.
Transfer your cooked chicken to a large serving dish, making sure to pour any extra sauce from the tray onto the top, and garnish with the chopped green onions and sesame seeds.