Classic Dump & Go Sweet Chili Chicken
This quick and easy "dump and go" recipe features tender chicken cooked in a flavorful sweet chili sauce, perfect for a weeknight meal. It offers versatile cooking options, including oven baking, slow cooking, or Instant Pot preparation.
Equipment
- Paper Towels
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking Dish
- Slow Cooker
- Instant Pot
- Whisk or Spoon
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs Chicken thighs or breasts boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup Sweet chili sauce
- 1/4 cup Low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons Rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Brown sugar optional, for extra sweetness
- 1 teaspoon Fresh ginger grated (or 1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger)
- 2 cloves Garlic minced (or 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon Red pepper flakes or more, to taste
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch slurry cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (for thickening, optional)
- 1 teaspoon Sesame oil optional
- Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
- Green onions or cilantro chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Instructions
- Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- In a bowl, combine the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar (if using), ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes, mixing thoroughly to create the sauce.
- Cook using your chosen method: For oven baking, preheat to 400°F (200°C), place chicken and sauce in a baking dish, and bake for 20-25 minutes until cooked; thicken with cornstarch slurry during the last 5-10 minutes if desired. For slow cooking, place chicken and sauce in a slow cooker, cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-3 hours; thicken by removing chicken, stirring in slurry, and cooking sauce on high for 15-20 minutes before returning chicken. For Instant Pot, combine chicken and sauce, cook on high pressure for 6-8 minutes with 5 minutes natural release; thicken by removing chicken, using sauté mode with slurry, then returning chicken.
- If using, stir in the sesame oil after the chicken has finished cooking.
- Serve the hot chicken over your choice of rice, quinoa, or noodles, then garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chopped green onions or cilantro.
Notes
This versatile recipe is fantastic for meal prep as it can be easily scaled up. Adjust the red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level. Serve with your favorite grain or noodles and a side of steamed vegetables for a complete meal.