sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken

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Are you looking to break free from your usual meal rotation and find a dish that brings excitement back to your kitchen? Perhaps you’re craving the vibrant, punchy flavours of a restaurant-quality meal, but want the satisfaction of creating it yourself. We understand completely. That’s why we’re thrilled to share the perfect recipe to elevate your midweek dinners from ordinary to extraordinary: our incredible sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken.

This dish is a masterful blend of contrasting flavours, achieving a beautiful balance between the mellow sweetness of honey, the savoury richness of soy sauce, and a delightful warmth from black pepper and chilli flakes. It’s wonderfully straightforward to put together, yet the final result is so impressive it could have come straight from a professional chef’s kitchen. Prepare to cook up a new family favourite that will have everyone at the table asking for more.

Why We Absolutely Adore This Honey Pepper Chicken Recipe

So, what is it that makes this recipe a constant feature on our own dinner tables? For us, it’s not just about the ingredients, but the entire experience of cooking and eating it. We love how it manages to be both comforting and exciting, hitting every single flavour note perfectly. It has truly become our go-to easy chicken dinner for those busy evenings when we want maximum flavour with minimal fuss.

A Flavour Explosion: The sauce is undoubtedly the real hero here. The gorgeous sweetness of honey is perfectly offset by the umami kick of soy sauce and rice vinegar, while a generous amount of freshly cracked black pepper and a hint of red chilli flakes deliver a pleasant, lingering heat. It’s a truly sophisticated sauce that beautifully coats each and every piece of chicken.
Incredibly Versatile: This dish serves as a fantastic base for you to get creative. We often serve it with a mound of fluffy jasmine rice, but it’s just as delightful tossed with noodles, served alongside quinoa, or paired with simple steamed vegetables for a lighter, lower-carb meal.
Better Than Takeaway: We all enjoy a takeaway now and then, but preparing this dish at home gives you complete control. You can tailor the spice level to your preference, manage the salt content, and be confident about the quality of every ingredient. Not to mention, it’s much more budget-friendly and often quicker than waiting for a delivery!
Perfectly Tender Chicken: Our specific cooking method guarantees that the chicken remains exceptionally juicy and tender on the inside, while boasting a light, crispy outer layer. This wonderful contrast in textures is what really takes the dish from being merely good to absolutely unforgettable.

Essential Ingredients for the Perfect Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken

The first step to culinary success is gathering your ingredients. We find that using fresh, quality components always yields the most delicious results. Here is everything you will need:

For the Crispy Chicken:

Chicken: Approximately 600g of boneless, skinless chicken thighs, chopped into bite-sized 1-inch pieces. We highly recommend thighs for their superior flavour and moistness.
Cornflour: 4 tablespoons. This is the key to achieving that light, crispy coating while keeping the meat tender.
Salt and Black Pepper: For seasoning the chicken prior to cooking.
Vegetable Oil: A neutral oil for shallow frying.

For the Irresistible Sauce:

Honey: 4 tablespoons of a good-quality runny honey to lend that characteristic sweetness.
Soy Sauce: 3 tablespoons of light soy sauce, which provides the crucial savoury, umami foundation.
Rice Vinegar: 1 tablespoon, which adds a bright acidity to cut through the sauce’s richness.
Garlic: 3 cloves, minced very finely. Using fresh garlic here makes a world of difference to the aroma and taste.
Fresh Ginger: 1 tablespoon, freshly grated, for its fragrant warmth.
Black Pepper: 1-2 teaspoons of coarse, freshly cracked black pepper. This is a key flavour, so be generous!
Red Chilli Flakes: ½ teaspoon, but feel free to add more if you enjoy a spicier dish.
Sesame Oil: 1 teaspoon, stirred in right at the end for a final touch of nutty fragrance.
Water or Chicken Stock: 60ml (1/4 cup), to help create a sauce with the perfect consistency.

For Assembly and Garnish:

Bell Pepper: 1 red bell pepper, with seeds removed and cut into chunks.
Spring Onions: 2, thinly sliced, to add a fresh, sharp finish.
Toasted Sesame Seeds: To sprinkle over at the end for visual appeal and added texture.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cooking Your Chicken to Perfection

Are you ready to create something special? Just follow our straightforward steps to achieve a flawless honey pepper chicken recipe that you’ll be delighted to serve. We have designed this guide to be as clear as possible, even for complete beginners.

Prepare the Chicken: Use a paper towel to pat the chicken pieces completely dry; this step is vital for a crispy finish. In a large bowl, season the chicken with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Sprinkle over the cornflour and toss thoroughly until each piece has a thin, even coating. This velveting technique, often used in Chinese cuisine, ensures the meat stays incredibly moist. You can discover more about this simple yet effective method of tenderising meat from The Kitchn.
Mix the Sauce: While the chicken is resting, it’s time to make the sauce. In a small bowl or jug, combine the honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, black pepper, chilli flakes, and water or stock. Whisk everything together until well combined and set it aside. Preparing the sauce in advance makes the final cooking stage quick and seamless.
Cook the Chicken: Add a few tablespoons of vegetable oil to a large wok or frying pan and heat it over a medium-high temperature. When the oil begins to shimmer, carefully place the chicken pieces in the pan in a single layer. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan; work in two batches if you need to. Fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is beautifully golden-brown and cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a wire rack to allow any excess oil to drain away.
Bring It All Together: Carefully pour away most of the oil from the pan, leaving just a tablespoon behind. Place the pan back on the heat and add your chopped red bell pepper. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until it has softened slightly but still retains a pleasant crunch.
Add the Sauce: Pour your pre-mixed honey pepper sauce into the pan. Allow it to come to a gentle simmer and let it bubble away for 1-2 minutes. You’ll notice it begin to thicken and transform into a glossy glaze as the honey caramelises.
Combine and Serve: Return the crispy chicken pieces to the pan. Add the sliced spring onions and the final teaspoon of sesame oil. Gently toss everything together, ensuring the chicken is completely coated in the glorious sauce. Serve immediately with rice, and garnish with some extra spring onions and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. If you’re a fan of quick and flavourful chicken dishes, we think you’ll also love our Tasty Bang Bang Chicken Skewers Delicious Easy.

Pro Tips for the Best Sweet and Spicy Honey Pepper Chicken Every Time

Looking to really perfect your dish? We have put together our most valuable tips to guarantee your sweet and spicy chicken is a culinary triumph every single time.

Don’t Crowd the Pan: This is our number one rule for getting a wonderfully crispy texture. Frying the chicken in batches ensures each piece has enough room to brown beautifully. If you add too much at once, the chicken will steam rather than fry, leading to a soft, disappointing coating.
Adjust the Heat to Your Liking: The level of spice in this dish is entirely up to you. For a milder version, simply use less black pepper and leave out the red chilli flakes. If you’re a true spice lover, try adding a finely sliced fresh red chilli to the pan along with the garlic.
Fresh is Best: While pastes are convenient, using freshly minced garlic and grated ginger will give your sauce a far superior, more vibrant flavour. The fresh aromatics truly make the sauce come alive.
Get the Sauce Right: If you find your sauce isn’t as thick as you’d like after simmering, you can easily adjust it with a simple cornflour slurry. Just mix 1 teaspoon of cornflour with 2 teaspoons of cold water to form a smooth paste, then slowly pour it into the simmering sauce, whisking continuously until it reaches your preferred thickness.

What to Serve with Your Honey Pepper Chicken

This fantastic spicy chicken stir-fry is incredibly adaptable and works well with a whole range of side dishes. Here are a few of our favourite pairings to help you create a complete and satisfying meal:

Steamed Rice: Light and fluffy jasmine or basmati rice is the classic choice, acting as the perfect vehicle to soak up every last bit of that delicious sauce.
Noodles: For a heartier meal, try serving the chicken over a bed of fresh egg noodles or thick udon noodles.
Stir-Fried Vegetables: Boost your green intake by serving it alongside some quickly stir-fried broccoli, pak choi, or sugar snap peas.
Quinoa: For a nutritious, protein-rich alternative, quinoa makes an excellent and healthy accompaniment.

For another superb meal that goes beautifully with simple sides, why not give The Ultimate Garlic Butter Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe a go!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use chicken breast instead of thighs?

Of course! Chicken breast works well in this recipe too. Do keep in mind that breast is much leaner, so it can become dry if overcooked. We recommend cutting the pieces to a uniform size and watching them carefully as they fry to ensure they stay juicy.

How can I make this dish less spicy?

To tone down the heat, simply reduce the quantity of freshly cracked black pepper and omit the red chilli flakes altogether. The dish will still be packed with flavour from the wonderfully balanced sweet and savoury elements of the sauce.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

You can store any leftover honey pepper chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. For the best results when reheating, we suggest gently warming it in a non-stick frying pan over a low heat until piping hot. This method helps to revive some of the chicken’s crispiness. Microwaving is also an option, though the texture will be softer.

Is this recipe gluten-free?

The original recipe contains gluten because of the soy sauce. However, it is very easy to adapt. Simply substitute the standard soy sauce with tamari or another certified gluten-free soy sauce alternative. It’s also wise to double-check that your brand of cornflour is gluten-free.

Can I add other vegetables to the stir-fry?

Yes, absolutely! This is a great recipe to adapt with whatever vegetables you have on hand. Sliced onions, carrots, broccoli florets, or baby corn would all be lovely additions. Just be sure to add any harder vegetables, like carrots or broccoli, a couple of minutes before adding the bell peppers to give them enough time to cook.

Conclusion: Your New Favourite Weeknight Winner

And there we have it – your comprehensive guide to creating the most delectable sweet and spicy honey pepper chicken from scratch. This recipe is wonderful proof that you don’t need complex methods or hard-to-find ingredients to make a truly flavour-packed and impressive meal. It strikes the perfect balance between comforting and exciting, which makes it a fantastic option for any day of the week.

We really do encourage you to head to the kitchen and give this fantastic recipe a go. We are confident that it will quickly earn a permanent spot in your dinner rotation. When you make it, please let us know how you got on in the comments section below! We love to see your creations, and be sure to share this recipe with anyone else who appreciates a quick, easy, and flavourful dinner.