Sweet chili sauce chicken is a deliciously creamy sauce that combines tender on the inside and crispy on the outside chicken thighs, cream cheese, bold spices, and sweet chili sauce to create a dinner that will have everyone coming back for more.
Chicken is one of my favorite proteins for dinner recipes. It's affordable, versatile, and healthy. I love all kinds of chicken recipes, but zesty, bold chicken recipes are my favorites. That's why this sweet chili sauce chicken makes so many appearances on my dinner table.
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Why You'll Love This Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Recipe
- It uses just a handful of simple ingredients.
- It's an easy recipe you can make in a flash.
- It's budget-friendly.
- It's a zesty meal with bold flavors but not too much heat.
Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Video
Ingredients
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You'll only need a few simple, budget-friendly ingredients to make this creamy, slightly spicy chicken dish.
- Springer Mountain Farms chicken thighs
- Garlic powder
- Sweet paprika
- Salt
- Oregano
- Costabile Garlic olive oil (Use Code: 15GoldenGK for 15% off)
- Tomato paste
- Gluten free sweet chili sauce
- Mini sweet red peppers - diced small
- Beef broth
- Water
- Cream cheese
- Cold water and cornstarch (optional to thicken the sauce)
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.
Equipment
Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken Variations
- I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs for this sweet chili chicken, however you can certainly use chicken breast or chicken tenders when making this recipe. Just adjust the cooking time depending on which cut of chicken is being used.
- Try using chicken or beef meatballs with this sauce.
- Add some extra flavor by adding things like fresh ginger or a little heat with siracha or red pepper flakes.
- Omit the cream cheese and use double the amount of cornstarch slurry for a dairy-free version of this recipe.
- Increase your nutrients by adding vegetables like broccoli, zucchini, or asparagus to this easy sweet chili chicken.
If you love the bold but not too spicy flavor of sweet chili in recipes, then you'll enjoy these air fryer sweet chili honey garlic chicken skewers.
How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken
This delicious, zesty chicken recipe is perfect for even busy weeknights because it comes together so quickly and easily. You'll be in and out of the kitchen in just a few minutes.
1: Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Then, slice it into small cubes roughly the same size.
2: In a medium bowl, mix the chicken with the paprika, salt, garlic powder, and oregano until evenly coated.
3: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
4: Add the diced sweet peppers and cook for 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
5: Add the tomato paste and sweet chili sauce and cook for 2 minutes. Then, add the water, beef stock, and cream cheese.
6: Reduce the heat to medium-low, stirring continuously to loosen the cream cheese, and cook until thickened.
7: For a thicker sauce, make a slurry of 3 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch and add it to the chicken. Cook until thickened.
Hint
You only need to cook the chicken for about 2 minutes per side. It will continue to cook as you add other ingredients and be perfectly done by the time the dish is complete.
Storage
Refrigerate this sweet chili sauce chicken as soon as it's cooled down for freshness, flavor, and food safety. You can freeze this dish for longer storage, as well.
To reheat the chicken, defrost it if you've frozen it. Then, add it to a saucepan over medium-low heat and cook until heated through.
Refrigerator: Store for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible for a month.
What to Serve with Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken
Serve this chicken over rice or pasta, and pair it with your favorite vegetables for a delicious, complete meal.
Tips
- If you are gluten free, be sure you buy sweet chili sauce specifically labeled gluten free.
- Keep the heat at medium when cooking the chicken so the outside cooks and the spices toast without burning.
- You only need to cook the chicken for about 2 minutes per side. The rest of the cooking process will cook it to perfection.
- If you choose to add hot peppers of any kind to this dish, wash your hands thoroughly after handling them, and NEVER touch your face.
FAQ
No. This chicken has a very mild heat that even kids won't be bothered by. That's because sweet chili sauce is only mildly warm, not hot. It's more sweet than anything.
Sweet chili sauce is a condiment made with red chilis, rice wine vinegar, and a sweetening agent like fruit, sugar, or honey. It may also be made with fish sauce or garlic.
This recipe is moderately healthy. Although it's made with cream cheese, it's also full of protein and vegetables. Also, studies have shown that moderate consumption of full-fat dairy products can actually be beneficial.
More Chicken Recipes
If you love chicken dishes, I think you'll enjoy these tasty recipes.
Related
📖 Recipe
Sweet Chili Sauce Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 pound Springer Mountain Farms chicken thighs boneless, skinless
- 1 ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ tablespoon sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon garlic olive oil
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 5 tablespoon gluten free sweet chili sauce
- 4 mini sweet red peppers diced small
- ¾ cup beef broth
- ¾ cup water
- 5 oz cream cheese
Optional for Thickening the Sauce
- 3 tablespoon cold water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Wash the chicken and pat it dry. Then, slice it into small cubes roughly the same size.
- Mix the chicken with the paprika, salt, garlic powder, and oregano in a medium bowl until evenly coated.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, add the chicken and cook for 2 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
- Add the diced sweet peppers and cook for 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Add the tomato paste and sweet chili sauce and cook for 2 minutes. Then, add the water, beef, stock, and cream cheese.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, stirring continuously to loosen the cream cheese, and cook until thickened.
- For a thicker sauce, make a slurry of 3 tablespoons of water and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch, add it to the chicken, and cook until thickened.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- To reheat, add the chicken to a saucepan and cook on medium-low until heated through.
- When rinsing chicken, hold it as close to the bottom of the sink as possible and use a gentle stream of water to avoid splashing.
- Wash the sink and counters immediately after rinsing the chicken.
- Cook your chicken for the time specified in the recipe. It finishes cooking as the rest of dish cooks.
Amy Liu Dong says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!