This Indo-Chinese favourite is a must-try for lovers of crispy fried chicken and spicy chilli sauces. With its golden, crunchy coating, sticky-sweet chilli glaze, and burst of garlic and green onion, crispy chilli chicken is perfect for dinner, parties, or late-night cravings.
Whether you serve it as an appetiser or main dish, it’s guaranteed to impress — especially when made fresh at home with better ingredients and just the right balance of flavour.
In a medium bowl, combine the chicken pieces with: 1 egg, 1 tbsp soy sauce, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Mix well so each piece is coated with the marinade.
Let it sit for 10–15 minutes while you prepare the coating and sauce ingredients. In a shallow dish or bowl, mix: ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup cornstarch. Toss the marinated chicken into the flour mixture.
Coat each piece thoroughly, pressing gently to adhere the coating. Shake off excess. For even crispier results, you can double-coat the chicken: dip in egg again and re-coat in flour. Heat enough oil in a deep pan or wok to submerge the chicken (about 2–3 inches deep).
Once the oil reaches 170–180°C (340–360°F), carefully drop in the coated chicken pieces in batches. Fry for 4–6 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels or a wire rack.
Optional: For extra-crispy chicken, refry the pieces for 1–2 minutes after cooling. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a clean wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add: chopped garlic, ginger. green chillies, spring onion whites. Stir-fry for 30–60 seconds, until fragrant but not browned.
Add sliced onions and bell peppers, and stir-fry for 2–3 minutes until slightly soft but still crisp. In a small bowl, mix: 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp chilli sauce, 1 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp vinegar, 1 tsp sugar and ¼ cup water. Pour this mixture into the wok with the vegetables. Stir and simmer for 1 minute.
Optional: For a thicker sauce, stir in 1 tsp cornstarch slurry and cook for 30–60 seconds until glossy and thickened. Add the crispy fried chicken to the wok. Toss everything on high heat for 1–2 minutes, until all chicken pieces are coated and the sauce clings beautifully.
Sprinkle spring onion greens on top and give it one last toss. Serve immediately for the best texture.\ Garnish with extra sliced chillies, spring onion greens, or toasted sesame seeds for presentation.
Serving Suggestions
- Crispy Chilli Chicken pairs perfectly with:
- Egg or vegetable fried rice
- Garlic noodles
- Hakka noodles
- Plain steamed rice or jasmine rice
Storage and Reheating:
Short-Term Storage:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating;
- Best reheated in an air fryer or oven to revive crispiness (180°C/350°F for 8–10 minutes).
- Avoid microwaving — it makes the chicken soggy.
Variations and Customisations:
Gravy Version: Double the sauce ingredients and add a bit more cornstarch slurry for a saucier version, great with rice.
Baked/Air-Fried Version: Coat chicken in oil and bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway. Or air-fry at 190°C (375°F) for 15–18 minutes.
Vegetarian Version: Substitute chicken with crispy cauliflower florets or tofu cubes.
Crispy Chilli Chicken is the perfect balance of crispy texture, fiery spice, and savoury-sweet glaze — a dish that delivers restaurant-style flavour right in your own kitchen.
Once you master the simple process of frying and saucing, you’ll be making this on repeat.
Ingredients;
For the Chicken:
- 500g (1.1 lb) boneless chicken thighs or breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ cup (30g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (30g) cornstarch or rice flour (for extra crispiness)
- Oil for deep frying (vegetable or peanut oil recommended)
For the Sauce:
- 1 tbsp oil (you can reuse oil from frying)]
- 4–5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, finely chopped
- 2–3 green chillies, sliced (adjust to heat preference)
- 1 small red onion, sliced thinly
- 1 small green or red bell pepper, sliced or cubed
- 2 spring onions, chopped (whites and greens separated)
For the Sauce Mixture:
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (light or all-purpose)
- 1 tbsp red chilli sauce (like Sriracha or a Desi chilli garlic sauce)
- 1 tbsp tomato ketchup
- 1 tbsp vinegar (white vinegar or rice vinegar)
- 1 tsp sugar (balances the heat)
- ¼ cup water (to loosen the sauce)
Optional Slurry (for thicker sauce):
- 1 tsp cornstarch + 2 tbsp water, mixed until smooth