Sticky chicken is where its at!! When I was first out of college, I used to order from this take-out chicken place that would make crispy chicken bites tossed in any sauce you wanted. They were crispy and sticky and spicy and I LOVED it! But after going gluten free I couldnt order from there anymore since the crispy chicken was made with flour. I also couldnt order any kind of crispy chicken in a sauce from a chinese or Japanese take-out place either because the sauces werent gluten free. Cue making sticky chicken at home!
I started making this sticky chicken recipe at home to make sure it was a 100% safe gluten free dinner recipe. In addition this sticky chicken is a dairy free recipe as well as a nut free recipe.
This is a chicken dish your whole family will love. It became a family favorite in my house the very first time I made it, just like my gluten free stuffed poblano peppers without rice!
Chicken is definately my default go-to protein for easy weeknight chicken dinners! I love an easy meal made with chicken like this bbq chicken salad and this easy chicken meatball skillet!
why you’ll love this allergy friendly recipe
- If you love take-out crispy sesame chicken or teriyaki chicken you’ll love this at home sticky chicken recipe! In case you didn’t know, most asian or chinese dishes served at restaurants use soy sauce, which is not gluten free! So to me, making an asian inspired dish at home is 100x safer if you are gluten free.
- It only takes a little bit of time! You can make it in less time than it would take to get take-out delivered.
- My favorite thing about this easy weeknight dinner is that it takes only 30 minutes to make and minimal ingredients.
- This tangy sauce is packed with spicy and sweet asian flavors. No more boring gluten free meals that taste like cardboard!
ingredients & substitutions
Honey hot sauce: This adds sweetness and spice to the sticky chicken. Honestly, you can use any brand of hot sauce, but I like the honey hot sauce because it adds sweetness along with the heat. So don’t stress is you only have standard hot sauce. This meal will still be really good.
Honey: This adds sweetness and a bit of floral flavor. You can use any type of honey you like. I also like to use maple syrup, brown sugar or sweet chili sauce in this sticky sauce instead of honey depending on what I have in the pantry.
Gluten Free Soy sauce: Gluten free soy sauce, coconut aminos or tamari adds the same flavor as a standard soy sauce. I use them all interchangeably.
White wine vinegar: This adds a bit of acidity and tang to the sticky chicken. You can use apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar instead.
Red pepper flakes: This adds heat. Start with less and add more to taste according to how spicy you like it. You can even leave it out completely if you don’t like spice.
Cornstarch: A cornstarch slurry thickens the sauce. I always thought slurry was a funny word but what it actually does is really helpful: it thickens the sauce. You can leave it out if you don’t mind a thinner sauce. If you don’t have cornstarch, you can use a mix of gluten free flour and water instead (mix 1 teaspoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of water).
Chicken: Any juicy chicken works perfect here! I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. You can also use boneless chicken thighs or boneless skinless chicken thighs, gluten free chicken tenders, any gluten free chicken strips or already cooked chicken. You can also use this sauce on chicken wings or chicken drumsticks but skip serving it over rice! All these options can be found at your local grocery store.
taste & texture
This easy chicken recipe is a sweet and spicy combination. The crispy chicken gets coated in a sauce that’s both sweet from the honey and spicy from the hot sauce. Thats my favorite part of this meal. The red pepper flakes let you control how spicy you want it. The sauce is also a bit tangy from the vinegar and savory from the soy sauce. This sticky chicken is a delicious balance of sweet and spicy flavors!
directions
Step 1
In a bowl, combine the sticky chicken sauce ingredients: honey hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, white wine Vinegar, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. Mix together.
Step 2
In a frying pan or large skillet, add the butter or oil and garlic. Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes to brown the garlic.
Step 3
Add in the sauce mixture. Cook on medium heat for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce is warm and thick.
Step 4
Cut chicken into 1″ cubes. Coat your chicken pieces in cornstarch (about 1 tablespoon per pound of chicken) and air fry in a single layer according to your air fryer’s instructions until golden brown and cooked through (usually around 165°F internal temperature. Make sure to check using an instant read thermometer).
Step 5
Next, add in your chicken to the sauce. Warm the chicken and sauce together. Serve the sticky chicken over rice.
expert tips & tricks
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the pan with the garlic. I like to add sliced and sautéed peppers and onions.
- Serve the sticky chicken over rice of choice. Choose white rice or jasmine rice for a fluffy base. Choose brown rice for a low carb option. I like to use frozen or microwavable rice to save time.
- You can make the chicken pieces on baking sheets or a sheet pan in the oven, an airy fryer or in a frying pan. Cooking time will vary. You can even turn this into a slow cooker version by making chicken in the slow cooker, cooking with the sauce on low for 2-3 hours. Make extra sauce or add extra water to make sure you have enough liquid in the slow cooker. Cooking time will vary.
- Spray the cornstarch coated chicken with olive oil spray or brush with sesame oil for a crispier coating. The crispy coating is my favorite part of this meal.
- Add any extra seasoning to the sticky chicken to enhance the flavors. You can add fresh ginger, sesame seeds, green onions, garlic powder or more minced garlic. I mean the more garlic the better, right!?
- Pair this sticky asian chicken recipe with vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, onions or broccoli.
recipe variations
- To make sticky chicken recipe a low carb recipe, I like to use brown rice or cauliflower rice. Skip the cornstarch coating on the chicken.
- To make this vegan, I like to use vegan hot sauce, substitute the honey with maple syrup or agave nectar. Replace the chicken with crispy tofu, cauliflower or tempeh.
serving, storing and meal prepping
I serve my honey hot chicken over rice and enjoy! For sticky chicken leftovers, let the chicken cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Freeze leftovers in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a pan on the stove or in the microwave until warmed through.
To meal prep sticky chicken, I cook extra chicken and prepare the sauce ahead of time. Then I portion the chicken and sauce into separate containers for individual meals. I keep refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat as needed.
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Easy Sticky Chicken Recipe (Gluten Free)
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken cut into 1" pieces
- 1 tablespoon honey hot sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium gluten-free soy sauce coconut aminos or tamari
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1-2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon butter or oil
- 2 cups white rice optional for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the sticky chicken sauce ingredients: honey hot sauce, honey, soy sauce, white wine Vinegar, red pepper flakes and cornstarch. Mix together.
- In a frying pan or large skillet, add the butter and garlic. Cook on medium heat for 3-4 minutes to brown the garlic.
- Add in the sauce mixture. Cook on medium heat for another 3-4 minutes until the sauce is warm and thick.
- Cut chicken into 1″ cubes. Coat your chicken pieces in cornstarch (about 1 tablespoon per pound of chicken) and air fry in a single layer according to your air fryer’s instructions until golden brown and cooked through (usually around 165°F internal temperature. Make sure to check using an instant read thermometer).
- Next, add in your chicken to the sauce. Warm the chicken and sauce together. Serve the sticky chicken over rice.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, mix together a 1/2 tbsp cornstarch and 1 tbsp of water in a small bowl. Add to the pan while the sauce is simmering.
- Feel free to add other vegetables to the pan with the garlic, such as sliced peppers or onions.
- Serve the sticky chicken over rice of choice. Choose white rice or jasmine rice for a fluffy base. Choose brown rice for a low carb option.
- You can make the chicken pieces on baking sheets or a sheet pan in the oven, an airy fryer or in a frying pan. Cooking time will vary. You can even turn this into a slow cooker version by making chicken in the slow cooker, cooking with the sauce on low for 2-3 hours. Make extra sauce or add extra water to make sure you have enough liquid in the slow cooker. Cooking time will vary.
- Spray the cornstarch coated chicken with olive oil spray or brush with sesame oil for a crispier coating.
- Add any extra seasoning to the sticky chicken to enhance the flavors. You can add fresh ginger, sesame seeds, green onions, garlic powder or more minced garlic.
- Pair this sticky asian chicken recipe with vegetables like green beans, bell peppers, onions or broccoli.
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