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Jalapeño Chicken | The Recipe Critic

by California Digital News
by California Digital News


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Delicious Jalapeño Chicken will become an instant favorite with the very first bite. Tender chicken pieces are cooked with jalapeños and then coated in a sticky, sweet, and spicy sauce. Serve over rice for an easy meal. You’ll be craving it on repeat!

Overhead shot of plated jalapeño chicken served over rice. Overhead shot of plated jalapeño chicken served over rice.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • So Much Flavor: Imagine perfectly cooked tender chicken coated with the most incredibly spiced sauce. This meal is full of flavor you’ll want to share with everyone.
  • Simple: The ingredient list might seem long, but most of the ingredients are pantry staples. Plus, this meal comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
  • Versatile: Feel free to customize this jalapeño chicken to fit your taste preferences and use the ingredients you have available.

Ingredients for Making Jalapeño Chicken

If you love spicy food, then this Asian-inspired jalapeño chicken is for you! The recipe starts with breaded pieces of chicken and sauteed with jalapeño slices, diced onion, and minced garlic. Then, add the sweet, savory, spicy sauce and cook everything together until it’s warm and flavorful. Everyone will be begging for seconds! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

Chicken

  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts: Cut these into cubes that are similar in size so that they cook evenly. 
  • Breading: A mix of cornstarch and all-purpose flour coats the chicken so that it’s crispy on the outside.
  • Salt and Pepper: To flavor the chicken.
  • Vegetable Oil: This is a great oil for cooking the chicken and veggies.
  • Onion: Diced and sautéed to provide the recipe with a complex depth of flavor.
  • Jalapeños: Sliced and sautéed with the chicken to release their heat and flavor the dish.
  • Garlic: Freshly minced garlic infuses the meal with a wonderful savory flavor!
Overhead shot of labeled chicken ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled chicken ingredients.

Sauce

  • Chicken Broth: Creates the perfect base for the sauce while providing savory flavor.
  • Soy Sauce: Adds major savory, salty flavor to the sauce. Use low-sodium if desired.
  • Shaoxing Wine: This is a common rice wine used in Chinese cooking. It has a slightly sweet and briny flavor. You can sub with sherry wine, if you’d like.
  • Brown Sugar: Balances out the spicy and savory flavors with a hint of sweet.
  • Ground Ginger: Adds a peppery spice and sweetness.
  • Jalapeño: Gives an extra kick of heat to the sauce.
  • Cornstarch: Used to thicken the sauce.
  • Rice: Try serving the chicken over my perfect instant pot white rice.
Overhead shot of labeled sauce ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled sauce ingredients.

How to Make Jalapeño Chicken

Get ready for a huge punch of flavor with this jalapeño chicken recipe! It’s a breeze to make, uses simple ingredients, and is beyond delicious! I love how the chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Then, it’s drenched in the sauce, which really takes it to the next level!

  1. Make the Sauce: Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper.
  2. Bread the Chicken: Dice the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Toss the cubed chicken into the cornstarch and flour mixture until every piece is coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
  3. Cook: Carefully place the breaded chicken into the skillet. Cook the chicken, stirring continuously, until it has all been seared evenly, about 5 minutes.
  4. Sauté the Veggies: Add in the onion and jalapeños, and continue to sauté until tender and the chicken is browned. Add in the garlic and sauté for another minute.
  5. Add the Sauce: Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.
  6. Serve: Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh over rice. Enjoy!
Overhead shot of a large glass bowl with flour mixture in it, and a small glass bowl with the sauce mixture in it. Overhead shot of a large glass bowl with flour mixture in it, and a small glass bowl with the sauce mixture in it.
Overhead shot of cubed chicken being tossed in the flour mixture. Overhead shot of cubed chicken being tossed in the flour mixture.
Angle shot of the chicken being cooked in a skillet on the stove top. Angle shot of the chicken being cooked in a skillet on the stove top.
Angle shot of chicken jalapeños and onions in a skillet. Angle shot of chicken jalapeños and onions in a skillet.
Angle shot of browned chicken, cooked jalapeños, garlic and onions with sauce poured over the top. Angle shot of browned chicken, cooked jalapeños, garlic and onions with sauce poured over the top.
Overhead shot of cooked jalapeño chicken in a skillet.Overhead shot of cooked jalapeño chicken in a skillet.

Tips and Variations

Even though this recipe is easy to follow, here are some tips to make it perfect for you!

  • Chicken Thighs: Feel free to swap the chicken breasts for boneless chicken thighs for juicer chicken. 
  • Soy Allergy: If you have a soy allergy, then use tamari or coconut aminos to replace the soy sauce
  • Reduce the Heat: Remove the seeds from your jalapeños to reduce the heat slightly. But remember, this will be a spicy dish either way.
  • Add Oil: You may need to add more oil after cooking the chicken before adding the jalapeños and onions.

Close up shot of jalapeño chicken with a wooden serving spoon in a skillet. Close up shot of jalapeño chicken with a wooden serving spoon in a skillet.

Storing Leftover Jalapeño Chicken

Leftover jalapeño chicken stores well and is great for quick lunches and dinners over the next few days! Transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Close up shot of someone using chopsticks to get a bite of the plated jalapeño chicken. Close up shot of someone using chopsticks to get a bite of the plated jalapeño chicken.

More Delicious Chicken Recipes

No boring chicken recipes around here! We have tons of flavorful ways to serve a protein-packed meal. Here are a few of my family’s favorites. They are all so easy and tasty!

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  • Mix the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, all-purpose flour, salt, and pepper.

  • Dice the chicken breast into 1-inch cubes. Toss the cubed chicken into the cornstarch and flour mixture until coated. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.

  • Carefully place the breaded chicken in the skillet. Cook the chicken, stirring continuously, until seared evenly, about 5 minutes.

  • Add the onion and jalapeños, and continue to saute everything together until tender and the chicken is browned. Add in the garlic and saute for another minute.

  • Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken and vegetables, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook until the sauce thickens and coats everything evenly.

  • Remove the chicken from heat and serve fresh over rice.

This is a spicy recipe, to reduce some of the heat you can remove the seeds from the jalapeños before using them. 

Calories: 515kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 41gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 2515mgPotassium: 798mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 167IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.





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