Spicy Dragon Chicken Recipe: Fiery & Fun Asian Classic

Sinking your teeth into a dragon chicken that bursts with vibrant, bold flavors from exotic spices.

This incredible dish blends traditional cooking techniques with modern culinary creativity.

Unexpected ingredients dance together in a harmonious symphony of taste and texture.

Fiery seasonings bring an exciting twist to classic poultry preparations.

Each bite promises a journey through rich, complex flavor profiles that awaken your senses.

Crispy exterior and succulent meat make this recipe a standout choice for adventurous home cooks.

Jump into this culinary experience and impress everyone at your next meal.

What Makes Dragon Chicken So Bold and Good

• Flavor Explosion: Packed with a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and savory notes that dance on your taste buds, this dragon chicken delivers an irresistible flavor profile that keeps you coming back for more.
• Quick and Easy Weeknight Wonder: Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is a lifesaver for busy home cooks who want a restaurant-quality meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Crispy Meets Saucy Perfection: The golden-fried chicken gets a delicious coating of rich, glossy sauce, creating an incredible texture contrast that makes every bite exciting and satisfying.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Works brilliantly as a main dish for family dinners, party appetizers, or a delicious meal prep option that appeals to both kids and adults with its bold, crowd-pleasing flavors.

Ingredients That Go Into Dragon Chicken

• Chicken Strips: Tender meat that forms the core of the dish, best when fresh and boneless.

• Cornflour, All-Purpose Flour: Create crispy coating for chicken.
• Black Pepper, Salt: Add essential seasoning and enhance overall flavor.

• Soy Sauce: Provides deep umami and saltiness, choose low-sodium for health-conscious options.
• Red Chili Sauce: Adds spicy kick, adjust according to heat preference.
• Tomato Ketchup: Brings sweet and tangy base to sauce.
• Honey or Sugar: Balances spice and adds subtle sweetness.
• Vinegar: Provides slight acidic touch to round out flavors.

• Garlic, Ginger: Fundamental flavor builders with robust, warm notes.
• Dried Red Chilies: Optional heat enhancer.
• Onions, Bell Pepper: Add texture and fresh vegetable dimension.

• Green Onions, Toasted Sesame Seeds: Fresh, crunchy finish with nutty undertones.

How to Cook Spicy Dragon Chicken

Step 1: Massage Chicken with Flavor

• Chicken strips
• Soy sauce
• Cornflour
• All-purpose flour
• Black pepper
• Salt

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl. Gently massage the seasonings into the chicken strips, ensuring every piece gets coated. Let the flavors mingle and settle for a short break.

Step 2: Fry to Golden Perfection

Heat a pan or wok with oil over medium temperature. Carefully slide in the marinated chicken strips, cooking them in small batches. Watch for a beautiful golden-brown color and crispy exterior. Transfer the fried pieces onto paper towels to drain excess oil.

Step 3: Build Aromatic Base

• Minced garlic
• Ginger
• Dried red chilies

Saute these ingredients until they release their tantalizing aroma. Add sliced onions and bell peppers, stirring quickly to keep them vibrant and slightly crunchy.

Step 4: Create Mouthwatering Sauce

• Soy sauce
• Red chili sauce
• Tomato ketchup
• Honey
• Vinegar

Stir everything together, allowing the sauce to bubble and thicken slightly.

Step 5: Marry Chicken with Sauce

Gently fold the crispy chicken strips into the simmering sauce. Ensure each piece gets completely coated with the glossy, spicy mixture. Let them dance together for a minute to blend flavors.

Step 6: Garnish and Serve

Sprinkle chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds on top. Plate alongside steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy the explosive flavors of this Dragon Chicken!

Dragon Chicken Cooking Tips for Extra Flavor

• Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Let chicken absorb marinade ingredients thoroughly for 15-30 minutes to enhance taste and tenderness, ensuring every bite is packed with delicious seasoning.
• Control Oil Temperature: Maintain medium heat while frying chicken to achieve golden, crispy exterior without burning or making the meat greasy, using a thermometer for precision.
• Balance Sauce Consistency: Adjust sauce thickness by simmering longer or adding small amounts of water, creating a perfect coating that clings beautifully to chicken strips.
• Customize Spice Levels: Modify dried red chili quantity to suit personal heat preferences, adding more for extra kick or reducing for milder palates.
• Make It Gluten-Free: Substitute all-purpose flour with rice flour or cornstarch, and use tamari instead of regular soy sauce to create a celiac-friendly version of this delectable dish.

How to Keep Dragon Chicken Tasting Great

• Refrigeration: Store leftover Dragon Chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezing: Carefully transfer cooled chicken to a freezer-safe container, sealing tightly to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for maximum 2 months, maintaining best quality and taste.
• Reheating Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F, spread chicken on a baking sheet, cover with foil to prevent drying, and warm for 10-15 minutes until heated thoroughly.
• Microwave Method: Place chicken on a microwave-safe plate, sprinkle few drops of water to retain moisture, and reheat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.

Dishes to Serve with Dragon Chicken

• Spice Up with Sichuan Beer: Pair this fiery Dragon Chicken with a crisp Sichuan-style lager like Tsingtao, which cuts through the spicy sauce and refreshes the palate with its light, clean finish.
• Cool Down with Riesling: Choose a slightly sweet German Riesling to balance the dish's heat. Its subtle fruitiness and low alcohol content complement the dragon chicken's bold flavors without overwhelming the delicate chicken.
• Match with Jasmine Rice: Serve the Dragon Chicken over fluffy jasmine rice, which absorbs the rich, tangy sauce perfectly. The rice's mild, aromatic profile provides a smooth backdrop for the chicken's vibrant taste.
• Enhance with Pickled Vegetables: Add a side of quick-pickled cucumber or daikon radish to introduce a zesty, crunchy element that cuts through the chicken's richness and adds textural contrast.

Tasty Ways to Change Up Dragon Chicken

• Spicy Fusion Chicken: Replace dried red chilies with fresh jalapeños or habaneros for an intense heat kick. Add a splash of sriracha sauce to amplify the spice level and create a more complex flavor profile.
• Coconut Creamy Variation: Incorporate coconut milk into the sauce for a rich, creamy texture. Swap honey with coconut sugar and add a pinch of ground turmeric for a subtle golden color and earthy undertone.
• Citrus Infusion Chicken: Introduce fresh orange or lime zest to the marinade for a bright, tangy dimension. Replace vinegar with fresh citrus juice and sprinkle some orange or lime segments over the final dish for added freshness.
• Herb-Packed Dragon Chicken: Mix fresh chopped cilantro and Thai basil into the sauce. Include finely chopped lemongrass during the sautéing stage to provide an authentic Southeast Asian herb complexity.

FAQs About Making Dragon Chicken

• What makes Dragon Chicken different from other chicken dishes?

Dragon Chicken stands out with its crispy fried chicken pieces coated in a tangy, sweet, and slightly spicy sauce. The unique combination of soy sauce, chili sauce, and honey creates a flavor profile that’s both complex and addictive.

• Is Dragon Chicken a traditional Chinese recipe?

Actually, Dragon Chicken is more of an Indo-Chinese fusion dish. It combines Chinese cooking techniques with Indian flavor preferences, making it a popular restaurant-style recipe that’s loved across many Asian countries.

• Can I make Dragon Chicken less spicy?

Absolutely! Simply reduce or eliminate the dried red chilies and adjust the amount of red chili sauce to suit your heat tolerance. You can also remove the seeds from the chilies to lower the spice level while maintaining the dish’s signature flavor.

• What are the key ingredients that give Dragon Chicken its signature taste?

The key flavor makers are soy sauce, which provides umami, red chili sauce for heat, tomato ketchup for tanginess, and honey for sweetness. These ingredients create a perfect balance of flavors that make Dragon Chicken irresistibly delicious.

Dragon Chicken Recipe

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4.5 from 28 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Spicy Chinese dragon chicken brings fiery flavors to dinner tables with its bold marinade and crispy texture. Sizzling with aromatic spices and tender meat, this dish offers an exciting culinary journey you won’t forget.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 500 grams (17.6 ounces) boneless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

Flour and Seasonings:

• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• Salt, to taste

Marinade and Sauce Liquids:

• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon red chili sauce or sriracha
• 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
• 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• Oil, for frying

Additional Ingredients:

• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 1 bell pepper, thinly sliced (red or green)
• 23 dried red chilies (optional, for extra heat)
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, minced

Garnish:

• 2 green onions, chopped
• Toasted sesame seeds (optional)

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Instructions

1. Transform chicken strips into a flavor-packed marinade by blending soy sauce, cornflour, all-purpose flour, black pepper, and salt. Thoroughly coat each piece, allowing ingredients to infuse for a quarter-hour.
2. Ignite a pan with medium heat and introduce oil. Carefully fry marinated chicken in successive batches, achieving a golden, crisp exterior. Transfer sizzling pieces onto absorbent paper towels.
3. Without cleansing the pan, retain a tablespoon of aromatic oil. Introduce minced garlic, ginger, and optional dried red chilies, releasing their intense fragrance. Rapidly incorporate sliced onions and bell peppers, sautéing until edges soften and colors brighten.
4. Elevate the culinary experience by introducing a symphony of sauces – soy sauce, red chili sauce, tomato ketchup, honey, and vinegar. Whisk energetically, allowing the mixture to simmer and thicken into a glossy, tantalizing glaze.
5. Reunite crispy chicken strips with the vibrant sauce, gently tossing to ensure each morsel is luxuriously coated. Allow flavors to harmonize through a brief, gentle cooking phase.
6. Present the dragon chicken adorned with freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Accompany with steamed rice or delicate noodles for a complete, mouthwatering meal.

Notes

• Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by letting it sit in the mixture for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator, allowing the seasonings to penetrate deeply.
• Control the spice level by adjusting the amount of dried red chilies or using mild chili sauce for a less intense heat profile.
• Create a gluten-free version by substituting all-purpose flour with rice flour or cornstarch, ensuring crispy chicken without wheat-based ingredients.
• Enhance the dish’s nutrition by using low-sodium soy sauce and adding extra vegetables like mushrooms or zucchini during the stir-fry stage for more texture and vitamins.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg