Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken

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Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken — Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken - Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken

If I’m walking by the food court in the mall and I can snag a free sample of sticky chicken, I do a little happy dance inside. But I don’t order it because I know it’s greasy and loaded with calories and fat that I don’t need.

Enter this homemade non-fried version of Asian sticky chicken that’s made in one skillet and ready in 15 minutes. No fuss, hassle-free, and perfect for busy weeknights. The chicken is ridiculously tender, juicy, and loaded with authentic Asian flavors. 

Love Sticky Chicken?

I’ve got an amazing spinoff of this recipe, except with broccoli, that even the pickiest of eaters adore! Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken and Broccoli is a quick and easy family favorite.

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken - Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

Sticky Chicken Ingredients

To make this sticky Asian chicken recipe, you’ll need:

  • Honey 
  • Ketchup 
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Soy sauce
  • Brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Chili garlic sauce
  • Egg
  • All-purpose flour
  • Cornstarch
  • Chicken breasts
  • Olive oil
  • Green onions
  • Sesame seeds

Try This Recipe Next!

Chili garlic sauce is readily available at almost any grocery store these days. If you like this flavor profile, check out my 15-Minute Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken recipe. 

Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken - Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

How to Make Sticky Chicken 

This recipe for sticky chicken couldn’t be simpler! Here are the basic steps:

  1. To a large skillet, add boneless skinless chicken breast pieces that have been dredged in egg, flour, and cornstarch. 
  2. Cook until the chicken is done, about 7 minutes, and then add the sauce.
  3. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until the Asian sticky sauce is thick and, well, sticky!
  4. Garnish with sesame seeds and chopped green onions before serving.

Love Extra Sauce?

As written, the recipe makes a lot of sauce and I like to drench my rice in it, but if you’re not as much of a sauce person you can cut the sauce recipe in half.

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken - Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

Recipe FAQs

Can I Make Sticky Chicken in a Crockpot? 

No, this recipe is best made in a skillet. 

Can I Use Chicken Thighs? 

I used boneless skinless chicken breasts in this sticky chicken recipe, but boneless skinless thighs can likely be substituted. 

Is Sticky Chicken Spicy?

I added 3 heaping tablespoons chili garlic sauce and the chicken and sauce had a nice kick. If you’re sensitive to spicy foods, dial that quantity back. Start with 1 tablespoon and work up from there.

Or if you don’t want any spiciness, it’s easy to omit. But in my opinion for a true better-than-takeout sticky chicken, there needs to be some spiciness.

Why is cornstarch used in Asian recipes?

Cornstarch thickens any liquids or sauces it comes into contact with. In this recipe, it helps the sauce tighten up and cling to the chicken. 

Tips for the Best Asian Sticky Sauce

Cornstarch is a kitchen magician in many regards, but there are some pitfalls. If you’re not careful you can have a gloppy mess in a hurry.

My tips for avoiding that include:

  • Cook sauce over medium to medium-high heat, but not high.
  • Stir the pan sauce nearly constantly until you get the sauce consistency just to your liking.
  • Sauces that have cornstarch in them tend to tighten up a bit more as they cool so plan accordingly.
Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken — Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 

What to Serve with Sticky Asian Chicken

Sticky chicken is best served atop a bed of steamed white, brown, or cauliflower rice. Or, pair it with one of the following side dishes for an Asian-inspired feast:

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4.60 from 107 votes

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken

By Averie Sunshine
Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this AMAZING sticky chicken at home in 15 minutes!! So EASY with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy with plenty of sticky sauce!! 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients  

Sauce

  • ½ to ⅔ cup honey
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar, or regular or rice vinegar
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup brown sugar, packed (light or dark)
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 to 4 tablespoons chili garlic sauce, to taste (I used 3 heaping tablespoons and there was a nice kick; reduce to 1 tablespoon or less if you're very sensitive to spicy foods)

Chicken

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • cup corn starch, for dredging
  • 1.25 to 1.50 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch + 2 tablespoons cold water
  • green onions, sliced thin; optional for garnishing
  • sesame seeds, optional for garnishing

Instructions 

  • Make the Sauce
  • To a medium bowl, add all the ingredients, and whisk to combine; set aside.
  • Make the Chicken
  • Add the egg to a small bowl, the flour to a separate shallow bowl, and the 1/3 cup corn starch to another shallow bowl.
  • Add the chicken to the egg bowl (I add it all at once and smoosh it around with my fingers), pick it up and transfer it to the flour bowl and coat it with flour (doesn't have to be 100% completely and perfectly coated), pick it up and transfer it to the corn starch bowl and coat it with corn starch.
  • To a large skillet, add the oil, add the chicken, and cook over medium to medium-high heat for about 7 minutes, or until the chicken is seared, lightly browned on the outside, and cooked through.
  • Reduce the heat to medium, add the sauce to the skillet, and stir to combine.
  • In a small bowl, add 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of cold waer, and stir to combine. This is called a slurry. Add the slurry to the skillet and stir to combine.
  • Stir the sauce nearly continuously for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened up as much as desired, allowing it to boil gently as your stir.
  • Optionally, evenly garnish with green onions and/or sesame seeds and serve immediately. Chicken will keep airtight in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Notes

  • Note: This makes a lot of sauce and if you don't love sauce or want extra (it's great over rice), halve the sauce recipe from what is written.

Nutrition

Serving: 1, Calories: 774kcal, Carbohydrates: 79g, Protein: 59g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 18g, Cholesterol: 191mg, Sodium: 1580mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 48g

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

More Easy Asian Chicken Recipes:

ALL MY FAVORITE CHICKEN RECIPES HERE

Better-Than-Takeout Sticky Chicken and Broccoli — Don’t call for takeout or bother with the mall food court when you can make this AMAZING restaurant-quality sticky chicken at home in minutes! A one-pan wonder that’s so EASY with the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and plenty of sticky sauce that coats every piece of moist chicken and crisp-tender broccoli!

A pot of sticky chicken with broccoli.

Chicken Chow Mein Chewy chow mein noodles, crisp-tender veggies, and juicy chicken are stir-fried in a sesame-soy sauce! It’s a SIMPLE and FAST recipe that anyone can make.

Chicken Chow Mein — Chewy chow mein noodles, crisp-tender veggies, and juicy chicken are stir-fried in a sesame-soy sauce! It’s a SIMPLE and FAST recipe that anyone can make. It's cheaper than ordering take out, your family will be impressed, and you'll love how EASY it is to prepare!

Kung Pao Chicken — An easy, BETTER-THAN-TAKEOUT recipe with juicy chicken and such a flavorful sauce!! Don’t call for takeout when you can make this HEALTHIER version at home in 20 minutes!

Healthier Orange Chicken – Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this HEALTHIER orange chicken at home in less than 10 minutes!! EASY, authentic, and so INCREDIBLE that you’ll never miss the fat and calories!!

Healthier Orange Chicken - Stop calling for takeout or going to the mall food court and make this HEALTHIER orange chicken at home in less than 10 minutes!! EASY, authentic, and so INCREDIBLE that you'll never miss the fat and calories!!

Baked Teriyaki Chicken and Rice — Chicken, rice, pineapple, and red peppers cook together in one pan for an EASY weeknight dinner that tastes like you’re in Hawaii! The homemade teriyaki sauce adds so much INCREDIBLE flavor!

Baked Teriyaki Chicken and Rice in blue baking dish

15-Minute Orange Chili Chicken and Broccoli – The orange chili sauce is spicy, tangy, and sweet all in one!! The PERFECT sauce to jazz up chicken and broccoli! A FAST and EASY dinner with great Asian FLAVOR!!

15-Minute Orange Chili Chicken and Broccoli - The orange chili sauce is spicy, tangy, and sweet all in one!! The PERFECT sauce to jazz up chicken and broccoli! A FAST and EASY dinner with great Asian FLAVOR!!

Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken — This sweet and sour chicken recipe takes just 15 minutes to make and tastes way better than takeout. Perfect for a weeknight dinner!

easy sweet and sour chicken on a white plate with white rice

15-Minute Skillet Sesame Chicken with Broccoli – Healthier sesame chicken that isn’t breaded or fried! You won’t miss the fat or calories in this fast and easy version that’s loaded with Asian-inspired flavors! You can happily skip takeout now!

15-Minute Skillet Sesame Chicken with Broccoli - HEALTHIER sesame chicken that isn't breaded or fried!! You won't miss the fat or calories in this FAST and EASY version that's loaded with Asian-inspired flavors! You can happily skip takeout now!!

Sheet Pan Ginger Orange Chicken and Vegetables – Fast, EASY, HEALTHY, and loaded with great orange ginger flavor!! A DELISH one-pan meal with zero cleanup that’s perfect for busy weeknights!!

Sheet Pan Ginger Orange Chicken and Vegetables - Fast, EASY, HEALTHY, and loaded with great orange ginger flavor!! A DELISH one-pan meal with zero cleanup that’s perfect for busy weeknights!!

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken – The easiest orange chicken ever because your slow cooker does all the work!! Super juicy, tender, and coated with a sweet-yet-tangy orange glaze that’s irresistible!!

Slow Cooker Orange Chicken - The easiest orange chicken ever because your slow cooker does all the work!! Super juicy, tender, and coated with a sweet-yet-tangy orange glaze that's irresistible!!

Better-Than-Takeout Cashew Chicken – Juicy chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and crunchy cashews coated with the best garlicky soy sauce!! Skip takeout and make your own restaurant-quality meal that’s easy, ready in 20 minutes, and healthier!!

Cashew Chicken stir fry in serving bowl

4.60 from 107 votes (78 ratings without comment)

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Recipe Rating




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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Best recipe for chicken I have also used it on shrimp. So good and easy. Going to try to use the sauce on wings next.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review, Phyllis, and I am glad it’s been such an amazing recipe for you and that it’s also worked great with shrimp and I hope the wings turn out wonderfully, too!

  2. 5 stars
    Made this last week and it was absolutely fantastic! I made a batch with chicken for my husband -he loved it. I also made and a batch with tofu for myself where I just followed the recipe and replaced chicken with tofu (no modifications). It had that consistency of tofu that I’ve been trying to replicate from my local chinese restaurant. If you cook with tofu you probably know what I mean – it always crumbles and is too soft. But this was sooo good!

  3. 5 stars
    Made this last week and it was absolutely fantastic! I made a batch with chicken for my husband -he loved it. I also made and a batch with tofu for myself where I just followed the recipe and replaced chicken with tofu (no modifications). It had that consistency of tofu that I’ve been trying to replicate from my local chinese restaurant. If you cook with tofu you probably know what I mean – it always crumbles and is too soft. But this was sooo good!

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and that is great to hear that the tofu version also came out great without modifications! And yes I know how it can be to try to replicate restaurant tofu’s texture at home – tricky at times – but glad this was great!

  4. 5 stars
    Made this last week and it was absolutely fantastic! I made a batch with chicken for my husband -he loved it. I also made and a batch with tofu for myself where I just followed the recipe and replaced tofu with chicken (no modifications). It had that consistency of tofu that I’ve been trying to replicate from my local chinese restaurant. If you cook with tofu you probably know what I mean – it always crumbles and is too soft. But this was sooo good!

  5. 5 stars
    I had to use Siracha instead of that chilli stuff and it was super good and quick. Made brown rice in the instant pot at the same time, with some frozen mixed vegetables. Dinner in less than 30 min and my boyfriend and kid loved it. Thanks for the rad recipe!

  6. 5 stars
    I had to use Siracha instead of that chilli stuff and it was super good and quick. Made brown rice in the instant pot at the same time, with some frozen mixed vegetables. Dinner in less than 30 min and my boyfriend and kid loved it. Thanks for the rad recipe!

  7. 5 stars
    Hi, OMG!!! This is sooo good. First, I am not a fan of sweet and meat together, but my husband is. I had this recipe on my to do list, but I was always pushing it back. I finally said OK, I’m going to make this for my husband last night and I made myself a plain old grilled chicken breast. Well… we were literally fighting for the chicken pieces. Even with all that sugar, when you add the cider vinegar and the chili sauce (I used 1 Tbs of Sriracha) the sweet, tangy, and spicy balance it all out. Oh, and my grilled chicken breast? We sliced it for a sandwich today. 10 Stars!

  8. 5 stars
    Hi, OMG!!! This is sooo good. First, I am not a fan of sweet and meat together, but my husband is. I had this recipe on my to do list, but I was always pushing it back. I finally said OK, I’m going to make this for my husband last night and I made myself a plain old grilled chicken breast. Well… we were literally fighting for the chicken pieces. Even with all that sugar, when you add the cider vinegar and the chili sauce (I used 1 Tbs of Sriracha) the sweet, tangy, and spicy balance it all out. Oh, and my grilled chicken breast? We sliced it for a sandwich today. 10 Stars!

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that this finally made it onto your to-make list and that you guys were fighting over the last of it, and the fact you don’t even like the sweet + meat combo to begin with, a testament to the recipe. Thanks for the great comment and glad you loved this!

  9. 5 stars
    I made this for my daughter and she went wild over it.  Asked for it again the next week.  Easy to make and simply delicious.

  10. 5 stars
    My husband and I loved this recipe. The flavor was wonderful! I served it over linguine as my DH is not fond of rice. However it was my mistake that even though we love sambal ooelek I added the 4 T. and agreed that the 3 T. would be sufficient. Thank you so much for this delicious chicken recipe.

  11. 5 stars
    My husband and I loved this recipe. The flavor was wonderful! I served it over linguine as my DH is not fond of rice. However it was my mistake that even though we love sambal ooelek I added the 4 T. and agreed that the 3 T. would be sufficient. Thank you so much for this delicious chicken recipe.

  12. 5 stars
    I made the sauce as described with a little more than 3 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce. Just the right amount of kick. Served over rice noodles with green beans. It may be a bit sweet for some but we loved it.

    1. Thanks for the 5 star review and glad that it’s a hit in your house and looks just like my photos!