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These Sweet Chili Chicken Bites are the perfect quick solution for a delicious party snack. The sweetness from the honey and heat from the chili paste make for a mouth watering treat. The small bite size snack is perfectly served with a toothpick as an appetizer or over rice for dinner. If you like sweet and spicy, this recipe is for you. Fast and easy to make, let me show you how.
If you are looking for something a little more savory, try my garlic steak bites. Different proteins, all little snackable bites to be enjoyed by a crowd.
Table of Contents
- Ingredients list for the sweet chili chicken bites.
- Step 1: How to prepare the sweet chilli chicken bites
- Recipe Tip
- Step 2: How to make the sweet chili sauce
- Recipe Tip
- Step 3: Best grill to make the sweet chili chicken bites
- Recipe Tip
- Frequently Asked Questions:
- Flavorful Chicken Recipe Ideas:
- Sweet Chili Chicken Bites Recipe
Ingredients list for the sweet chili chicken bites.
Chicken: I used chicken breast and diced it into small cubes. For more flavor and fattiness, use chicken thighs or cube up a pork tenderloin.
Rice vinegar: a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a tangy acidity adding brightness to the dish.
Honey: adds the sweet layer to the sweet chili sauce.
Sambal chili paste: chunky chili paste made with fresh chilies for the sauce. If you cannot find this paste, a great substitute is sriracha or chili flakes.
Water: to help the sauce from becoming to pasty.
Fish sauce: umami packed sauce that enhances the taste of the sauce. A common ingredient in the Japanese cuisine.
Maple Bourbon rub: sweet and savory rub to balance all the flavors in the sauce. A great replacement would be an all purpose rub.
Toasted sesame seeds: a nutty and crunchy finish. Used as a final topping.
Corn start: helps thicken the sauce
Green onions: burst of freshness. Used as a final topping.
Step 1: How to prepare the sweet chilli chicken bites
Prep work on the chicken is simple. By cubing the breast, the cook will be faster and even throughout. Small sizes make the meat more tender and easy to chew.
To start, cube up the chicken breast into small bite size pieces. Drizzle with some olive oil and season with Dad’s All Purpose rub. It’s the perfect blend of savory bbq flavors that add a good level of salt, pepper and paprika. Mix the seasoning in to the chicken bites making sure to get an even coating all over.
Recipe Tip
If you are not a fan of chicken, this recipe can be made using pork loin. This will give a meatier, more fatty meat and a good bite.
Dad’s Seasonings
Must have grillin seasonings!
Step 2: How to make the sweet chili sauce
This sweet chili sauce is the perfect sauce on any protein. The sweetness from the honey and brown sugar and heat from the chili paste is the perfect marriage.
For a creamier sauce that still have heat, try my Grilled Bang Bang Chicken Skewers recipe. Simpler ingredients, similar umami flavors and heat levels.
In a saucepan, add sambal chili paste, fish sauce, rice vinegar honey, brown sugar, Dad’s Maple Bourbon rub or any sweet rub. Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat until it comes to a boil.
Recipe Tip
Adjust the amount of Sambal chili paste depending on your heat level tolerance. Remember you can always add more.
Next, in a separate cup, mix together corn starch and water and add to the simmering sauce. This will help thicken it. Continue to whisk until the thickness gets to your preferred consistency.
If you are looking for a less spicy alternative, check out my cajun honey bites. The sauce is buttery and rich making for a deliciously savory sauce.
Step 3: Best grill to make the sweet chili chicken bites
This sweet chili chicken bites recipe is very quick and easy to make. I used my griddle but a regular grill set for direct heat will work just fine. Also can be done on the stove top at home.
Recipe Tip
- If you are using a different grill other than a flat top, make sure to use a cast iron skillet.
Preheat the grill to high heat, add some olive oil so the meat does not stick to the flat top and drop the seasoned chicken bites on the griddle.
Flip them every minute to ensure an even cook throughout. Total cook time should be around 8-10 minutes. Final temperature on the chicken bites should be 160 degrees before you remove the chicken off the grill.
Move the grilled chicken bites into a large bowl. The temperature of the chicken will continue to rise once it’s off the heat and will reach 165 degrees internally making it safe to eat. This resting period will result in tender and juicy meat.
Pour the sweet chili sauce over the grilled chicken bites. Toss everything around making sure to cover all the small pieces. Plate them in a large serving bowl, top with freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes, chicken thighs are great for this sweet chili chicken bites recipe. They are fattier and more flavorful. Remember to cook them to a higher internal temperature around 175 degrees. It’s dark and fatty meat and will not over cook at these temps.
The best way to enjoy these flavorful little sweet chili chicken bites is to use a toothpick and serve at a party as an appetizer. If you are making these for dinner, add a side of white rice to balance the heat and rich flavors of the sauce.
Flavorful Chicken Recipe Ideas:
Chicken & Turkey
Pineapple Throne Chicken
Chicken & Turkey
Over The Top White Chicken Chili
Chicken & Turkey
Grilled Chicken Lollipops
Chicken & Turkey
Smoked Beer Can Chicken
Sweet Chili Chicken Bites
Ingredients
- 1 lbs Chicken breast
- 1/4 cup Rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup Honey
- 2 tbsp Sambal chili paste
- 2 tbsp Water
- 1 tbsp Fish sauce
- 1 tbsp Dad’s Maple Bourbon rub
- 1 tbsp Toasted sesame seeds
- 1 tsp Corn starch
- Green onions
Instructions
- Cube up the chicken breast into small bite size pieces.
- Drizzle with some olive oil and season with Dad's All Purpose rub. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, add sambal chili paste, fish sauce, rice vinegar honey, brown sugar, Dad'sMaple Bourbon rub or any sweet rub. Mix the ingredients together and simmer over low heat until it comes to a boil.
- In a separate cup mix together corn starch and water and add to the sauce to help thicken the consistency. Add small amounts at a time and whisk until it thickens to your liking.
- Flip the chicken every minute to ensure an even cook throughout. Remove at 160 degrees internal.
- Move the grilled chicken bites into a large bowl and allow them to rest 2-4 minutes.
- Pour the sweet chili sauce over the grilled chicken bites. Toss everything around making sure to cover all the small pieces.
- Top with freshly chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If you are not a fan of chicken, this recipe can be made using pork loin. This will give a meatier, more fatty meat and a good bite.
- Adjust the amount of Sambal chili paste depending on your heat level tolerance. Remember you can always add more.
- If you are using a different grill other than a flat top, make sure to use a cast iron skillet.
