Description

Enjoy a bold and flavorful Dragon Chicken recipe featuring crispy, tender chicken with a luscious, sweet and savory sauce balanced by aromatic garlic, ginger, and a hint of spice. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this dish delivers a satisfying harmony of textures and tastes with easy pantry staples and customizable heat levels.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

500g boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup cornstarch
Pinch of salt
Vegetable oil, for frying

Dragon Sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
1/4 cup grape juice
2 tablespoons tomato ketchup (natural)
2 tablespoons soy sauce (natural)
1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes (adjust to taste)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Garnish

1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 green onions, thinly sliced
Optional: toasted sesame seeds or toasted cashews for texture

Instructions

Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Toss the chicken pieces with cornstarch and a pinch of salt until well coated for a crispy crust when frying.
Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches, turning slowly until golden brown and crispy on all sides. Remove and let drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Make the Dragon Sauce: Lower heat to medium. In the same pan, add minced garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), grape juice, tomato ketchup (natural), soy sauce (natural), red chili flakes, and apple cider vinegar. Simmer gently until sauce thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the fried chicken pieces to the pan with the sauce. Toss well to coat every piece evenly, ensuring the sauce clings nicely to the crispy chicken.
Garnish and Serve: Drizzle sesame oil over the chicken and sprinkle with sliced green onions. Optionally, add toasted sesame seeds or toasted cashews for extra texture. Serve hot.

Notes

Pat chicken pieces completely dry before coating to achieve maximum crispiness.
Adjust red chili flakes gradually to control the heat level according to your preference.
Use a non-stick pan to make frying easier and prevent chicken from sticking.
Allow fried chicken to drain on paper towels to maintain crunch by removing excess oil.
Minced fresh garlic and ginger provide the best vibrant aroma and flavor.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Frying
Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 8 g
Sodium: 700 mg
Fat: 15 g
Saturated Fat: 2 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 25 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 85 mg

Keywords: Dragon Chicken, crispy chicken, sweet and spicy chicken, Asian chicken recipe, quick dinner, gluten free