Name: Jalapeno Chicken Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients: 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, fat removed, cut into 1-inch pieces; ¼ cup (32 g) cornstarch; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper; 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil; ⅓ cup (85 g) soy sauce; ⅓ cup (83 g) water; ⅓ cup (67 g) light brown sugar, packed; 1 teaspoon sesame oil; 2 teaspoons garlic, minced; ½ yellow onion, diced; 2 large jalapeno peppers, sliced into thin rounds; Sesame seeds, for garnish; Cooked white rice, for serving

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Are you ready to fire up your taste buds with a dish that’s equal parts spicy, sweet, and savory? This Jalapeno Chicken recipe is a quick and delicious dinner idea that comes together in just 30 minutes.

Bite-sized pieces of juicy chicken thighs, sautéed onions, and spicy jalapeno peppers are smothered in a perfectly balanced sweet and salty sauce. Served over fluffy white rice and garnished with sesame seeds, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Whether you’re cooking for your family or hosting friends, this recipe is easy to follow and packed with flavor. Plus, I’ll share an air fryer option for those looking to skip the stovetop. Let’s dive into the details!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: With only 15 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights.
Bold Flavors: The combination of soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic creates a rich sauce that pairs beautifully with the heat of jalapenos.
Customizable Heat: Control the spice level by adjusting the amount of jalapeno peppers used.
Versatile Cooking Methods: You can pan-fry or use an air fryer for the chicken – both methods work beautifully!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here’s what you’ll need to make this delectable Jalapeno Chicken:

Chicken: 2 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch pieces). Thighs are juicy and flavorful, but you can substitute with chicken breast if preferred.
Cornstarch: Helps create a crispy coating on the chicken.
Seasonings: A simple mix of kosher salt and ground black pepper to season the chicken.
Oil: Extra virgin olive oil for pan-frying the chicken.
Sauce Ingredients: Soy sauce, water, light brown sugar (packed), sesame oil, and minced garlic combine to create a sweet and salty glaze.
Veggies: Diced yellow onion and sliced jalapeno peppers add texture and heat.
Garnish: Sesame seeds for a nutty finish.
Serving: Cooked white rice to soak up all that delicious sauce.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Chicken
Start by tossing the chicken pieces in a mixture of cornstarch, salt, and pepper. This creates a light coating that helps the chicken crisp up when cooked. Set the coated chicken aside while you prepare the sauce.

2. Make the Sauce
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together water, soy sauce, light brown sugar, sesame oil, and minced garlic. The balance of sweet and salty flavors in this sauce is what makes the dish so irresistible! Set it aside for later.

3. Pan-Fry the Chicken
Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, carefully add the chicken pieces in a single layer. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F). Remove the chicken from the skillet and tent it with foil to keep warm.

4. Sauté the Veggies
In the same skillet, add diced onions and sliced jalapeno peppers. Cook for 4-6 minutes until softened and fragrant. The onions will become slightly caramelized, adding sweetness to balance the heat of the jalapenos.

5. Combine Everything
Return the cooked chicken to the skillet along with the prepared soy sauce mixture. Stir everything together and let it cook for another 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly and coats every piece of chicken and veggie.

6. Serve and Garnish
Serve your Jalapeno Chicken over a bed of cooked white rice, garnished with sesame seeds for an extra touch of flavor and crunch.

Air Fryer Option

Looking for a hands-off cooking method? Try making the chicken in an air fryer!

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F while you coat the chicken in the cornstarch mixture.
Place the chicken pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches if needed).
Air fry for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Once cooked, set aside and follow the stovetop instructions to prepare the sauce, onions, and jalapeno peppers.

Tips for Success

Control the Heat: If you’re not a fan of too much spice, remove the seeds from the jalapenos before slicing them into rounds. For extra heat lovers, consider adding an additional jalapeno or sprinkling in some red pepper flakes.
Use Fresh Garlic: Minced fresh garlic adds more flavor than jarred garlic – it’s worth the extra effort!
Don’t Skip the Garnish: Sesame seeds may seem like a small detail, but they add a subtle nuttiness that ties everything together beautifully.

Pairing Suggestions

This Jalapeno Chicken pairs wonderfully with steamed white rice or jasmine rice to soak up all that delicious sauce. For added greens on your plate, serve it alongside stir-fried vegetables like broccoli or snap peas.

Nutrition Information

For those keeping track, here’s a quick breakdown of the nutritional content per serving (serves 6):

Calories: 384
Protein: Packed with lean protein from chicken thighs!
Carbs & Fat: Balanced for a hearty dinner that satisfies without overloading.

Final Thoughts

This Jalapeno Chicken recipe is proof that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be delicious! It’s quick enough for weeknights but flavorful enough to impress guests at your next dinner party. Whether you prefer stovetop cooking or want to use your air fryer, this versatile recipe will become a staple in your kitchen.

So grab your skillet (or air fryer), slice up those jalapenos, and get ready to enjoy a meal that’s bursting with bold flavors! Let me know how it turns out – I’d love to hear your thoughts or any creative twists you added to make it your own.

Happy cooking!

Jalapeno Chicken Recipe

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Author: Noura
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Dinner, Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Diet: Gluten Free

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Description

Jalapeno Chicken is bite-sized pieces of pan-fried chicken thighs, onions, and jalapeno peppers, all smothered in a sweet and salty sauce.

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, combine chicken, cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat evenly on all sides. Set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine water, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, and garlic. Mix well and set aside.
To a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add oil. When the oil is shimmering, carefully add chicken to the hot oil. (Depending on the size of the skillet, you may have to work in batches.) Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F. Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent to keep warm.
To the same skillet, add onions and jalapeno. Cook until softened (about 4-6 minutes).
Add the chicken and the soy sauce mixture to the pan and stir to combine. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes.

Serve garnished with sesame seeds over cooked white rice.

Notes

Air Fryer Chicken:
To make the chicken in an air fryer, first, preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Next, coat the chicken in the cornstarch, salt, and pepper mixture. Then, place the chicken into the basket of your air fryer. Cook for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Set the chicken aside as you prepare the sauce and cook the onions and jalapeno peppers.