• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Closet Cooking

Cooking adventures in a small, closet sized, kitchen. - I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.

  • Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Top Recipes
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • 6 Ingredient Meals
    • Slow Cooker Meals
    • One Pan Meals
    • By Course
      • Main Course
      • Side Dish
      • Dessert
      • Appetizer/Snack
      • More
    • By Diet
      • Gluten-free
      • Low-carb
      • Vegetarian
      • More
    • By Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lamb
      • Egg
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
      • More
    • By Cuisine
      • Cajun and Creole
      • Chinese
      • Greek
      • Italian
      • Japanese
      • Korean
      • Mexican
      • Thai
      • Vietnamese
      • More
    • By Type
      • Burger
      • Cake
      • Cookie
      • Dip
      • Pasta
      • Pizza
      • Salad
      • Sandwich
      • Soup
      • More
    • By Ingredient
      • Avocado
      • Bacon
      • Cauliflower
      • Mushroom
      • Pumpkin
      • Quinoa
      • Shrimp
      • Strawberry
      • More
  • Cookbooks
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
Never miss a recipe! Subscribe to the email Newsletter!

Baked Firecracker Chicken

[heart_this] · May 17, 2017 · 70 Comments

Baked Firecracker Chicken

Sweet and spicy baked chicken that is both packed with flavour and nice and light!

Today I have a super simple and tasty baked firecracker chicken recipe for you! that is so nice and easy to make and just packed with flavour! This recipe starts with boneless and skinless chicken that is seared in a pan to lightly brown it, which adds flavour, before being roasted in the oven, all basted up in a sweet, spicy and tangy firecracker sauce! The firecracker sauce is a simple mixture of hot sauce (or chili sauce) and brown sugar (or honey) along with a touch of cider vinegar and garlic! Once the chicken is transferred to the oven to roast it is basted with the sauce a few times before being served smothered in the remaining sauce! This baked firecracker chicken is great by itself or served over rice, pasta, quinoa, etc!

Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken

Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Baked Firecracker Chicken

Baked Firecracker Chicken

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Total Time: 30 minutes Servings: 4

Sweet and spicy baked chicken that is both packed with flavour and nice and light!

ingredients
  • 1/2 cup hot/chili sauce (such as Frank’s Red Hot or Sriracha)
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar or honey
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (gluten-free for gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts
  • salt and pepper to taste
directions
  1. Heat the hot sauce, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic and chili pepper flakes in a small sauce pan until the sugar has melted into the sauce.
  2. Heat the oil in a large oven safe skillet over medium-high heat, season the chicken with the salt and pepper, add to the pan and brown, about 3-5 minutes per side.
  3. Transfer to a preheated 400F/200C oven and bake until the chicken is cooked, about 10-15 minutes, basting with the sauce every 5 minutes.
  4. Enjoy with the remaining sauce!
Nutrition Facts: Calories 244, Fat 6g (Saturated 0.8g, Trans 0), Cholesterol 82mg, Sodium 1011mg, Carbs 19g (Fiber 0, Sugars 17g), Protein 26g

Nutrition by: Nutritional facts powered by Edamam
Similar Recipes:
Sticky Honey Sriracha Chicken Bites
Baked Chicken Santa Fe
Firecracker Shrimp
Creamy Salsa Verde Skillet Chicken
Spinach and Artichoke Stuffed Chicken
Creamy Bacon Honey Dijon Skillet Chicken
Balsamic Maple Dijon Chicken with Bacon Sauce
Caprese Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Thai Peanut Chicken Saute
Spinach and Artichoke Skillet Chicken with Sundried Tomatoes
Baked Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Skillet Sweet Chili Chicken
Thai Sweet Chili Chicken Buddha Bowls
Skillet Chicken Verde
Pan Seared Balsamic Strawberry Chicken and Brie
Spinach and Artichoke Baked Chicken
Crispy Baked Firecracker Tofu on Coconut Cauliflower Rice
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Easy Baked Honey Dijon Chicken
Salsa Verde Baked Chicken
Bacon Ranch Baked Cheddar Chicken
Chile Con Queso Baked Chicken
Spinach and Feta Baked Chicken
Honey Garlic Chicken
Pineapple Sweet Chili Salmon
BBQ Chicken Pizza Baked Chicken
Tuscan Baked Chicken
French Onion Baked Chicken
Mexican Street Corn Baked Chicken
Chicken Margherita

30 Minute Meals, Chicken, Chinese, Food, Gluten-free, Low-carb, Main Course, Recipe

eCookbook Bundle Cover

Get ALL 16 Closet Cooking eCookbooks in a bundle for 70% off! Enjoy some of the tastiest recipes from Closet Cooking along with exclusive cookbook recipes!

Get the Cookbook Bundle Now!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. We Are Not Martha says

    May 17, 2017 at 9:26 pm

    This is the perfect way to kick up an otherwise boring chicken breast. It looks so flavorful!

    Sues

    Reply
  2. Unknown says

    May 17, 2017 at 11:38 pm

    Your sodium count is wrong it's way higher then what you have listed, not only that but if you think 1100mg in one meal is good when a person's whole daily Intake is 1200mg is crazy

    Reply
    • baltisraul says

      January 24, 2019 at 12:46 pm

      Thanks for looking out for us grandma! I believe we can take it from here.

      Reply
      • Pat Cody says

        February 21, 2019 at 11:19 am

        My thoughts exactly. 🙂

        Reply
        • Michael Williams says

          January 19, 2020 at 6:34 pm

          Cant wait to try this. I’m going to see if a keto version with chicken thighs will work.

          Will update with my results

          Reply
    • Wild Bikk says

      September 29, 2019 at 5:47 pm

      Who put a penny in your mouth>

      Reply
  3. Sue/the view from great island says

    May 18, 2017 at 2:50 am

    I'm drawn to any recipe with the word firecracker in the title ~ this looks amazing!

    Reply
  4. marla {Family Fresh Cooking} says

    May 18, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    Love the sauce on this chicken!

    Reply
  5. Maria Lichty says

    May 19, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    Josh will love the heat from this sauce!

    Reply
  6. A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says

    May 22, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    This looks fantastic!!

    Reply
  7. THE IslandGirl and Makijo says

    May 29, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    Making this NOW! This has been saved in my Pinterest for awhile and I thought it would be a great night to have it!

    Reply
  8. Mary Barbot says

    June 4, 2017 at 8:30 pm

    Hoping to try this on the grill.

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    June 6, 2017 at 9:37 pm

    any ideas for low calorie substitutes to the honey/sugar?

    Reply
    • Meg says

      February 2, 2022 at 3:52 pm

      Yes…Truvia complete brown sugar. 0 calories

      Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    June 8, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    If its too much sodium for you then dont make it! Your negativity is what's crazy!!!

    Reply
  11. Terry Gourley says

    July 7, 2017 at 10:07 pm

    I made this chicken tonight, and it was awful! The Frank's made it so vinegary that I found it completely inedible. I wish I had gone with my instinct, and used sriracha, instead. What a waste of my time and ingredients.

    Reply
  12. Katherine Spaude says

    August 3, 2017 at 11:50 am

    Hi Kevin! I made this recipe last night. I was worried about the amount of chili sauce (I used Sriracha) so I cut back to 1/4 cup. I will make again but I think I'll cut the Sriracha back to 1/8 cup. We enjoyed it. I will make again but will try it on rice and broccoli (like your photo). The flavors will compliment those foods. Also, I think it would be great on shrimp too. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
    • Amy says

      June 30, 2019 at 10:23 pm

      It’s awesome on shrimp!!

      Reply
  13. Helena says

    September 26, 2017 at 7:08 pm

    Such a great recipe and amazing pictures of the steps! Definitely on my to-do list now Kevin!

    Reply
  14. Spitzer says

    December 5, 2017 at 5:22 pm

    Greetings from Germany. I tried your recipe and i was amazed by how easy you can make such a delicious meal with so few ingredients.

    Reply
  15. Anonymous says

    December 6, 2017 at 2:07 am

    My family loved this. I used sambal chile paste. This would be great on shrimp, fish and pork.

    Reply
  16. Anonymous says

    February 5, 2018 at 3:52 am

    Made this for dinner tonight. It was quick and easy and tasted great.

    Reply
  17. Dr Martin Huang says

    February 21, 2018 at 1:59 am

    Nice! Amazing photos and a power pack name for your dish!
    I guess I will double up the spice level as I am a big fan of spicyness!

    Reply
  18. cris says

    February 23, 2018 at 5:24 am

    Delicious chicken! I used a sweet chili sauce with just a couple teaspoons of Sriracha and brown sugar plus the other ingredients. I cut my breasts in half lengthwise so they didn't need to go in the oven. Can't wait to make again, I served with brown rice and broccoli!

    Reply
  19. Terrilynn says

    February 27, 2018 at 9:38 pm

    I modified the recipe a pinch, I use 1/4 cup of sweet chili sauce & 1/4 cup of Frank's i put 1 Tablespoon of cayenne in the chicken cubes I only had 2 boneless skinless chicken breast so I added some shrimp. It turned out great.

    Reply
  20. Katrena Hale says

    April 19, 2018 at 7:28 pm

    I made this the other night. Fabulous recipe. Very easy and yummy

    Reply
  21. Alicia says

    July 26, 2018 at 7:14 pm

    So good! I use chili garlic sauce instead of the hot sauce for extra spiciness. I’m gonna make it again today with half the chili garlic and half hot sauce, can’t wait to see how it turns out!

    Reply
  22. Gus says

    October 2, 2018 at 5:31 pm

    I also just made this. Like some others I cut the sriracha to 1/4 cup and I’m glad I did. For us it was the perfect amount of bite blended beautifully with sweet.( I used honey). Served with sticky rice, it was a great meal.

    Reply
  23. Felicity says

    November 12, 2018 at 5:45 am

    I used chicken Maryland’s for this and it was delicious. Maybe a tad spicy for us so I’ll add a bit less chilli sauce next time but will definitely make again!

    Reply
  24. Tonyette Dixon says

    November 27, 2018 at 8:31 pm

    I am going to try this Recipe, I have a question about what type of. Cider vinegar to use? Are we talking about Apple Cider?

    Reply
    • kevin says

      November 28, 2018 at 9:32 am

      Yes, that is apple cider vinegar, enjoy!

      Reply
      • baltisraul says

        January 28, 2019 at 5:02 pm

        Over the holiday I made a lot of Mulled, Hard Apple Cider. Do you believe that adding a few tbl would ruin the consistency or hurt the flavor in any way? I have so much I’m looking for ways to use it.

        Reply
        • kevin says

          January 29, 2019 at 11:39 am

          That would definitely be worth testing! 🙂

          Reply
  25. Beth says

    January 21, 2019 at 3:14 pm

    If you say that something is gluten free, make sure people know that they must use all gluten free items. Example: Many brands of oy sauce are not gluten free. THe normal person would not know this. Thanks.

    Reply
    • baltisraul says

      January 26, 2019 at 2:39 pm

      Since less than 1% of the population is gluten intolerant, they must already have it down to a science. If you eat gluten free and don’t need to, you are robbing yourself of vital minerals and vitamins . Not to mention the loss of flavor. Madison Ave propaganda at it’s finest!

      Reply
  26. Milinda says

    March 5, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    I made this the other night for my boyfriend and myself, I used Frank’s hot sauce and brown sugar but omitted the vinigar because I didn’t have any and the sauce was AMAZING, we both thought it was restuarant quality. Will definitely be making this again but also going to make the same and try on chicken wings, the boyfriend’s idea 🙂

    Reply
  27. Eve says

    March 18, 2019 at 6:00 pm

    Thanks so much for your recipes, Kevin. This recipe was fabulous. My partner wants me to incorporate it in a Hunan Beef recipe. If you have any ideas, for this dish, I would love to hear about them. Keep them coming, loving the fresh ideas.

    Reply
  28. Victoria says

    April 9, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    This is seriously my favorite meal. It’s the spiciest thing I’ve ever eaten, so I’m particularly fond of it during the winter months when my sinuses are blocked up. Clears me right out. I make this recipe at least twice a month. Thanks for sharing it!

    Reply
  29. Mark P says

    April 21, 2019 at 11:54 pm

    This chicken was wonderful. I did take a few liberties. I used bone-in thighs with the skin, and I used half sriracha and half garlic crunch chili sauce (because I can’t get enough of the stuff). Loved it, and so did the hubby!

    Reply
  30. Julia says

    May 20, 2019 at 4:10 am

    This was delicious! Everyone loved it. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I plan on making it many more times. Julia

    Reply
  31. Michele Clow says

    June 6, 2019 at 8:44 pm

    Hi. Quick question, do I pour the sauce in with the chicken at the beginning of cooking or before it goes into the oven?

    Reply
    • kevin says

      June 8, 2019 at 9:31 am

      Yes! Brush the sauce onto the chicken before baking and brush more on every 5 minutes while it bakes. Enjoy!

      Reply
  32. Shelly says

    July 8, 2019 at 7:51 pm

    I made the firecracker Chicken this evening. I cut the chicken up in chunks and let it marinade in the sauce. I ended up grilling it and it was fantastic!

    Reply
  33. Robi says

    July 23, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    Very, very good. I also used sweet chili sauce with a couple of shakes of Texas Pete (because I didn’t have the hot sauce on hand). I couldn’t decide between brown sugar and honey, so I used 1/4 cup of each. Otherwise followed the recipe to a t. Wouldn’t change a thing!

    Reply
  34. Marilyn says

    August 22, 2019 at 8:46 pm

    I made this tonight. Oh.My.Goodness! Flavor to die for! I used a Thai sweet chili sauce for my hot sauce. I’m a wimp, so sriracha would kill me and I wanted to go more to the Asian flavor wheel than Frank’s. It was so good I had to have seconds! I’ll be adding this recipe to my favorites collection!

    Reply
  35. Jeannie says

    August 24, 2019 at 6:11 pm

    Would this still be good without adding the spicey? My husband cant eat spicey foods. I’d love to try it.

    Reply
    • kevin says

      August 25, 2019 at 6:30 pm

      You could try it with ‘less’ hot sauce but the hot sauce is part of the flavour…

      Reply
  36. White Jorjana says

    August 26, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    This recipe is extraordinary!!!!!! The sweet/ spicy combo is so flavorful and the flavor is out of this world. Thank you for an absolute keeper of a recipe!

    Reply
  37. P Fugate says

    September 28, 2019 at 7:50 am

    Very good recipe and easy to make – loved the sauce.

    Reply
  38. Muna says

    November 10, 2019 at 11:00 am

    I just made the firecracker chicken. My house is full of hungry men… eager to indulge in good food. I accompanied the dish with stir-fry brocolli & rice (as in your picure).
    So fast and delicious.
    I just replaced the sauce wirh thai hot chilli sauce instead.
    Thank you so much for sharing your receipe.

    Reply
  39. Penny says

    March 13, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    I made this last night. GONE! The family loved it!

    Reply
  40. Jul says

    April 4, 2020 at 7:42 pm

    So good ! So easy. I diced up some fresh red peppers and let them cook on the pan in over as a little extra topper & it turned out perfect ! Definitely making again!

    Reply
  41. Roz says

    May 14, 2020 at 12:52 pm

    So don’t use salt

    Reply
  42. Missy Majors says

    October 15, 2020 at 10:05 pm

    I made this and I’m not sure what I did wrong but the sauce fell completely off the chicken was all in the pan not even on the chicken at all. I basted every 5 mins like it said and every time the sauce just slid right off.

    Reply
  43. Keelin says

    November 3, 2020 at 6:13 pm

    I air fry wings (drumettes and flats) then toss them in this sauce. I won first place in my a family cook off. Love this!

    Reply
  44. Marinna Camasta says

    November 14, 2020 at 12:33 am

    This is a great recipe. If you’re a person who knows there’s a million ways to cook chicken but you just don’t know them, add this to the list.
    I choose to marinate the chicken ahead of time in some of the sauce, just because I am obsessed with flavor. But basting is still important though.

    Reply
  45. NatetheGreat says

    December 16, 2020 at 11:05 pm

    Just made this for dinner and it was delicious! I didn’t have enough brown sugar so I used honey. Like many others said, I used 1/4 of sriracha hot sauce and it was the perfect amount. Served the chicken with arroz yellow rice and steamed broccoli.

    Reply
  46. Kris says

    January 20, 2021 at 12:07 pm

    I used this on baked cauliflower. Used the siracha and honey, added some fresh ginger and it didn’t need salt or pepper. New name for it with cauliflower is cauliflower crack since it is so addicting and I hate cauliflower.

    Reply
  47. Amanda Gentry says

    June 7, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    Cooked this entire dinner in my Foodie Grill, looks and smells delicious. Very easy weeknight recipe.

    Reply
  48. munchkin says

    September 2, 2021 at 7:03 pm

    The sauce on this chicken looks so yummy.

    Reply
  49. Marinna says

    January 19, 2022 at 12:50 pm

    This chicken has so much taste and I love it. It’s the star of the show, for sure. I just stuck to the recipe and everything turned out pretty good.
    The dish I baked it on was annoying to clean, because anywhere the sauce had contact with the pan, it burnt onto the pan. The chicken was in good condition, just not the pan.

    Reply
  50. Scarlett says

    September 1, 2022 at 8:35 pm

    The Firecracker Chicken was delicious. I always read the comments before I try a new recipe so I decided to cut back on the Frank’s Hot Sauce to a generous 1/3 cup and increase the honey by a bit so my husband would be happy with the dish. He loved it and I had been tasting the sauce all through the cooking process so I already knew it was delicious. I used chicken leg quarters just because we like the meat more moist. I will definitely make this again because it was soooo good. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Reply
  51. Deborah says

    January 19, 2023 at 8:18 pm

    Made this for dinner tonite after going thru my pins looking for chicken recipes-it was a hit when I first made it months ago and didn’t disappoint tonite. Went by the book first time and it was great-added 1/2cup bbq sauce this time-still great.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 5 Amazing Ways to Make a Chicken Breast - Yumophile says:
    April 29, 2019 at 3:32 pm

    […] Baked Firecracker Chicken […]

    Reply
  2. Recipe: 20 "Worth-trying" Oven Baked Chicken Dishes For Dinner | Food - Olip Life says:
    May 1, 2019 at 11:13 pm

    […] Click here for recipe! […]

    Reply
  3. Quinoa Stuffed Chicken Breast - Macheesmo says:
    July 18, 2019 at 4:46 pm

    […] Baked Firecracker Chicken from Closet Cooking […]

    Reply
  4. Chicken Kiev - Tachyon Fitness says:
    February 10, 2020 at 9:25 am

    […] Baked BBQ Chicken WingsGarlic Butter ChickenTomato Basil ChickenBaked Firecracker ChickenTomato and Garlic Chicken […]

    Reply
  5. Baked Chicken Thighs - Bunny's Warm Oven says:
    February 14, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    […] Baked Firecracker Chicken […]

    Reply
  6. 100+ Recipes for Dinner that are perfect for Weeknights as well as Weekends - Hike n Dip says:
    October 19, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    […] #69. Baked Firecracker Chicken | Image Credit & Recipe – closetcooking.com […]

    Reply
  7. What To Serve With Fried Cabbage - 39 BEST Sides - Pantry & Larder says:
    October 18, 2022 at 10:13 am

    […] recipeBaked firecracker chickenMake it effortlessBaked chicken thighsMake a favoriteHomemade chicken […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to the free Closet Cooking email newsletter and get a FREE copy of the eBook:
The Best of Closet Cooking!

About Me

Kevin: I came to realize that my meals were boring and that I had been eating the same few dishes over and over again for years. It was time for a change! I now spend my free time searching for, creating and trying tasty new recipes in my closet sized kitchen.
Read More

The Best of Closet Cooking 2023 – FREE eCookbook

The Best of Closet Cooking Book Cover

eCookbook Bundle

eCookbook Bundle

Top Recipes

Chicken and Avocado Burritos
Ham and Potato Corn Chowder
Mexican Street Corn Nachos
Balsamic Garlic Grilled Mushroom Skewers
Baked Firecracker Chicken
Caprese Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Balsamic Soy Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
Cheesy Beef Enchilada Tortellini Skillet
Parmesan Roasted Carrot Fries
Asiago Roasted Onions
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
About | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy
Copyright © 2007-2023, Closet Cooking Ltd. All Rights Reserved.