Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil)
For the Szechuan sauce:
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 3 tbsp Szechuan chili paste or hot chili sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water (for thickening)
Instructions
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl, season with salt and pepper.
- Set up a breading station: place flour, beaten eggs, and a mix of flour and cornstarch in separate shallow dishes.
- Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour, then in the eggs, and finally coat with the flour and cornstarch mixture.
- Heat oil in a deep frying pan until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
- Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per batch.
- Transfer cooked nuggets to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- In a saucepan, combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cornstarch mixed with water to the sauce to thicken it, cooking for an additional 1-2 minutes until glossy and saucey.
- Add the fried chicken nuggets to the sauce and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately with sides or slider buns for a fun twist.
Notes
- Optional: sprinkle crushed crispy fried onions on top for added crunch.
- Adjust the amount of chili paste to control spiciness.
- For gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari and breading with rice or almond flour.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Snack, Appetizer
- Method: Frying, Simmering
- Cuisine: American, Asian Fusion
- Diet: Dairy-Free, Nut-Free
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 pieces
- Calories: 350 Kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
