Quick & Flavorful Dragon Chicken Recipe You’ll Love Tonight

Sizzling dragon chicken brings fiery flavors to your dinner table with an electrifying culinary twist.

Bold spices and intense heat define this mouthwatering dish that promises a thrilling gastronomic adventure.

Authentic Asian-inspired techniques upgrade ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal bursting with complex layers of taste.

Home cooks adore this recipe for its perfect balance between spiciness and rich, umami undertones.

Marinating techniques elevate the protein, infusing each bite with deep, robust seasonings that dance across your palate.

Robust ingredients blend seamlessly to create a memorable dining experience that challenges traditional flavor profiles.

The preparation might seem intricate, but anyone can master this exciting recipe with a bit of passion and practice.

What Sets Dragon Chicken Apart

• Burst with Flavor Explosion: Dragon Chicken delivers a tantalizing blend of sweet, spicy, and savory notes that dance across your taste buds with every single bite.
• Texture Wonderland: Crispy breaded chicken meets crunchy cashews and tender stir-fried vegetables, creating a mouthwatering contrast of textures that keeps you coming back for more.
• Quick and Impressive Meal: This restaurant-quality dish comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or when you want to impress dinner guests without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Customizable Spice Adventure: Easy to adjust heat levels by controlling the amount of chili powder, allowing everyone from mild-loving to spice-seeking food lovers to enjoy this delectable chicken recipe.

What You’ll Need for Dragon Chicken

• Chicken: Lean protein that serves as the main component of the dish, best when fresh and sliced into even pieces.
• Egg: Helps create a binding marinade for the chicken, adding moisture and helping spices adhere.

• Soy Sauce: Provides umami flavor and helps tenderize the chicken.
• Chili Powder: Adds a mild heat and depth to the breading.
• Ginger, Garlic: Aromatic ingredients that bring intense, sharp flavors to the dish.

• Flour, Cornstarch: Creates a crispy, golden exterior for the chicken and helps thicken the sauce.

• Canola, Vegetable, or Peanut Oil: Neutral oils for high-heat cooking, providing a clean frying medium.

• Onion, Bell Pepper: Fresh vegetables that add crunch and color to the dish.

• Cashews: Provides a nutty crunch and additional texture.
• Sesame Seeds, Green Onions: Fresh garnishes that add visual appeal and light, fresh flavor.

• Sauce Ingredients (not specified in original text): Will likely include additional seasonings to create a flavorful coating for the chicken.

How to Cook Dragon Chicken at Home

Step 1: Prepare Chicken Marinade

Whisk together egg, soy sauce, and marinade spices in a large bowl or freezer bag. Add sliced chicken and coat thoroughly. Let marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, allow chicken to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before breading.

Step 2: Create Sauce Mixture

In a medium bowl, whisk sauce ingredients until cornstarch completely dissolves. Set aside for later use.

Step 3: Coat Chicken

• Flour
• Cornstarch
• Chili powder

Remove chicken from marinade, pat dry with paper towels. Add chicken to breading bag and shake until evenly coated, pressing coating firmly onto chicken.

Step 4: Fry Chicken

Heat oil (canola, vegetable, or peanut) in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in 2-3 batches for about 4 minutes, flipping halfway until fully cooked. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

Step 5: Toast Cashews

In a dry cast iron skillet, toast cashews over medium heat until lightly spotted. Remove from skillet.

Step 6: Stir Fry Vegetables

Drizzle oil in the same skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and bell pepper, stir fry for 2 minutes. Add ginger and garlic, stir fry for 30 seconds.

Step 7: Combine Sauce

Whisk sauce again to recombine. Pour into skillet and simmer, stirring often until thickened (about 1 minute).

Step 8: Final Assembly

Add cooked chicken and toasted cashews to the skillet. Stir to coat with sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve immediately while hot and fresh.

Helpful Dragon Chicken Cooking Tips

• Marinate Masterfully: Give chicken enough time to soak up flavors by marinating at least 30 minutes or overnight for deeper taste profiles.
• Coat Carefully: Press breading firmly into chicken pieces to create an extra crispy, even layer that'll make each bite perfectly crunchy.
• Oil Temperature Matters: Maintain medium-high heat when frying to ensure golden-brown exterior without burning the chicken's delicate coating.
• Batch Cooking Brilliance: Cook chicken in small batches to prevent overcrowding, which helps achieve maximum crispiness and even cooking.
• Sauce Timing Trick: Whisk sauce just before adding to skillet to prevent cornstarch from settling, ensuring a smooth and glossy final texture.

How to Store and Reheat Dragon Chicken

• Store Leftovers
• Refrigerate dragon chicken in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Sealed containers keep the chicken fresh for 3-4 days. Store cashews separately to maintain their crunch, preventing soggy texture.
• Reheat Method
• Microwave chicken in short 30-second intervals, stirring between each burst to distribute heat evenly. Alternatively, warm in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water to prevent drying. Cover the pan to retain moisture and restore the chicken's original juicy texture.
• Freezing Option
• Freeze prepared dragon chicken in freezer-safe containers for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. Discard any leftovers that develop an off smell or appear discolored.

Sides That Go Well with Dragon Chicken

• Pair with Crisp Riesling: A slightly sweet Riesling balances the spicy and savory flavors of Dragon Chicken, cutting through the richness of the crispy fried chicken and complementing the nutty cashews.
• Serve with Jasmine Rice: The light, fragrant jasmine rice provides a perfect neutral base that soaks up the delicious sauce while offering a soft contrast to the crunchy chicken texture.
• Enhance with Cucumber Salad: A cool, refreshing cucumber salad with a light rice vinegar dressing helps balance the dish's heat and provides a crisp, clean counterpoint to the rich, spicy chicken.
• Complement with Asian Beer: A light lager like Tsingtao or Sapporo offers a crisp, clean finish that refreshes the palate between bites of the flavorful Dragon Chicken, cutting through its spiciness and fried coating.

Flavorful Variations of Dragon Chicken

• Spicy Dragon Delight: Replace chili powder with sriracha sauce and add red pepper flakes for an extra kick. Increase heat levels by incorporating chopped jalapeños during stir-frying.
• Vegetarian Dragon Bowl: Swap chicken with tofu or tempeh. Press tofu to remove excess moisture, then follow the same marinating and breading process. Maintain original sauce and cashew elements for consistent flavor profile.
• Tropical Dragon Fusion: Incorporate pineapple chunks during stir-frying for a sweet-tangy dimension. Use coconut oil instead of regular cooking oil to enhance tropical undertones. Sprinkle shredded coconut as a final garnish for added texture.
• Lean Dragon Remix: Use skinless chicken breast and bake instead of frying. Reduce oil quantity and use a wire rack for crispier coating. Add a light cornstarch spray before baking to maintain breading's crunchiness.

Dragon Chicken Recipe

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4.9 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Spicy Dragon Chicken delivers a fiery Chinese-inspired culinary adventure with crispy chicken pieces glazed in a bold, tangy sauce. Complex layers of heat and flavor promise a restaurant-quality experience that brings excitement to your dinner table.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Proteins:

• 1 pound chicken thighs, sliced into ½-inch strips
• 1 egg
• 1 cup unsalted cashews

Coating and Spices:

• ½ cup flour
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ½ tablespoon chili powder
• ½ teaspoon ginger powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon reduced sodium soy sauce

Sauce and Vegetables:

• ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
• ¼ cup ketchup
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 ½–2 tablespoons Asian chili sauce (like Sambal Oelek)
• 1 tablespoon Chinkiang/Chinese black vinegar (may sub ½ tablespoon balsamic vinegar + ½ tablespoon rice vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
• 1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon vegetable or peanut oil
• ½ white onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Green onions

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Instructions

1. Combine egg, soy sauce, and marinade spices in a large bowl. Add sliced chicken, ensuring thorough coating. Allow chicken to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight.
2. Prepare sauce by whisking all sauce ingredients in a medium bowl until cornstarch completely dissolves. Set mixture aside.
3. Mix flour, cornstarch, and chili powder in a large freezer bag. Remove chicken from marinade, pat dry with paper towels, then add to breading bag. Shake vigorously to coat chicken evenly, pressing breading into meat.
4. Heat of canola, vegetable, or peanut oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in 2-3 batches for approximately 4 minutes, turning halfway to ensure even cooking and golden exterior. Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined plate.
5. Toast cashews in a dry cast iron skillet over medium heat until lightly spotted, then remove from pan.
6. In the same skillet, drizzle additional oil and sauté onions and bell peppers for 2 minutes. Add minced ginger and garlic, cooking for an additional 30 seconds.
7. Rewhisk sauce and pour into skillet. Simmer, stirring continuously, until sauce thickens (about 1 minute).
8. Reintroduce cooked chicken and toasted cashews to the skillet, stirring to coat with sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Serve immediately while hot.

Notes

• Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by letting it sit in the egg and soy sauce mixture for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for deeper taste.
• Ensure breading adheres perfectly by patting chicken dry and pressing the coating firmly into the meat.
• Use a nonstick skillet to prevent sticking and achieve crispy, golden-brown chicken pieces.
• Toast cashews separately to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch to the dish.
• Create a smooth, glossy sauce by whisking cornstarch thoroughly and stirring constantly while simmering.
• Serve immediately to enjoy the chicken at its crispiest and the sauce at its most vibrant consistency.

• Prep Time: 35 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Indo-Chinese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 540 kcal
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 720 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 160 mg