Juicy and tender baked sweet & spicy chicken that comes together in 30 minutes with loads of flavor.
After you’re hooked on this Baked Sweet and Spicy Chicken, you’ll wanna try Instant Pot Parmesan Chicken and Rice with Mushrooms, Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots, and Asparagus Stuffed Chicken.
Sometimes time gets away from me. It seems like every year my birthday sneaks up on me and suddenly I’m a year older and hardly even noticed. Quick disclaimer: It’s not my birthday. BUT….
It is this blog’s birthday. WOOT WOOT! That’s right, today is Creme de la Crumb’s birthday.
I won’t get all sentimental on you and tell you what this blog means to me (no but really, you have no idea what this blog means and YOU make it all possible so, THANK YOU) but we’re gonna celebrate with flavors I love so much. I love sweet things, and I really really love spicy things, but even more than that I border on obsessed with a good sweet + spicy combo – bring those two flavor nuances together and it’s pure magic in my mouth.
This chicken is quickly browned on the stove, then brushed with sauce and transferred to the oven to be baked to juicy perfection. After that it’s just another smothering of that sweet and spicy sauce and then straight to the dinner table!
Happy Birthday Creme de la Crumb and thank you for sticking around to indulge in all this yummy goodness with me, you guys really are the BEST.
What people are saying about this Baked Sweet & Spicy Chicken
“K just made this tonight for dinner and HOLY WOW! My husband dubbed this his new favorite sauce ever. It’s so good. I made it with Sriracha (the only hot sauce I had) and added red peppers for more spice and it was hot but sooo tasty!” – Tiffany
“This may be our new family favorite. The sauce also caught the attention of my picky 10-year-old and has encouraged her to try new recipes. Super excited to taste more. Thanks a million!” – Tracy
“I made this for my entire family last night and they ALL LOVED IT! My husband told me it might be one of the best meals I’ve ever made him (And I’m a pretty good cook!) My mother in law told me to make sure i save the recipe. It was so easy to make, i put it over some rice and it was a total hit!!” – Sarah
“Best sauce EVERRRRR!! My son could not get enough!!! Thanks for sharing this!” – Nicole
Hungry for more? Try my Best Baked Chicken Breasts recipe next!
Baked Sweet & Spicy Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts - pounded to even thickness
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar - (you could substitute white vinegar)
- ⅓ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a large baking sheet (with a raised side) or casserole dish.
- In a medium sauce pan whisk together all sauce ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat and boil for 3-4 minutes. While sauce is boiling, season chicken with salt and pepper on both sides, grease a skillet and cook chicken on both sides 1-2 minutes over medium heat, just enough to brown the very outside.
- Arrange chicken in a single layer (not overlapping) on prepared baking sheet. Brush with sauce. (there should still be plenty of sauce leftover – reserve for later). Bake for 20-25 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Pour remaining sauce over the chicken and serve hot.
Hi-I’m going to make this using boneless skinless chicken thighs. do you think i should saute the chicken first until golden and then add the sauce? love these ingredients and i also love sweet and spicy combos 🙂
I never say no to browning meat before hand! 😉
This is so good make it alot
EXCELLENT
What hot sauce do you Use?
I used Frank’s Red Hot (regular hot sauce, not buffalo sauce)
My word. The best chicken I have ever had. Bravo!!
Thank you, Edward!
THE BEST SAUCE EVER, IT MADE THE DISH. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE, I POUNDED THE CHICKEN DOWN.
I’m obsessed with this sauce- so glad you enjoy it, too!
Absolutely delicious! I adjusted the recipe just slightly. I had overly large chicken breasts. I sliced then in half length wise and pounded until they were mostly the same thickness. I got my husband’s cast iron grill pan flaming hot, sprayed with olive oil and seared each breast cutlet for about a minute each side. I also added onion powder to the SALt and pepper on both sides. I have a gas oven, so I set the temp to 375 instead of 400 because I know my oven cooks hotter/faster than electric ovens I’ve cooked with in the past. I set the timer for 10 minutes and out of the 6 I was cooking all were done but two. You’re going to want to pull them at about 150° and rest because they continue to cook while resting. And nobody likes dry chicken! I also decided on 3 tbsp hot sauce and added 3 tbsp honey for the sauce. I have 3 children and they overreact about spicy food at times. It wasn’t too spicy for them and they ATE it all! I will be making this again! My only future adjustment well be to add cornstarch/water mix to help THICKEN the sauce. Also, I had to go back and make a second batch of sauce because I chose to serve it over rice. (Awesome) so if coupling for more than 2-3 people with rice, I’d advise to double the sauce. Fantastic recipe! Well received by my husband and myself, our 15 y/o daughter, and our picky 7 y/o son! Thanks so much for sharing this gem of a recipe!
Awesome job 🙂 You are welcome!
Oh boy I am so glad you posted this!!!We love using the crockpot and I have been wanting some new tasty recipes!
Hope you love it! 🙂
Great sauce, I have it at least once a MONTH. Everyone loves IT. Easy to PREPARE.
Thanks, Carmen!
Love the sauce, it was so simple to prepare
I used dark brown sugar but halfcup, full 4 tblspns Franks hot sauce, and put on thighs. also added sprinkle of red pepper flakes. WOW! Great!! Don’t understand comments about it not thickening?i used it immediately and it thickened perfectly!
Sounds like you did a great job, Tom!! Your description sounds delicious!
Riquísimas gracias
LOVED this recipe! Tasted just like the Garlic sriracha bbq sauce from Trader Joe’s and was a big hit 🙂
I loooooove that Trader Joe’s sauce!
I just made the OMG. It turned out great!! Took my sauce about 8-9 minutes to thicken up. Guess it depends on where your stove top is set. The sauce is outstanding!
thank you for this keeper recipe!
Great job, Debbie! Glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. Thanks!
THIS IS AN AMAZING, TASTY RECIPE. EVERYONE LOVES IT. I DID TWEAK IT A BIT. I DOUBLED THE RECIPE TO FEED A FAMILY OF FOUR PLUS HAVE ENOUGH FOR LUNCHES THE NEXT DAY. I FOR THE HOT SAUCE I USED 4 T SPOONS OF SRIRACHA SAUCE AND 4 T SPOONS OF MEDIUM SALSA. I OMITTED THE WATER TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF THIN SAUCE. I POURED ALL OF IT OVER THE MEAT TO BAKE. THE FAMILY IS CRAZY ABOUT IT. I SENT A CARE PACKAGE TO A FRIEND AND GOT A “CHA, CHA, CHA”. THANKS FOR SHARING.
Fantastic job, Kim!! Thanks for sharing your input! Happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed this recipe so much 🙂