Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry

Name: Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless (skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces); 1 onion (diced); 1 red bell pepper (diced); 2 cups broccoli florets (cut into bite-sized pieces); salt (to taste); 1 tablespoon sesame oil or olive oil; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 inch fresh ginger (minced); 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce; 1/3 cup coconut aminos or low-sodium soy sauce; 2 teaspoons sesame oil; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; 1 tablespoon honey; 1 tablespoon corn starch or arrowroot powder + ½ cup cold water for thickening

Have this healthier Sweet Chili Chicken Stir Fry on the dinner table in 35 minutes. Juicy chicken bites and crisp veggies tossed in a thick homemade sweet chili sauce. Enjoy this sweet and spicy favorite over rice or noodles.

Jump to Recipe

Chicken and veggie stir fry in a skillet topped with sesame seeds.

Why You'll Love this Recipe

Customizable. Skip to the variations section and review the many substitutions and swaps you can make to fit what you've got in your kitchen right now.
1 pan dinner. Sweet chili chicken stir fry is as simple as it gets. The entire dish comes together in 1 pan in just over 30 minutes.
Great for meal prep. Stir fry stores well in the fridge and is an easy savory meal prep for hearty lunches or make-ahead weeknight dinners.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients labelled and measured out in glass bowls on marble surface.

Chicken - Chicken thighs are my favorite to use in homemade chicken stir fry because they are more juicy than chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are a great cut of chicken for beginners because they are difficult to overcook and the darker meat makes this stir fry more flavorful. Try my Orzo Chicken Soup, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, or Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken for more delicious chicken thigh recipes.
Chili garlic sauce - There are many brands of chili garlic sauce or chili paste on the shelves, so use what you can find. The ingredients should be chili, garlic, vinegar, and salt. If your chili garlic sauce contains sugar, consider reducing the honey called for to taste. If necessary, make a homemade chili garlic sauce yourself.
Coconut aminos - A simple swap for soy sauce to make this chicken stir fry healthier and lighter in sodium.
Honey - Most sweet chili sauces are loaded with refined sugars. This version uses honey as another healthier alternative to make this stir fry naturally sweetened.
Rice vinegar - A little goes a long way, but using an acidic rice vinegar adds a necessary tang to balance the sweet and spicy flavors in the chili garlic sauce.

See the recipe card below for the remaining ingredients and quantities.

White plates full of rice and chicken stir fry next to a bowl of sesame seeds.

Variations

Chicken substitutes - Although I highly recommend using boneless, skinless chicken thighs, you can substitute cubed boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could even substitute the chicken with additional vegetables for a vegetable stir fry.
Use the vegetables you have on hand. Make the veggies I recommend, or use this opportunity to clean out the fridge and use up what you have. Snap peas, green beans, baby corn, mushrooms, water chestnuts, edamame, cauliflower and carrots all work well in stir fry. If substituting, make sure to keep the ratios the same.
Substitute frozen vegetables. Although fresh vegetables will be more crispy and fresh tasting, frozen vegetables can be substituted in a pinch. A pre-mixed frozen stir-fry bag would work great.
Sweetener alternatives - Try maple syrup, agave, or brown rice syrup in place of the honey, as desired.
Oil alternatives - Sesame oil is great to keep on hand for Asian-inspired recipes, but if you don't have it in the pantry, any other neutral oil with a higher smoke point will work, too. Avoid extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil as they have a more pronounced flavor that will affect the flavor of the dish.
Customize the spice level to taste. Depending on how well you tolerate spice, adjust the amount of chili garlic sauce called for. If you are sensitive, try starting with 1 teaspoon of chili garlic sauce and adjust to taste before adding into the pan to thicken.
Serving alternatives. Although serving over white rice is classic, you can also serve over brown rice, sushi rice, chow mein, low mein, soba noodles, or gluten-free rice noodles.

Instructions

Cooked diced chicken in a large skillet.

Step 1: In a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat, heat the sesame oil until hot. Once hot, lower the heat to medium and add the bite-sized chicken thighs. Cook chicken for 5 minutes, then remove from skillet and set aside.

A large skillet full of cooked onion, pepper and broccoli.

Step 2: After removing the chicken, add the onion, red pepper, and broccoli florets to the hot skillet and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. If the veggies begin to stick, add a little more oil and consider lowering the heat if your stovetop runs hot.

Measuring cup filled with a stir fry sauce.

Step 3: Whisk the minced garlic, ginger, chili garlic sauce, coconut aminos, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and honey together until combined into a smooth marinade.

Chicken, broccoli and red pepper in a stir fry sauce in a skillet.

Step 4: Transfer the cooked chicken back into the pan with the veggies and pour the coconut sweet chili sauce in over the stir fry. Then, stir in the cornstarch slurry and cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes until the sauce has thickened into a saucy glaze. Serve the chicken stir fry hot over rice with sesame seeds and thinly sliced green onions, as desired.

Recipe FAQs

Do coconut aminos taste like soy sauce?

Coconut aminos is a popular, healthier alternative for soy sauce because the aged coconut sap product tastes and looks similar to classic soy sauce. The biggest difference between the two is that coconut aminos is slightly sweeter tasting and is much lower in sodium.

Is stir fry sauce gluten-free?

Yes, this sweet chili stir fry sauce is gluten-free when made with a gluten-free friendly chili garlic sauce (I recommend the brand Huy Fong Foods) and coconut aminos or alternatively, tamari. Avoid using soy sauce because soy sauce almost always contains wheat.

Can stir fry be reheated in the microwave?

Absolutely. Reheat individual portions of leftover chicken stir fry in a microwave-safe bowl in 30-second bursts until heated through. If reheating over rice, add a splash of water to the rice before microwaving to keep it soft and moist.

Chicken and veggie stir fry in a skillet.

Top Tips

Prep all ingredients ahead of time. Similar to my fast Angel Hair Shrimp Scampi, this sweet chili chicken stir fry comes together quickly. Make cooking stress-free by prepping everything before getting started.
Taste the sauce before adding it to the pan. If you prefer it to be sweeter, add a bit more honey. If you want it more spicy, add more chili garlic sauce or fresh ginger. If you want it tangier, add more rice vinegar. Make the sweet chili sauce your own.
Do not add the cornstarch directly to the pan. Mixing the cornstarch or arrowroot powder with water before adding it to the pan is imperative to keeping the sauce smooth. If you add cornstarch directly to the pan without creating a slurry first, it will be near impossible to mix into the sauce and will remain clumpy.