Angry Chicken

Spice up your dinner with this delicious and easy Angry Chicken recipe! With a perfect balance of sweet and spicy, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.

Angry Chicken is an easy to make chicken recipe that consists of fried chicken that is diced and coated in a spicy tomato sauce. Often served over rice or noodles, this bold and spicy chicken is a recipe every one will enjoy! For those of you who aren’t fans of spicy foods, don’t worry, this is only about a 5 out of 10 on the spicy scale. My kids don’t like heat and even they love this meal!

What you’ll love about this recipe

You may not have heard of Angry Chicken, but I assure you, it’s one recipe you definitely will want to add to your menu!

• Flavor Packed– with the combination of soy sauce, peppers, tomato sauce, and chicken, you have a combination of flavors that will satisfy any craving!
• Easy to Prepare– from prep time to serving, you only need about 20 minutes! In fact, to save on time, you can prep the sauce ahead of time and simply cook the chicken when ready to enjoy.
• Crowd-Pleaser– this recipe is easy to double, triple, or even cut in half depending on how many you need to feed.
• Customizable– serve this chicken recipe over rice like my instant pot jasmine rice, cooked pasta, in a wrap, over a salad, or on it’s own. So many great ways to enjoy!

Ingredient Notes

Below is a brief overview of each ingredient needed. To see printable recipe card with exact amounts and step by step directions, scroll to the bottom of this post or click the “jump to recipe” button at the top.

CHICKEN

• Chicken Breasts– I use boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe and dice it before getting started. You can also use boneless chicken thighs if preferred.
• Soy Sauce– adds lots of flavor, be sure to use low-sodium soy sauce to cut down on sodium levels.
• Cornstarch– this coats the diced chicken and gives the fried chicken pieces a crispier, lighter texture versus using flour.
• Egg– one large egg at room temperature is best. This will combine with the cornstarch.
• Oil– I use vegetable oil, frying oil works great too.
• Red Chilies– thinly sliced.
• Peppers– I use one green bell pepper and one red bell pepper. You can use any color desired.

SAUCE

• Chicken Broth– this is the base of the sauce and will help fully coat each chicken piece.
• Soy Sauce– adds a salty and Umami flavor to food. It also provides a subtle sweetness and a depth of flavor that enhances the overall taste of a dish. Use low sodium if possible.
• Rice Vinegar– adds a mild, tangy flavor with a subtle sweetness. A less harsh and acidic flavor versus using white vinegar.
• Tomato Puree– this brings the tomato flavor to the sauce. Canned puree works great, any brand.
• Sugar– this balances the acidity from the tomato puree and vinegar.
• Cornstarch– this will be used to thicken up the sauce before coating the chicken.

Making this Angry Chicken from Scratch

Toss the chicken pieces in a bowl with the soy sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch and egg together to form a batter.

Heat the oil in a wok. Dip the chicken into the batter and fry over a high heat for 4 to 5 minutes until golden and crisp and just cooked. Scoop out with a slotted spoon and set aside on a plate lined with paper towels.

Add the sliced chilies and peppers to the pan and fry for 3 to 4 minutes before adding all the sauce ingredients except for the cornstarch. Simmer over a high heat for 5 minutes, then blend 2 to 3 tablespoons of the sauce with the remaining cornstarch in a cup until smooth. Return to the pan and bubble until the sauce thickens.

Return the chicken to the pan and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is sticky and coated. Serve in deep bowls over instant pot jasmine rice.

What to serve with this recipe?

Although this chicken can be enjoyed on it’s own, my family loves serving it over instant pot jasmine rice (best ever chicken fried rice is great option). You can also serve it over cauliflower rice, steamed vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, or green beans. Cooked pasta is a great option, including chow mein. If you’re trying to stay healthy, you can use zucchini noodles! My kids like to take the leftovers and put it in a wrap with some crunchy chow mein noodles the next day as a lunchbox option!

Storage

If you are storing leftovers, allow the chicken to fully cool. Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator up to 4 days. You can also freeze the leftovers in a freezer safe container up to 3 months. Allow to thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating. To reheat, place chicken in microwave heating in 30 second increments until heated through, or place in a large skillet and heat over the stove.

Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy is this Angry Chicken?

The red chilies bring the heat to this dish, so I would say it’s up to your liking. If you like heat, add more, if you want a mild taste, cut the amount in half.

How can I make this in advance?

This is best enjoyed fresh, so I don’t recommend making the chicken in advance. You can save time by making the sauce ahead of time and prepping the chicken. Keep the sauce and chicken in separate containers in the fridge until ready to cook. From there, it should only take about 15 minutes or less to make!

What else can I add to this to enhance the flavor?

You can always add in any seasonings desired such as black pepper, minced garlic, hot sauce, Chile sauce, Sriracha sauce, etc. Once ready to serve, you can garnish with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, etc.

More Chicken Recipes to try

PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps– using ground chicken, water chestnuts, and a homemade hoisin sauce, this lettuce wrap recipe makes the perfect lunch, dinner, or appetizer!

Baked Honey Sesame Chicken– enjoy the delectable blend of crispy diced chicken, perfectly coated in a delightful sweet, savory, and tangy sauce.

Easy Orange Chicken– using simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and tender chicken dish perfect for any occasion. This recipe is not only easy to follow, but also a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults alike.

Instant Pot Chicken Lo Mein– perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Made with tender chicken, crisp vegetables, and flavorful sauce, it's a delicious one-pot meal that the whole family will love.

Teriyaki Chicken Casserole– this simple yet flavor-packed casserole features an incredible combination of vegetable stir fry, rice, chicken, and a flavorful homemade Teriyaki sauce.