Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat—Who doesn’t love a copycat recipe?
We all have our favorite restaurant dishes that we just can’t get enough of, and now you can make them at home!
This Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat is so easy to make and the perfect dish for busy weeknights. Give it a try tonight!
This is one of my favorite dishes I have done in the air fryer. It is also one of my favorite restaurant meals. At Panda Express, I give you my take on Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat Recipe today.
Air Fryer Sweet Fire Chicken is filled with crispy chicken, sliced pineapple, diced onions, and sweet bell peppers. It will taste exactly like your favorite takeout dish, made in minutes with the help of the Air Fryer.
If you love a great chicken dish, check out some of my other recipes, such as Air Fryer Sesame Chicken or even a simple Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad.
What Is Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken
Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken is a popular menu item at the fast-food Chinese restaurant chain Panda Express. It is a sweet and spicy dish with battered and fried chicken, bell peppers, onions, and pineapple tossed in a tangy sauce with garlic, ginger, honey, and chili paste.
The dish is typically served over steamed rice and garnished with sesame seeds and green onions.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Healthier Alternative: Making homemade sweet fire chicken in the air fryer allows you to enjoy a healthier version of this popular dish than deep-frying. The air fryer requires little to no oil, producing crispy chicken with less added fat and calories.
- Crispy Texture: The air fryer ensures the chicken gets beautifully crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside, mimicking the texture of traditional deep-fried chicken without the excess grease.
- Control Over Ingredients: When you make sweet fire chicken at home, you have complete control over the ingredients. This allows you to customize the sauce and adjust the spice level to suit your taste preferences and dietary restrictions.
- Quick and Convenient: Using the air fryer speeds up cooking, making it a fast and convenient option for busy weeknight dinners or last-minute meals. You can have delicious sweet fire chicken ready to serve in a fraction of the time it would take to order takeout or dine out.
- Versatile Dish: Homemade sweet fire chicken is a versatile dish that can be served in various ways. Enjoy it as a main course served over rice or noodles, or use it as a filling for wraps, tacos, or salads for a delicious and satisfying meal.
Ingredients Needed For Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Recipe
Here are the simple ingredients to make Copycat Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken in air fryer.
Remember the step-by-step directions below in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page and the nutritional information.
- Chicken: Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast, or boneless, skinless chicken thighs or tenderloins.
- Diced Bell Peppers
- Diced Onions
- Pineapples: Fresh cubed or canned cubed pineapple
- Scallions
- Cornstarch: This will help thicken up the sauce.
- All-Purpose Flour
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Egg: Use a large, room-temperature egg
- Seasonings and Spices: Minced Garlic, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, Toasted Sesame Seeds
How To Cook Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken in Air Fryer
Here are the simple steps to make Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken in air fryer.
Start by setting up your three breading stations. In one bowl, add your flour. Add your egg (beating it) in another bowl, and then add your cornstarch in the last bowl.
Bread your chicken with flour, egg wash, and then cornstarch. As you coat them, place them into the greased air fryer basket.
Spray the chicken with cooking spray, and then air fry for 7-10 minutes at 370 degrees F, air fryer setting, flipping halfway and spraying with cooking spray after you flip.
While the chicken is cooking, in a large skillet, add olive oil, and then add your peppers, onions, and garlic, saute for about 3 minutes, constantly mixing. Then add in the sweet chili sauce and red pepper flakes. Saute until heated through, mix well.
Toss in the chicken, tossing to coat, toss in the pineapples, and mix well.
Pro Tips
Here are some pro tips for making the best copycat Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken recipe in your kitchen:
- Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs: Chicken thighs have more flavor and tenderness than chicken breasts, making them the perfect choice for this dish. Trim any excess fat and cut them into bite-sized pieces for even cooking.
- Let the chicken marinate: Before breading and frying the chicken, let it marinate in a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and egg for at least 30 minutes. This will infuse the chicken with flavor and keep it moist and tender.
- Use cornstarch and flour for breading: The combination of cornstarch and flour will give the chicken a crispy, golden-brown coating.
- Air Fry in small batches: Fry the chicken in small batches to ensure it cooks evenly and stays crispy. Overcrowding the air fryer basket or pan can result in soggy chicken.
- Make the sauce ahead of time: The sauce can be made and stored in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. This will save you time when you’re ready to cook the chicken.
- Add fresh ingredients at the end: To preserve their texture and crunch, add the pineapple, bell peppers, and onions to the sauce at the end of the cooking process.
- Serve with steamed rice: For an actual Panda Express experience, serve the Sweet Fire Chicken over steamed rice and garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Faq’s
Can I Use Chicken Thighs? Yes, this would be an excellent recipe for meaty chicken thighs. Chicken thighs do amazingly well in the air fryer. They crisp nicely and have a meaty texture while still tender.
Storing: Let the dish cool to room temperature. Then, place the leftover chicken in an airtight container and place the container in the refrigerator. The leftover Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken will last about 2 to 3 days.
Can I make this dish gluten-free? You can use gluten-free soy sauce and a gluten-free flour blend for breading.
Can I make this dish spicy? Yes, you can adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or less chili paste to the sauce. You can also add red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper for extra heat.
Can I use fresh pineapple instead of canned pineapple? Yes, you can. Cut the fresh pineapple into bite-sized pieces and add it to the sauce towards the end of the cooking process.
Oven Instructions: You can bake the chicken in the oven at 375°F for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked and the breading is crispy. However, it may not be as crispy as when fried in the air fryer or deep-fried.
How To Reheat Sweet Fire Chicken In Air Fryer: The best way to reheat this meal is to place it in a microwave-safe dish. Place the dish in the microwave, microwave at 50% power for 3 to 4 minutes, and stir halfway. If you do not own a microwave or wish to reheat in the air fryer, place the leftover chicken (without the sauce) and reheat for 3 to 5 minutes at 330 degrees F, air fryer setting.
What To Serve With Panda Express Sweet Chili Chicken
I love making homemade Chinese Feast at my house. Some of my favorite dishes are:
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Equipment Used
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Air Fryer Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat Recipe
Description
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 large red bell pepper, diced
- 1 large orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1 cup pineapple, cubed
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 1 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Serve With: Sliced scallions, sesame seeds
Instructions
- Start by setting up your three breading stations. In one bowl, add your cornstarch. In another bowl, add your egg (beating it), and then in the last bowl, add your flour.
- Bread your chicken with flour, egg wash, and then cornstarch. As you coat them place them into the greased air fryer basket.
- Spray the chicken with cooking spray, and then air fry for 7-10 minutes at 370 degrees F, air fryer setting, flipping halfway and spraying with cooking spray after you flip.
- While the chicken is cooking, in a large skillet, add olive oil, and then add your peppers, onions, and garlic, saute for about 3 minutes, constantly mixing. Then add in the sweet chili sauce and red pepper flakes. Saute until heated through, mix well.
- Toss in the chicken, tossing to coat, toss in the pineapples, and mix well.
- Plate, serve, and enjoy!
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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