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Close-up of sticky, spicy firecracker chicken bites ready to serve.

Air Fryer Firecracker Chicken

4.86 from 7 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 4 Servings

Description

Crispy air fryer chicken tossed in a sweet, spicy, sticky firecracker sauce — ready in under 30 minutes with no deep frying. The perfect easy weeknight dinner!

Ingredients 

For the chicken:

  • 1½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

For the firecracker sauce:

  • ⅓ cup hot sauce, Frank's RedHot or similar
  • ⅓ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, or apple cider vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha, optional, for extra heat

To serve:

  • Cooked jasmine or white rice
  • Sliced green onions
  • Toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  • Coat the chicken. In a bowl, toss the chicken cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Add the cornstarch and toss until evenly coated.
  • Air fry. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Arrange the chicken in a single layer, leaving space between pieces. Air fry at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden, crispy, and cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F. Work in batches if needed.
  • Make the sauce. While the chicken cooks, combine the hot sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, red pepper flakes, and sriracha (if using) in a small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 3–5 minutes, stirring, until slightly thickened.
  • Toss and serve. Add the crispy chicken to the warm sauce and toss to coat. Serve immediately over rice, garnished with green onions and sesame seeds.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

  • For extra-juicy chicken, substitute boneless, skinless thighs and add 2–3 minutes to the cook time.
  • Toss the chicken in the sauce just before serving to keep it crispy.
  • Adjust the red pepper flakes and sriracha to control the heat.
  • Store leftovers up to 3 days; re-crisp in the air fryer at 350°F for 3–4 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 366kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 37gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1114mgPotassium: 711mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 164IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 32mgIron: 1mg