Description

This Jalapeno Chicken recipe features tender chicken tenderloins coated in cornstarch, quickly fried until golden, and then simmered in a flavorful sauce made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ketchup, and spicy jalapenos. The result is a sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy dish perfect for serving over rice or mashed potatoes, offering a delicious balance of heat and savory flavors with a crisp exterior.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

1 pound chicken tenderloins
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 cup oil (for frying)

Vegetables and Aromatics

1 small onion, chopped
3 jalapenos, seeded and sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced

Sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil
1/3 cup lite soy sauce
2 teaspoons vinegar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup

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Instructions

Coat the chicken: In a large mixing bowl, toss the chicken tenderloins with the cornstarch until evenly coated to prepare them for frying.
Heat the oil: Heat 1 cup of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot enough for frying the chicken.
Brown the chicken: Quickly brown the chicken tenderloins in the hot oil, ensuring they develop a crispy exterior but do not fully cook through at this stage.
Remove chicken: Take the chicken out of the pan and set aside to prepare for the sauce.
Sauté onions and jalapenos: In a clean skillet or the same one wiped out, add sesame oil, chopped onion, and sliced jalapenos; sauté over medium heat until tender and slightly browned to develop flavor.
Add sauce ingredients: Pour in lite soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, minced garlic, and ketchup into the skillet with the onions and jalapenos.
Combine the sauce: Whisk the sauce ingredients together thoroughly to combine all flavors.
Return chicken to pan: Add the browned chicken tenderloins back into the skillet with the sauce mixture.
Simmer: Cook everything over medium heat until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken pieces evenly, ensuring the chicken is fully cooked and flavors meld.
Serve: Serve the Jalapeno Chicken hot over cooked rice or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.

Notes

For less heat, remove all jalapeno seeds before slicing.
Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable or canola for frying.
Adjust brown sugar quantity according to your desired sweetness.
Ensure the chicken is cooked through by simmering enough time in the sauce.
Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.