Asian Sweet Chili Lime Chicken 

This Sweet Chili Lime Chicken is delicious! It's so easy to make and contains the perfect flavors (chili, lime, and soy sauce). You only need to cook the chili lime chicken and make the sweet sauce. It's a simple chili lime sauce! Done in just 20 minutes, perfect for meal prep!

This Sweet Chili Lime Chicken cooking time is only 20 minutes with very simple ingredients. You can pan-fry the chicken, bake, grill, slow cooker, or my favorite, air fryer. The best part? The sauce glazes the chicken very well and blends each other perfectly. It's one of my favorites!

This was inspired by my other recipe on this site, Easy Asian Chicken Rice Bowl, Asian Pulled Pork, and pairs well with amazing Asian side dish recipe, The Best Asian Coleslaw, or Cilantro Lime Rice.

Jump to:

• Ingredients for Sweet Chili Lime Chicken
• How to make sweet chili lime chicken
• Substitutions
• Equipment
• How to store and reheat
• Top tips
• Related
• Pairing
• Thanks for coming by!
• Asian Sweet Chili Lime Chicken 
• Food safety

Ingredients for Sweet Chili Lime Chicken

• boneless skinless chicken thighs
• smoked paprika 
• garlic powder 
• onion powder
• salt 
• black pepper
• avocado oil 
• julienned ginger 
• minced garlic

Sweet Chili Lime Sauce:

• lime
• soy sauce
• sweet chili sauce 
• sesame oil 

Optional: Add chili powder for more spiciness.

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make sweet chili lime chicken

1. Prepare the Chicken:

• Start by seasoning the chicken thighs. In a large bowl, combine smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. 
• Rub the spice mixture evenly over each chicken thigh, ensuring they are well coated. Set aside while you prepare the sauce.

2. Make the Sweet Chili Lime Sauce:

• In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, and sweet chili sauce until well combined. Set aside.
• Optionally, add a few drops of sesame oil to the sauce for extra flavor. Adjust the amount according to your preferences.

3. Cook the Chicken:

• Heat avocado oil in a large skillet or frying pan over medium-high heat.
• Once the oil is hot, add the seasoned chicken thighs to the pan in a single layer. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side or until golden brown and cooked through. 
• Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and set it aside on a plate.
• Optional: You can use a meat thermometer or an instant-read thermometer to check if the meat has reached the safe minimum internal temperature. Avoid high temperatures.

4. Prepare the Sauce and Finish Cooking:

• In the same skillet, add the julienned ginger and minced garlic. Saute for about 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
• Pour the prepared sweet chili lime sauce into the skillet, stirring to combine with the ginger and garlic.
• Return the cooked chicken thighs back to the skillet, coating them evenly with the sauce.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the chicken simmer in the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the chicken to absorb the sauce.
• Make sure the chicken is fully cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly.

5. Serve:

• Once the chicken is cooked and the sauce has thickened, remove the skillet from the heat.
• Garnish with additional lime zest or sesame seeds if desired.
• Serve the Sweet Chili Lime Chicken hot, with your favorite sides like steamed rice, roasted vegetables, or a green salad.

Substitutions

Chicken Thighs: You can use boneless, skinless chicken breast instead of thighs if you prefer leaner meat or use tofu or seitan for a vegetarian option

Garlic powder: Fresh minced garlic can be substituted, just adjust the quantity to your taste

Julienned ginger: You can use ground ginger powder. Start with a smaller amount as ground ginger is more potent than fresh.

Lime:  You can use bottled lime juice or lemon juice for a slightly different citrus flavor.

Black pepper: Cayenne pepper for a spicier alternative.

Soy sauce: Tamari sauce for a gluten-free option or coconut aminos for a soy-free and lower sodium option.

Sweet chili sauce: You can make your own by combining equal parts of your favorite chili sauce (such as Sriracha) with honey or brown sugar. Adjust the sweetness and heat level to your taste.

Sesame oil: peanut oil, cashew oil, or some neutral-flavored oil like olive oil, vegetable oil, or canola oil.

Equipment

• Wok or large skillet
• Bowls
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons
• ​Sheet pan (optional)

How to store and reheat

To store and reheat the chili lime chicken recipe, follow these steps:

Storage:

• Transfer to Airtight Container: Transfer any leftover rice bowl to an airtight container. Make sure the container is suitable for the quantity of food and has a tight-fitting lid to maintain freshness.
• Refrigeration: Place the airtight container with the rice bowl in the refrigerator. It can typically be stored for up to 3–4 days in the refrigerator. If you want to add extra time, it's totally fine.

Reheating:

• Microwave for a minute.
• Stovetop. Cook on a stove for 5 minutes until heated through. Add water if needed.

Related

Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:

Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Sweet Chili Lime Chicken:

Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.