Candy chili hen and rice is a type of meals that tastes like your favourite takeout order however comes along with virtually no effort in any respect. This model leans into each shortcut that makes weeknight cooking really feel doable, frozen bell peppers, quick-cooking hen tenders and a jar of candy chili sauce you in all probability have already got in your fridge. Paired with rice cooked within the On the spot Pot, this dinner is prepared in about 20 minutes and delivers that candy, savory, saucy taste you crave on nights whenever you’re too burnt out to cut, prep or fuss over something difficult.
In the midst of my very own cooking burnout, I noticed how a lot I wanted meals that felt enjoyable once more with out being loads of work. This candy chili hen checks each field. It’s easy, makes use of substances you seemingly have already got and tastes like one thing you’d order out, which is such a win on nights when cooking looks like yet another factor in your plate.


When you love fast, takeout-inspired meals, I’ve a couple of others you may need to add to your rotation. My On the spot Pot teriyaki hen is a longtime favourite as a result of the On the spot Pot does all of the work and the flavour is unbelievable. The Asian floor hen rice bowls are one other simple weeknight go-to, particularly whenever you need one thing quick however satisfying. And should you want the quickest possibility of all, my 10 minute Asian hen is ideal with rice and veggies or tucked into lettuce wraps.


Ingredient highlight
The total listing of substances is beneath, that is meant to spotlight a couple of of the important thing substances
- Rooster tenders – I like utilizing hen tenders as a result of they’re the final word fast meal hack. A couple of snips with kitchen shears turns them into evenly sized items that cook dinner quick and keep tender. When you don’t have tenders readily available, any boneless, skinless hen will work right here.
- Candy chili sauce – That is the place a lot of the taste comes from, so use any model you’re keen on. I’ve examined this recipe with a number of manufacturers and a few are a lot thinner than others. In case your sauce appears free as soon as it heats up, you possibly can thicken it with a bit arrowroot.
- Arrowroot (optionally available) – You need to use arrowroot, tapioca or cornstarch to thicken the sauce if wanted. Some candy chili sauces are already thick sufficient, so this step is optionally available. When you do use it, combine the starch into chilly water first and stir till fully dissolved earlier than including it to the new pan. This retains the sauce clean and prevents clumping.
Step-by-step directions
Suggestions for achievement
- Crispy hen possibility: For a enjoyable twist, air fry your favourite hen tenders, chop them into bite-size items and toss them with the sauce and veggies. It provides an ideal texture with virtually no additional effort.
- Reduce hen into small, even items. The smaller the cubes, the quicker and extra evenly they cook dinner. This retains the hen tender and helps the entire dish come collectively shortly.
- Style your sauce earlier than thickening. Some candy chili sauces are sweeter, spicier or thinner than others. Give it a fast style as soon as heated so you possibly can modify as wanted.
- Swap out the jasmine rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice if that works higher for your loved ones.
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Rice
- 1.5 cups rice
- 3 cups water
Veggies
- 14 oz frozen peppers – 1 bag
- ½ teaspoon salt
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Rinse rice nicely. Add rice and water to prompt pot and cook dinner 3 minutes excessive strain.
1.5 cups rice, 3 cups water
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Preheat a big skillet over medium excessive warmth.
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Reduce hen into cubes. Spray pan with avocado oil and add hen, cook dinner hen, .2 tablespoons coconut aminos and ½ teaspoon salt, cook dinner 7-8 minutes stirring sometimes.
1.5 kilos hen, 2 tablespoons coconut aminos, ½ teaspoon salt
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Take away hen from skillet and add frozen peppers and ½ teaspoon salt. Prepare dinner 5-6 minutes till defrosted.
14 oz frozen peppers, ½ teaspoon salt
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Mix ¾ cup candy chili sauce and 6 tablespoons coconut aminos.
¾ cup candy chili sauce, 6 tablespoons coconut aminos
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Add hen again to pan and pour candy chili sauce over hen and peppers.
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Non-compulsory: Make an arrowroot slurry – mix 1.5 teaspoons arrowroot and 1 tablespoon water. Stir with fork till absolutely dissolved. Pour into the pan and stir nicely.
1.5 teaspoons arrowroot powder, 2 teaspoons water
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Prepare dinner 1-2 minutes then flip off warmth.
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Serve over rice with optionally available inexperienced onion.
- Take away the tendon from hen tenders. It takes an additional minute, however makes the hen a lot extra pleasing. I take advantage of the fork technique: grip the white tendon with a paper towel, press a fork towards the tender and pull. The tendon slides proper out.
- Add arrowroot provided that wanted. Some candy chili sauces are already thick. Pour the sauce over the hen first, then resolve if it wants thickening. At all times dissolve arrowroot in chilly water earlier than including it to the new pan to keep away from clumping.
- Swap bell peppers if wanted. When you don’t have frozen bell peppers or don’t love them, use chopped frozen broccoli or frozen inexperienced beans. Each cook dinner shortly and maintain this recipe burnout-friendly.
- Use frozen or microwaveable rice for pace. When you don’t have an On the spot Pot (or the vitality to cook dinner rice), microwave frozen jasmine rice to maintain this meal underneath quarter-hour.
- If this recipe makes an excessive amount of rice, freeze the leftovers to make use of in future recipes (I take advantage of Soupercubes for this).
Vitamin Info
Vitamin Details
Quantity per Serving
The place does diet data come from? Vitamin information are supplied as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Meals Database.
Different additions
- Spice -Add a pinch of crushed crimson pepper flakes or stir in a teaspoon or two of sriracha or a tablespoon of garlic chili oil if you would like a bit warmth to stability the candy chili sauce.
- Brightness – End the dish with a squeeze of contemporary lime juice and a sprinkle of chopped cilantro. It lifts the flavors and provides a contemporary pop with out additional effort.
- Shade – For a bit additional shade and crunch, toss in a handful of chopped inexperienced onions proper earlier than serving.
Frequent questions
Can I make this with leftover hen or rotisserie hen?
Sure. That is certainly one of my favourite methods to make use of leftover meal-prepped hen or rotisserie hen (a real cooking burnout staple). Simply heat the hen within the pan as soon as the veggies are sizzling, then add the sauce and let all the pieces warmth by.
Can I take advantage of hen breasts as an alternative of tenders?
Undoubtedly. Rooster breasts or thighs each work nicely. Simply lower them into small, even items so that they cook dinner shortly and keep tender.
Can I take advantage of a special veggie?
Sure. Any quick-cooking frozen veggie works right here. Frozen broccoli, inexperienced beans or perhaps a stir-fry combine all make nice burnout-friendly substitutions.


What if my sauce will get too thick?
Add a splash of water or broth to loosen it. Candy chili sauce thickens shortly because it cooks, particularly should you used arrowroot.
What if my sauce is just too skinny?
Stir in a slurry of arrowroot combined with chilly water, then simmer for 1 to 2 minutes till it thickens.
Can I make this spicy?
Sure. Add sriracha, crushed crimson pepper flakes or chili onion crunch if you would like a bit extra warmth.
Can I serve this with one thing apart from rice?
Completely. It’s nice with noodles, cauliflower rice, quinoa or inside lettuce wraps.


Can I make this prematurely?
Completely. This dish reheats very well and works nice for meal prep. If you understand you’re cooking it particularly for meal prep, boneless skinless hen thighs are likely to reheat the perfect and keep juicy.
How lengthy do leftovers final within the fridge?
Retailer leftovers in an hermetic container for as much as 3 days. You possibly can portion the hen and rice collectively in meal prep containers should you’re planning forward for lunches or busy nights.
