Pic Credit: Tripadvisor
Longhorn Spicy Chicken Bites are a famous appetizer offered by the Longhorn Steakhouse as people know this dish for crusting and spiciness. These small pieces of chicken are soaked in a tangy sauce, then battered and fried, to ensure that these are great snacks that everyone would love to have at parties.
Whether you have visitors and want to prepare a party meal, or simply feel like having some spicy chicken bites or want to create a restaurant atmosphere at home – this recipe will help you do it.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS
To make this delightful Longhorn spicy chicken recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 quarts of oil for frying
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1–2 tablespoons of hot sauce (adjust according to your heat preference)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- Chopped green onions (for garnishing)
MEASURES & PRECAUTIONS
- Marination: To enhance taste you need to marinate your chicken for at least 2 hours but it’s optional to marinate it overnight. This way the chicken bites are able to suck up the flavors from the marinade in a deeper way.
- Oil Temperature: Standard procedure is that your frying oil should be heated to approximately 350 degrees before the chicken is put in it. It has to be this temperature so that the outer layer gets crispy without soaking and absorbing so much oil.
- Batch Cooking: Do not overcrowd the frying pan this will make the oil to reduce in quantity, cook in parts if that is the only way to go. When the number of pieces to be fried is too many the oil temperature goes down resulting in soft rather than crispy bites.
- Cooking Time: Fry each batch for about 5-7 minutes or until golden brown with traces of pink in the centre. Lovely and juicy meat is directed by placing the fork in the thickest part of the food and using a meat thermometer the reading shuold be 165°F.
- Sauce Consistency: When preparing your sauce, it is better to thicken it to a syrup-like consistency because this enables the sauce to cling to the chicken bites.
Longhorn Spicy Chicken Bites Recipe
INGREDIENTS NOTES
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Chicken Selection: This recipe calls for boneless skinless chicken breasts because these cuttings are tender and capable of holding flavor from the marinade.
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Cornstarch Usage: Getting the right combination of coating is important to give more crunch when frying; it works great with our chicken bites.
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Hot Sauce Variations: Depending on your personal preferences you can always reduce or increase the hot sauce to your taste, I recommend using sriracha sauce to bring out more flavors.
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Sesame Oil Flavor: Sesame oil adds a great nutty taste that goes well with the other aromatics; however, the latter can be replaced with vegetable oil.
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Garnishing Options: Chopped green onions not only add color but also provide a fresh crunch that balances the spiciness of the dish.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
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In a big bowl mix together next ingredients: salt, pepper, cornstarch, minced garlic, grated ginger, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, and hot sauce for the marinade.
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Submerge the pieces of chicken into the marinade and mix it gently until the chicken pieces are well covered. Finally, wrap the dish with plastic wrap and let it chill for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator or preferably overnight which will allow the flavors to be well absorbed in the salmon.
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Open the fryer or a large thick-bottomed pan and heat the oil at medium high, allowing it to come to temperatures 350 F (175 C).
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While the oil is heating up, prepare your dipping sauce by combining more honey with soy sauce and sesame oil in a small saucepan over a low heat and stirring until they are well incorporated.
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After marringinating and heating oil, add the pieces of chicken gently so that they do not overcrowd the pan. Fry to a golden brown and then until done (for the given period of time which is 5–7 minutes) and take out with the slotted spoon and let the oil drain through the paper towels.
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Sprinkle sesame seeds on the fried chicken bites while it’s still hot to have that crunchy texture to the food.
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Serve immediately with your dipping sauce on the side and garnish with chopped green onions.
RECIPE TIPS & VARIATIONS
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Air Frying Option: If you want to use a healthier way, it’s possible to use an air fryer instead of deep fry—before that just lightly grease the chicken bites with the cooking oil and place them in the air fryer at 200 C for 10-12 mins.
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Spice Level Adjustments: To those who prefer a little more spiciness in their meals you can include red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper in your marinade.
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Storage Tips: Any chicken pieces that are cooked can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge and to ensure they taste as fresh as when they were cooked, the left over chicken bites should be reheated in an air fryer.
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Vegetarian Alternative: For the vegetarian version replace chicken pieces with firm tofu cut into small portions; marinate and cook in a similar manner as described above.
EQUIPMENT
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Deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pot
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Slotted spoon
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Mixing bowl
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Measuring cups and spoons
Note
SERVING TIPS 💡
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These spicy chicken bites nicely complimented with side dishes such as steamed jasmine rice or stir fried vegetables to have an all round meal.
- Present Longhorn Spicy Chicken Bites with dipping sauce separately so that it can be dip by the guests as per their desire while serving it hot.
- Its taste is best enhanced with scallions or green onions, and sesame seeds for decorative purposes.
- These bites could also be best enjoyed with snacks such as iced tea or lemonade so as to counter the spiciness of the dish.
- For large groups, one can prepare a large quantity to allow everyone have a taste without having to prepare another portion.
- Eat best with fresh vegetables such as carrot sticks or cucumber so that the contrast with the spiciness of the bites is achieved.
Are you looking for another tasty chicken dish? Dutch Oven Shredded Chicken is a flavorful twist!
These Longhorn Spicy Chicken Bites are a must-try! The sauce, especially with the Marzetti chili ginger sauce, adds such an explosive flavor. I found this step-by-step guide useful – it helped me adjust the heat and balance the sweet and spicy just right.