Looking for some easy dinner ideas with a fiery kick? These spicy chicken recipes are exactly what you need! I’ve put together a list of top picks to keep your family happy and your tastebuds sizzling. 

 

Just about everyone likes chicken, but let’s be honest — without the right recipes, sometimes it can get a bit boring. 

With a little bit of preparation and the right ingredients, you can transform plain old chicken into some of the boldest, brightest, and spiciest meals on the planet. 

Keep reading to discover your new favorite spicy chicken dinner. Then, bust out that chili powder and get ready for some spicy surprises!

Spicy Chicken Dinner Recipes

This roundup of spicy chicken recipes has a little something for everyone, all with a bold, zesty kick. 

You’ll find fried chicken, hot wings, baked chicken, chicken stew, chicken casseroles, pasta bakes and more. The dishes range from mild to fiery hot and most of them can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

I tried to include a wide variety of options while including a few different culinary traditions. There are Korean, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, and Cajun dishes, each with their own spin on spicy flavor. Time to crank up the heat!

1. Firecracker Chicken

We kick off this list with this Asian-inspired firecracker chicken recipe. This mouthwatering dish features tender chunks of chicken with a deliciously crunchy exterior bathed in a sweet, tangy, and spicy firecracker sauce. 

No deep frying required! Serve over rice for an easy weeknight dinner. 

2. Nashville Hot Chicken

This recipe is going to rock your world! Bone-in chicken pieces are brined in dill pickle juice, double dredged in a Creole spiced batter, and fried to crispy crunchy perfection. 

You end up with tender, juicy meat inside and spicy, crunchy skin on the outside. 

The fun isn’t over yet, though! The fried chicken then gets coated in a spicy chili oil made with chili powder, cayenne, brown sugar, and more.

3. Spicy Chicken Pasta

Here is a spicy chicken dinner idea for the pasta lovers in your house. This recipe combines penne pasta and chicken with one of the tastiest cream sauces you have ever tried. 

Cajun seasoning is blended with parmesan, cream cheese, and cream to make this luxuriously rich, spicy sauce. 

It’s completely made from scratch, but don’t worry. You can make this whole recipe in just 30 minutes!

4. Peri Peri Chicken

Originating in Portugal, with strong influences from North African cuisine, peri peri chicken is loaded with bold, vibrant flavors. 

Whole pieces of chicken are marinated in a sauce made from African birds eye chiles, citrus juice, brown sugar, and spices. 

The chicken gets grilled until lightly charred, leaving you with a dish that is bright, smoky, sweet, and spicy at the same time.  

5. Firecracker Ground Chicken Bowls

If you are looking for spicy chicken recipes to fit into a busy lifestyle, look no further. 

These zesty Korean ground chicken bowls are great for quick weeknight dinners and make excellent meals on the go. 

In addition to the spicy ground chicken, these bowls come complete with steamed rice and tons of fresh, crunchy vegetables. Everything you need to keep you going strong! 

6. Spicy Korean Chicken Stew

You are going to love this spicy Korean spin on chicken stew. Known as dakdoritang, this stew is made with whole pieces of chicken, potatoes, carrots, and other veggies in a bold, chili sauce-based broth. 

The vegetables soften perfectly as the chicken becomes fall-off-the-bone tender. Each and every bite is loaded with zesty Korean flavor. Serve this fiery stew over rice for a hearty, satisfying meal. 

7. Bang Bang Chicken

Perfect as an appetizer, bang bang chicken is one of those easy spicy chicken recipes that never fails to impress. 

The star of the show, bang bang sauce, is made with a simple combination of mayo, sriracha, chili paste, honey, and cayenne topped with red pepper flakes.

Featuring crunchy, pan-fried chicken pieces in a sweet, creamy, and spicy sauce, this chicken recipe is simple yet delicious enough to make you swoon! 

8. Honey Sriracha Chicken

This easy spicy chicken recipe is bursting with flavor and so incredibly easy to make. You only need a handful of simple ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep time to put this dish together. 

Make the glaze, pop it in the oven, and get ready for one mouthwatering meal. This chicken is sticky-sweet, tangy, and perfectly spicy. I like to chop up leftovers for use in bowls, salads, wraps, and more. 

9. Black Pepper Chicken

Chile peppers often get all the glory, but black pepper is no slouch when it comes to heat. 

Check out this fiery black pepper chicken recipe and you’ll see what I mean. It is an easy-to-make meal that delivers a serious dose of spicy flavor.

Succulent pieces of chicken are seasoned with a bold black pepper sauce made with freshly ground peppercorns, ginger, garlic, chiles, and more. 

If you have ever had black pepper chicken from Panda Express, you are going to love this homemade version. 

10. Spicy Jalapeno Chicken

This recipe is a jalapeno lover’s dream! Pieces of chicken are dredged in a light, crunchy coating before being pan-fried to perfection and bathed in an intensely flavorful sauce. 

Made with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and jalapenos, the sauce is sweet, savory, and undeniably spicy. If desired, you can easily make a milder version of the dish. 

11. Chicken Diablo

Chicken breasts are marinated in a rich, creamy blend of sour cream, hot sauce, ketchup, honey, and spices. 

After that, they are pan-fried to golden brown and drizzled with more sweet and spicy cream sauce. It is easy to make and comforting, with just the right level of spice. 

Chicken diablo is the perfect choice if you are craving a sweet, creamy, and spicy chicken dinner. 

12. Dragon Chicken

Get ready for a total flavor explosion with this amazing dragon chicken recipe. It has crispy strips of fried chicken, tender, buttery cashews, and stir-fried veggies in a spicy, sweet and sour sauce. 

Dragon chicken is one of those spicy chicken recipes that will satisfy your craving for heat while teasing every other taste bud too. It covers every flavor profile all at once!

13. Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

Perfect for lunch or dinner, these sandwiches are made with shredded chicken and fiery buffalo sauce on the bun of your choice. 

Toppings can include blue cheese, ranch dressing, pickles, coleslaw, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, or anything else your heart desires. Quick and customizable for the win! An easy recipe for busy weeknights.

14. Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

Move over baked ziti! This buffalo chicken pasta bake is on the menu tonight! With savory chicken, tender pasta, fiery buffalo sauce, and 3 types of cheese, this ultra-creamy and cheesy creation is absolutely to die for. 

It even has a bit of ranch for the full buffalo chicken flavor experience! And from start to finish, you can have this easy chicken recipe on the table in just 30 minutes. 

15. Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta

This Cheesecake Factory copycat recipe is a delightful blend of tastes and textures. It’s a penne pasta dish made with honey-glazed chicken breast, asparagus, peas, and bell peppers in a zesty chipotle parmesan cream sauce. 

While it is a bit off the beaten path, this unique combination of ingredients is surprisingly yummy. Give it a shot and decide for yourself!  

16. Spicy Fried Chicken

This Korean-inspired recipe for spicy fried chicken is the stuff of legends. Like many of the other recipes on this list, this recipe is made with crunchy, pan-fried chicken that gets smothered in a zesty, spicy sauce. 

However, I doubt you’ve tasted sauce like this before! The secret ingredient is gochujang, a fermented red chili paste popular in Korean cooking. It adds heat, but also offers a uniquely smoky, savory, and sweet flavor as well.  

17. Hot Wings

When it comes to spicy chicken recipes, hot wings are about as classic as it gets! This recipe delivers some of the best wings out there, with irresistibly crisp skin and a bold, zesty sauce to smother them in. 

For your convenience, you’ll find instructions to make these hot buffalo wings in the oven, deep fryer, or air fryer.  Whip up a batch for your next party or game night! 

18. Spicy Grilled Chicken

Here is a simple, effective way to jazz up your next batch of grilled chicken. This recipe uses an easy-to-make marinade of mayonnaise, mustard, hot sauce, chili paste, and spices to infuse the meat with a bright, spicy flavor. A few minutes on the grill gives it a perfect pop of complementary smoky flavor.  

Plus, it’s a breeze to make! Definitely put this one on your list of spicy chicken recipes for busy weeknights!

19. Blackened Chicken

Dip your toe into the world of Cajun and Creole cooking with this easy blackened chicken recipe. 

After being coated with blackening seasoning, the chicken gets pan-seared to create a seared, blackened effect. It finishes cooking in the oven, resulting in tender, juicy chicken with a deep, smoky flavor. 

The whole process takes only 20 minutes. Plus, this recipe also teaches you how to make your own blackening seasoning!

20. Sheet Pan Cajun Chicken

With chicken breast, potatoes, and other hearty vegetables tossed in a spicy Cajun spice blend, this dish is both flavorful and filling. 

This easy recipe can serve as a complete meal, making it perfect for busy weeknights or anytime you need a quick meal. 

You only need 10 minutes of prep time and one pan. Simply chop it, toss it, bake it, and enjoy. Virtually no clean-up involved! 

21. Green Chili Chicken Casserole

Whip out those casserole pans for this cheesy, green chile chicken masterpiece. This dish is a mouthwatering combination of shredded chicken, sour cream, cheese, and green chile sauce nestled in between layers of soft corn tortillas. 

It is a rich and comforting casserole with layers of zingy Tex-Mex flavor. This recipe is perfect for feeding a large group of people and is easy to make ahead of time. One the whole family will love!

22. General Tso’s Chicken

Forget about takeout! With this easy recipe, you can make General Tso’s chicken in the comfort of your own home. 

This famous dish is a Chinese-American fusion, featuring chunks of fried chicken in a sweet, tangy, and spicy sauce. 

It is one of the most ordered dishes at Chinese restaurants, and you’ll quickly see why. Serve over rice or noodles for a dynamite spicy chicken dinner. 

23. Spicy Thai Chicken Tenders

Holy smokes, are these chicken fingers tasty! This Thai-inspired recipe uses panko breadcrumbs to give these babies the ultimate crunch factor. 

Then, the chicken fingers are bathed in a spicy-sweet Sriracha peanut sauce, giving them that signature Thai flavor. 

Since they only take 20 minutes to prepare, be sure to add them to your list of fast and easy spicy chicken recipes. 

24. Hot Honey Chicken Meatballs

If you are a fan of sweet heat, these hot honey chicken meatballs are for you! 

These irresistible, meaty morsels are loaded with aromatic spices like garlic, onion powder, paprika, and oregano, infusing flavor into every bite. 

However, the real star of the show is the sauce! A simple combination of honey, salt, and the hot sauce of your choice takes this spicy chicken dinner to the next level. 

More chicken recipes

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• Amazing buffalo chicken recipes
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