Snappy Crispy Sticky Chicken and Broccoli Recipe Everyone Loves
Tender chicken coated in a mouthwatering sticky sauce brings this crispy sticky chicken and broccoli recipe to life with incredible flavor.
The golden-brown edges crackle with delicious promise.
Every bite delivers a perfect balance of textures and tastes.
Weeknight dinners just got a serious upgrade with this simple yet impressive dish.
Broccoli adds a fresh, vibrant green crunch that complements the savory chicken.
The sauce ties everything together with its delightful blend of sweet and tangy notes.
You’ll fall in love with how quickly this meal comes together in your kitchen.
Prepare to devour every last delectable morsel.
Equipment That Keeps This Takeout Fakeout Easy
Large skillet: Essential for cooking chicken and broccoli evenly and creating delicious sticky sauce.
Mixing bowl: Perfect for coating chicken with cornstarch and seasonings.
Small bowl: Ideal for whisking together sauce ingredients.
Whisk: Crucial for blending sauce components smoothly.
Cutting board: Needed for preparing vegetables and chopping garnishes.
Sharp knife: Useful for slicing chicken and green onions.
Measuring spoons and cups: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions.
Wooden spoon or spatula: Great for stirring and coating chicken and broccoli with sauce.
How to Cook Sticky Chicken and Broccoli at Home
Create Crispy Chicken Broccoli Stir-Fry
Prep Chicken Coating Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with seasoning mixture to ensure maximum flavor absorption and crispy exterior.
Sizzle Chicken Perfectly heat oil in large skillet and cook chicken until golden brown and completely cooked through, creating delicious caramelized edges.
Steam Broccoli Quickly cook broccoli with water splash to maintain vibrant green color and tender-crisp texture, avoiding mushy vegetables.
Craft Flavor Sauce Blend savory and sweet ingredients to create a mouthwatering sauce that will coat every morsel with deliciousness.
Combine and Simmer Bring chicken and broccoli together in skillet, allowing sauce to transform into a glossy, clingy coating that makes taste buds dance.
Serve Immediately Transfer to serving plate, garnishing with optional toppings for extra visual appeal and fresh flavor burst.
Flavor Tweaks for a Custom Spin
Ensure cornstarch completely covers chicken for a perfect golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture and creates irresistible crunch.
Don't overcook broccoli – steam just until tender to maintain bright green color and retain nutritional value while avoiding mushy texture.
Simmer sauce slowly to achieve that signature sticky glaze; low and slow helps develop rich caramelized flavors and perfect coating.
Make this recipe gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce, or try coconut aminos for a soy-free alternative that still delivers incredible flavor.
Easily substitute chicken with tofu, shrimp, or beef to create exciting variations that suit different dietary preferences and keep meals interesting.
Serving Tips for This Sweet and Savory Dish
Cozy Date Night Dinner: Create a romantic atmosphere with soft lighting and candles, serving this sticky chicken on elegant plates for an intimate meal at home.
Meal Prep Champion: Pack individual portions in containers with rice compartments for easy grab-and-go lunches during busy workweeks, keeping flavors fresh and exciting.
Family Style Feast: Spread the chicken and broccoli in a large serving dish, placing it center table with extra rice and chopsticks, encouraging everyone to serve themselves and enjoy together.
Quick Weeknight Winner: Top the dish with extra red pepper flakes and crispy wontons for added crunch, transforming a simple recipe into a restaurant-quality experience right in your kitchen.
How to Keep Leftovers Just as Good
Store leftover chicken and broccoli in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking to maintain freshness and prevent bacterial growth. Keeps well in the refrigerator for 35 days.
Warm portions in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to restore moisture and prevent drying. Stir gently to distribute heat evenly and maintain the original texture of chicken and sauce.
Separate chicken and sauce before freezing to prevent soggy texture. Package in freezer-safe containers, removing excess air. Stays delicious for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Prepare double batches and portion into individual containers for easy grab-and-go lunches. Keeps ingredients crisp and flavors intense when stored correctly. Perfect for busy weekdays and planned nutrition.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Calories: 350 kcal
Servings: 5
Sticky Chicken and Broccoli Ingredient Guide
For Protein Base:
Chicken: Select boneless, skinless pieces for quick, even cooking and tender results. Choose fresh, high-quality chicken for maximum flavor and texture.
Cornstarch: Creates a crispy, protective coating that helps seal in chicken's moisture and provides golden-brown exterior during cooking.
For Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
Soy Sauce: Adds deep umami and salty undertones that balance the dish's overall taste profile.
Comfort meets convenience in this better-than-takeout sticky chicken and broccoli recipe, offering a delightful twist on a classic Asian-inspired dish. Savory glazed chicken and crisp broccoli create a perfect balance of flavors you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
1 ½ lb (680 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
3 cups broccoli florets
⅓ cup low-sodium soy sauce
⅓ cup honey
¼ cup hoisin sauce
2 tbsps cornstarch
2 tbsps vegetable oil
2 tbsps rice vinegar
1 tbsp sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp grated fresh ginger (or ½ tsp ground ginger)
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste
Cooked white rice, for serving
Sesame seeds and green onions, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Preparation: Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with cornstarch, salt, and pepper, ensuring uniform coverage.
Searing Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange chicken in a single layer and cook 5-7 minutes, rotating periodically until golden and fully cooked. Transfer chicken to a side plate.
Broccoli Preparation: In the same skillet, add remaining oil and broccoli with a water splash. Cover and steam 2-3 minutes until crisp-tender. Uncover and cook additional 2 minutes to eliminate excess moisture.
Sauce Creation: Whisk together soy sauce, honey, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes in a separate bowl until smoothly combined.
Combining Elements: Return chicken to skillet with broccoli, pour prepared sauce over the mixture, and thoroughly toss to ensure complete coating.
Finishing: Simmer 3-4 minutes, allowing sauce to caramelize and develop a glossy, clingy consistency.
Serving: Plate over steamed rice, optionally garnishing with sesame seeds and chopped green onions for enhanced flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
Ensure each chicken piece is evenly and thoroughly coated with cornstarch for a crispy, golden exterior that locks in moisture.
Maintain medium-high heat to achieve perfect browning without burning the chicken, watching closely and turning pieces to cook uniformly.
Cover and steam broccoli briefly to retain vibrant green color and crisp texture, avoiding overcooking that leads to mushy vegetables.
Simmer sauce just long enough to thicken and become sticky, stirring occasionally to prevent burning and ensure even coating on chicken and broccoli.
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Program: Culinary Arts, Associate of Applied Science
Focus: Emphasis on mastering core culinary competencies, like safety and sanitation, hot, cold, and pastry techniques, while cultivating appreciation of global cuisines and developing operational skills in nutrition, menu design, costing, purchasing, and supervisory management.
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.