Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat - Kawaling Pinoy (2024)

Panda Express Sweet Fire Chicken Copycat is a delicious medley of sweet, tangy, and spicy that tastes just like the original, if not better. It's so easy to make and cheaper than eating out!

One of the things I find so much fun about food blogging as a living is the challenge of recreating restaurant favorites at home. Although often involving a series of trial and error, it's very rewarding to come up with a homemade version that's pretty close to, if not better, than the original.

If I may, ahem, say so myself, I've had a number of successes with copycatting recipes. Below are a few of my favorites if you'd like to check them out.

• Salt and Pepper Pork Chops-tender meat, crisp coating, full flavor, these fried pork chops are just like what you'd get from a Chinese restaurant!
• Baked Cheese Shrimp-these shrimps are what I beeline for every time I go to the all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant, Hokkaido, in Long Beach, and I am glad I no longer have to make the trip to enjoy their cheesy, gooey awesomeness.
• Fried Chicken a la Max's Restaurant-although it takes a bit of work, this delicious-to-the-bone fried chicken gives the iconic Filipino restaurant a run for its money.
• Ginataang Gulay-the Magic Wok restaurant which inspired this recipe is just a hole-in-a-wall type of place in Cerritos but, in my humble opinion, serves the best Filipino food that side of California, so I was pretty stoked that I was able to re-create one of the most popular dishes on their menu at home.
• Panda Express Firecracker Chicken Copycat-this popular Chinese restaurant chain was one of our favorite take-out places before G, and I decided to be more sensible with our cents and refrain from eating out. I am glad I can now enjoy their firecracker chicken's big, bold flavors for less.
• Green Bean Chicken and Black Pepper Chicken-ever wonder why the meat in Chinese stir-fries always comes out super moist and tender? The secret is out, and it's velveting!

And now, the latest on the list, Panda Express sweet fire chicken copycat!

How do I even begin to describe this delectable dish? First, there's the sauce. It has the delicious flavors of your classic sweet and sour but with a kick of heat from the addition of sweet chili sauce. Sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy. and soo good, you can eat it with a spoon!

Sauce ingredients

• Pineapple juice- for fruity and tangy tastes
• Sweet chili sauce- adds sweetness and spice
• Light soy sauce- for salty, umami flavor
• Cornstarch- thickens the consistency

And then there are the tender-crisp bell peppers, onions, juicy pineapples, and crunchy chicken morsels. Smothered in the sweet fire sauce, they're pure heaven piled high on steamed rice!

Battered chicken for stir-fry

• Cut the chicken into uniform, bite-size pieces to ensure even and fast cooking.
• Replacing part of the flour with cornstarch makes for a crunchier coating. Cornstarch prevents gluten formation, which can make the batter chewy, and its high amylose content adds crispness to foods.
• Use the right kind of oil. Safflower, avocado, canola, or grapeseed oil have a neutral taste and high smoke points suitable for deep-frying.
• Maintain the oil at the optimal temperature of 350 F to 375 F when deep-frying. Do not overcrowd the pan; cook in batches as needed to allow enough space to move the chicken freely and keep the oil temperature from plummeting.

How to serve and store

• Serve with fried rice and chow mein noodles for a full Chinese takeout experience!
• Allow leftovers to cool completely and transfer to an airtight container. Keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
• Reheat in the microwave at 2 to 3-minute intervals until completely heated through, stirring well between intervals.