Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns are the ultimate better-than-takeout dinner! After making this recipe dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to the perfect crispy chicken and soft buns every time. The golden, crispy chicken in a sweet and savory sauce is irresistible, and the soft, pillowy buns are the perfect vehicle. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Sweet Potato Chickpea Curry Recipe and Easy Crock Pot Crack Chicken Recipe for Busy Weeknights.
Why This Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy chicken that's better than takeout
- Soft, pillowy buns that are easy to make from scratch
- Sweet and savory sauce that's perfect for dipping
- Easy to customize with your favorite toppings
What You'll Need for Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 8-10 bao buns
- soy sauce
- hoisin sauce
- honey
- garlic
- ginger
- red pepper flakes
- cornstarch
- Optional: green onions
- Optional: sesame seeds
- Optional: pickled ginger
- Optional: kimchi
- Optional: sriracha
📝 Ingredient Notes
- boneless, skinless chicken thighs: You can also use chicken breasts, but thighs stay moister.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks chicken quickly and evenly → See on Amazon
- Food Processor — Makes quick work of mincing garlic and ginger → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
- Step 1: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Step 2: Add chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle both sides with cornstarch.
- Step 5: Place chicken on prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy.
- Step 6: While chicken is cooking, steam bao buns according to package instructions.
- Step 7: Once chicken is done, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
- Step 8: To assemble, place a few slices of chicken in each bun, drizzle with remaining marinade, and add your favorite toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken, which makes it dry. To prevent this, use a meat thermometer and remove the chicken from the oven when it reaches 160°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy chicken, pat it dry before adding the cornstarch. This helps the cornstarch stick to the chicken and creates a crispy crust.
- Pro tip: To make the sauce thicker, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and add it to the sauce while it's simmering. This will help it thicken quickly.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed.
Freezing Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Freeze uncooked chicken in marinade for up to 2 months. Cook as directed, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven at 400°F for 5 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier sauce, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts for chicken thighs, but thighs stay moister.
- Make-ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce isn't thickening, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and add it to the sauce while it's simmering.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat Thermometer — Ensures chicken is cooked to the perfect temperature → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 8-10 bao buns
Seasonings
- soy sauce
- hoisin sauce
- honey
- garlic
- ginger
- red pepper flakes
- cornstarch
Optional Toppings
- green onions
- sesame seeds
- pickled ginger
- kimchi
- sriracha
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, honey, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes.
- Step 2: Add chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 3: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Step 4: Remove chicken from marinade and discard marinade. Pat chicken dry and sprinkle both sides with cornstarch.
- Step 5: Place chicken on prepared baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy.
- Step 6: While chicken is cooking, steam bao buns according to package instructions.
- Step 7: Once chicken is done, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
- Step 8: To assemble, place a few slices of chicken in each bun, drizzle with remaining marinade, and add your favorite toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicier sauce, add more red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken breasts for chicken thighs, but thighs stay moister.
- Make-ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled for a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your sauce isn't thickening, mix 1 tbsp of cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water and add it to the sauce while it's simmering.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked chicken in marinade for up to 2 months. Cook as directed, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, then crisp in the oven at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Make ahead: Marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 500
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 2000mg
- Cholesterol: 100mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner FAQs
Yes, marinate chicken up to 24 hours ahead. Cook as directed.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is overcooking the chicken. Use a meat thermometer and remove the chicken from the oven when it reaches 160°F. Let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
Yes, freeze uncooked chicken in marinade for up to 2 months. Cook as directed, adding a few minutes to cooking time.
Yes, cook chicken at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, or until cooked through and crispy.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes for the best texture.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
