Real-Deal Kung Pao Chicken
![A white serving platter filled with kung pao chicken, with chopsticks.]()
Serious Eats / Melissa Hom
Homemade Kung Pao chicken is marinated with soy sauce, fresh ginger, and spices before cooking in a smoking hot wok.
Smoky and Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken Kebabs
![Overhead view of spicy yogurt marinated chicken kebabs on a white platter with sliced lemon, on a pink table.]()
Serious Eats / Maureen Celestine
A riff on tandoori-style chicken, these chicken kebabs are marinated with smoked and hot paprika in place of the more traditional Indian spice blend.
Korean-Style Fire Chicken (Buldak) With Cheese
![A cast iron skillet with buldak (Korean fire chicken) garnished with chopped scallions.]()
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Fire chicken is the ultimate game-day snack that will make you forget all about Buffalo wings.
Kimchi-Brined Fried Chicken Sandwich
![A kimchi-brined fried chicken sandwich with slaw on a black dish.]()
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik.
Kimchi-buttermilk-brined thighs, fried until super-crisp, stacked on toasted buns or black sesame biscuits. It doesn't get much better than this.
Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich
![Side view of Nashville hot chicken sandwich topped with pickles on a small plate with more sauce in a dish next to it.]()
Serious Eats / Victor Protasio
This spicy, crispy, juicy fried chicken served on a brioche bun with mayonnaise and pickle chips will make your mouth burn.
Coconut- and Ají Amarillo–Braised Chicken
![A serving pot next to a bowl with a spoon in it, both filled with coconut- and ají amarillo–braised chicken.]()
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Coconut and ají amarillo often find themselves together in ceviche, but in the dead of winter, this combination also makes for a rich and cheerful-looking braise.
Spicy Grilled Jerk Chicken
![A whole grilled jerk chicken on a white square platter with Scotch bonnet peppers.]()
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Scotch bonnet peppers puréed with other fresh aromatics and spices provide the foundation for a powerfully flavored marinade. The marinated chicken is cooked low and slow over smoldering allspice berries and bay leaves, before crisped on high heat for the classic charred finish.
Bang Bang Ji Si (Hot and Numbing Sichuan Chicken Salad)
![Bang bang ji si chicken salad, topped with scallions, on a plate with chopsticks.]()
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Sous vide is the modern way to make this Sichuan classic, without the banging.
Easy One-Pot Chicken Tinga
![An overhead view of chicken tinga on tortillas next to a sliced lime and whole radishes, topped with cilantro and onions, next to the serving dish of tinga, more limes, and more cilantro.]()
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
Smoky and spicy, this is the ultimate one-pot taco filling. Using skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts produces plenty of flavor while maintaining a juicy, shreddable texture.
Grilled Sweet and Spicy Chicken Wings
![A platter of spicy grilled chicken wings on a white serving platter.]()
Serious Eats / Joshua Bousel
These grilled wings are juicy, tender, and imbued with a hint of smoke.
10 Spicy Chicken Recipes
These recipes are for the hotheads out there, whether you want to grill, braise, or eat a sandwich.
Updated September 16, 2024
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231117-SEA-NashvilleHotChicken-VictorProtasio-00-e57c2a73be334b63823fcf734d91a765.jpg)
Serious Eats / Victor Protasio
Truth be told, chicken hits with us most days of the week. And while it's all fine and dandy with a milder flavor, sometimes we could use a bit of heat. Thankfully, our archive is full of spicy chicken recipes! From tacos and kebabs to sandwiches and grilled options, there's something everyone will love. Bring on the heat!
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2010__06__2021-02-12-Real-Deal-Kung-Pao-Chicken-MHOM-21-d8de1c4b127a4dc7b6d9e43e4b18a9e8.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20230714-SEA-SpicyYogurtMarinatedChickenKebabs-MaureenCelestine018-d651d32a246f44c8af26ef6fbd7844cc.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__01__20190111-buldak-korean-fire-chicken-vicky-wasik-33-1ccde28483ca4a91b98cdc1618932699.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__2019__03__20181218-kimchi-fried-chicken-sandwich-vicky-wasik-13-aab61b5f463d47baad13feaf7b39fc29.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231117-SEA-NashvilleHotChicken-VictorProtasio-01-83231777673a434fa85b8f0ef524b4c9.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2017__11__20171103-chicken-aji-amarillo-vicky-wasik-13-3d18b5291f61462f82ee72c00f845c2e.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__images__2013__07__20130715-jerk-chicken-final-food-lab-38-7dad87a78a7a4e089cc9a46472d89350.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2015__05__20150525-bang-bang-chicken-sichuan-recipe-18-7e01a20e36a4462a927ac52c06488994.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2016__01__20160128-chicken-tinga-recipe-18-8860acec45b34865af917729d36b06b4.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__20100121-super-smokers-wings-4c4139bbd9c342749a03f4b33f2f3cc3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2014__08__20140826-fried-and-true-hattie-bs-hot-chicken-evan-sung-812d8599262148aaa9732285fb8d2dbe.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2014__03__20140227-kimchi-chicken-primary-73becf12f8374b59b22dab5cefbb17be.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20231204-SEA-AirfryerBuffaloWings-Jen-Causey-hero-c9a6d2c83af844d89e1d3ec49b2f70b7.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2016__08__20160703-Grilled-Lemon-Garlic-Chicken-Tomato-Kebabs-Basil-Chimichurri-emily-matt-clifton-7-9a6c9aa4b41041388d358761d4db6bf5.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/070623_Avgolemono-Soup-MPPSoupsAndStews-MorganHuntGlaze-27373c43431c4c6286af983f7bb72897.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/20240611-SEA-BiryaniStyleRoastChicken-KanikaandJatin-Sharma-Hero-6f756fad4526486fb33f4369761414d2.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2015__08__20150823-grilled-chicken-cutlet-recipe-kenji-01-a61ea65843a04dd79699802a8814e44a.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2012__02__20110213-192699-chicken-under-a-brick-4225778231f64a139b030bdfaa51b1f3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2017__09__20170902-chicken-pot-pie-vicky-wasik32-08d948d23e99445caecf712b15d68b4e.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2014__03__20140306-Spatchcocked-Lavender-Lemon-Honey-Roast-Chicken-1-cb51417c74e742c68a7e203c319ba658.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2015__06__20150609-greek-grilled-chicken-lemon-oregano-olive-oil-09-a6b7347fea094c8aa4bfc56c34bf4fd3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/__opt__aboutcom__coeus__resources__content_migration__serious_eats__seriouseats.com__recipes__images__2015__11__20151112-creamy-garlic-chicken-spanakopita-skillet-plate-morgan-eisenberg-80e32d58291f4281a9888e2982553d37.jpg)