Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns are the best easy dinner idea! After making these many times, I’ve perfected the crispy, golden chicken in a soft, pillowy bun. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Orange Teriyaki Turkey Medallions Recipe and Easy Spring Carrot and Chickpea Salad with Lemon Dressing.
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
- Sticky, sweet sauce that's perfect for dipping
- A complete meal in one bite
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.
- chicken breasts
- bao buns
- hoisin sauce
- soy sauce
- honey
- garlic
- ginger
- garlic powder
- ginger powder
- sesame seeds
- green onions
- Optional: pickled vegetables
- Optional: sriracha
- Optional: mayonnaise
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work best for this recipe.
- bao buns: Store-bought or homemade buns can be used.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks chicken quickly and evenly. → See on Amazon
- Stainless Steel Skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
- Step 1: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper.
- Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Cook until fragrant. Add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey. Stir until combined.
- Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Step 5: Steam bao buns according to package instructions. Once done, open the buns and fill with chicken. Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve with pickled vegetables and sriracha if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
- Common mistake and fix: Overcooking the chicken can make it dry. To prevent this, cook the chicken until it's no longer pink in the middle, then remove it from the skillet to prevent it from overcooking in the sauce.
- Tip: For a spicy version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Tip: To make ahead, cook the chicken and prepare the sauce. Store separately in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, steam the buns and fill with chicken. Reheat the sauce if necessary.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover chicken and sauce separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare chicken and sauce up to 1 day ahead. Steam buns and assemble when ready to serve.
Freezing Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Freeze uncooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat chicken in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker cooking time, use chicken thighs instead of breasts.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare chicken and sauce up to 1 day ahead. Steam buns and assemble when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth.
Want to level up this recipe?
Bamboo Steamer — Perfect for steaming bao buns. Pays for itself vs takeout. → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Sticky Chicken Bao Buns Recipe for Easy Dinner
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- chicken breasts
- bao buns
- hoisin sauce
- soy sauce
- honey
- garlic
- ginger
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- ginger powder
- sesame seeds
- green onions
Optional Toppings
- pickled vegetables
- sriracha
- mayonnaise
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Season with garlic powder, ginger powder, salt, and pepper.
- Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add garlic and ginger. Cook until fragrant. Add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and honey. Stir until combined.
- Step 4: Add chicken back to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.
- Step 5: Steam bao buns according to package instructions. Once done, open the buns and fill with chicken. Top with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve with pickled vegetables and sriracha if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a quicker cooking time, use chicken thighs instead of breasts.
- Best substitution: Substitute chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version.
- Make-ahead: Prepare chicken and sauce up to 1 day ahead. Steam buns and assemble when ready to serve.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or chicken broth.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover chicken and sauce separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze uncooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking.
- Oven reheat: Reheat chicken in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat chicken in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
- Make ahead: Prepare chicken and sauce up to 1 day ahead. Steam buns and assemble when ready to serve.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 1800mg
- Cholesterol: 95mg
- Sat. Fat: 2.5g
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, prepare chicken and sauce up to 1 day ahead. Steam buns and assemble when ready to serve.
Overcooking the chicken can make it dry. To prevent this, cook the chicken until it's no longer pink in the middle, then remove it from the skillet to prevent it from overcooking in the sauce.
Yes, freeze uncooked chicken for up to 3 months. Thaw before cooking.
Yes, cook chicken in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Proceed with the recipe as written.
Reheat chicken in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
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!
