Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken – Crispy, Flavorful Indian Chinese Takeout at Home

Introduction

If you’re craving bold, punchy flavors and irresistible crunch, Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken is the dish to make tonight. An iconic Indo-Chinese takeout favorite, this recipe features crispy chicken tossed in a spicy, tangy sauce loaded with peppers, onions, and aromatic spices. It’s a classic crowd pleaser and a guaranteed hit for any weeknight dinner or special occasion.

Why Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken is a Must-Try

What sets Hakka-style dry chilli chicken apart? It’s that irresistible combination of tender, crispy fried chicken bites wrapped in a savory sauce with just the right kick of heat. This dish delivers all the bold flavors you love from your favorite Indian Chinese restaurant—right in your own kitchen. Plus, it comes together quickly, making it a fantastic choice for busy weeknights or meal preps.

Perfecting the Crispy Chicken

Start with bite-sized pieces of chicken breast or thigh, marinated with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and a touch of cornstarch. After a shallow fry, each piece turns golden, crispy, and juicy on the inside—just like takeout!

The Signature Dry Chilli Sauce

The sauce is what gives this dish its signature flavor. Sauté garlic, ginger, fresh green chillies, bell peppers, and onions in a hot wok. Add soy sauce, chilli sauce, a splash of vinegar, and toss in those golden chicken pieces. Finish with green onions for freshness, and serve hot, garnished with sesame seeds if you like.

Serving Suggestions

Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken tastes amazing on its own, or paired with fried rice, noodles, or steamed jasmine rice. It’s an all-star as an appetizer, a hearty main, or even as part of an Asian-inspired dinner spread.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe serves approximately 4 people. Each serving provides about 280-320 calories (depending on the chicken cut and amount of oil used), with a satisfying dose of protein and vibrant veggies.

Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken Recap

With its crispy texture, spicy-tangy sauce, and bold Asian-inspired flavors, Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken is an essential addition to your Asian recipes and chicken dishes repertoire.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section, making your grocery trip quick and efficient!

Instructions

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a large bowl, add chicken pieces, soy sauce, ginger-garlic paste, black pepper, chilli powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, cornstarch, flour, and egg. Mix well to coat. Set aside for 10-15 minutes while you prep other ingredients.
2. Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a wok or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken pieces in batches until golden and crispy (about 5-6 minutes each batch). Remove and set on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
3. Sauté the Vegetables: Remove excess oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the wok. Add garlic, ginger, and green chillies. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
4. Add onions and bell peppers. Stir-fry over high heat for 2 minutes; keep the vegetables slightly crisp.
5. Create the Sauce: Add soy sauce, vinegar, chilli sauce, sugar, and remaining salt. Toss to combine, then add the fried chicken pieces. Stir-fry quickly until the sauce coats the chicken.
6. Add green onions and give it a final toss. Optionally, garnish with sesame seeds before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken adapts perfectly for meal prep and planning. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to generate shopping lists that combine ingredients from all your weekly meals and sort them by store aisle, making meal planning streamlined and stress-free.

Planning Benefits:

• Consolidates ingredient quantities for multiple recipes
• Organizes shopping lists by grocery categories
• Prevents buying duplicates and missing key items
• Makes weeknight meals simple and organized

Pro tip: Planning another chicken or Asian dish this week? Schedule this recipe together with others to automatically total shared ingredients like soy sauce or peppers—eliminating confusion and reducing food waste.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Enjoy the irresistible taste of homemade Hakka Dry Chilli Chicken—an Indian Chinese takeout classic you can master in your own kitchen!