10+ Asian Chicken Recipes for Delicious and Easy Weeknight Meals
Asian chicken recipes bring a world of flavors to your table. You’ll get sweet, savory, spicy, or sometimes all three in one bite.
People love these recipes because they’re quick to prep and super satisfying. Dinner doesn’t have to be complicated to be good.
You can whip up tasty, diverse meals with just a few simple ingredients and basic cooking skills. Whether you’re craving grilled, stir-fried, or sticky chicken, there’s something here for every mood and schedule.
Ingredients
- Chicken (breasts, thighs, or drumsticks)
- Soy sauce
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Honey or sugar
- Sesame oil
- Vegetables (optional, like bell peppers, broccoli, or green onions)
Cooking Instructions
- Cut the chicken into pieces if needed.
- Mix up your sauce: soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and honey or sugar.
- Heat sesame oil in a pan over medium heat (about 350°F/175°C).
- Brown the chicken, cooking about 6-8 minutes per side, depending on size.
- Pour in the sauce and cook until it gets sticky and caramelized.
- Serve with rice or veggies.
1) Crispy Sesame Chicken with Sticky Asian Sauce
Crispy sesame chicken is a classic favorite. It’s got a crunchy coating and a sticky, sweet, just-a-bit-spicy sauce.
Honestly, it’s easier to make than you’d think, and it tastes even better than takeout. The sauce blends honey, garlic, sesame oil, and a touch of chili for a little fire.
You can have this dish ready in about 30 minutes—pretty good for a weeknight. It’s a go-to for family dinners or whenever you want something extra tasty without a lot of hassle.
Batter and fry the chicken until it’s golden, then toss it in that glossy sauce. Serve with rice or steamed veggies, and you’re set.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- Oil for frying
- Sesame seeds and chopped spring onions to garnish
Cooking Instructions
- Coat chicken pieces in cornstarch.
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat (350°F / 175°C) and fry chicken until crispy and cooked through. Remove and drain.
- In a separate pan, heat sesame oil and sauté garlic for 1 minute.
- Add rice vinegar, honey, sweet chili sauce, ketchup, and soy sauce. Stir and cook until sauce thickens.
- Toss the fried chicken in the sauce to coat well.
- Garnish with sesame seeds and spring onions before serving.
2) Honey Chicken with Sweet and Savory Glaze
Honey chicken is one of those dishes that just hits the spot. The chicken gets pan-fried until it’s crispy, then you coat it in a shiny glaze made with honey and soy sauce.
That glaze is the magic—sweet, salty, and sometimes a little garlicky or spicy if you want. It’s a quick dinner that feels a bit special but doesn’t take much effort.
Serve it over rice or with some steamed veggies. You’ll have a meal that comes together fast and tastes great.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into cubes
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 tbsp oil for frying
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Fry chicken pieces until golden and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Mix honey, soy sauce, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.
- Pour sauce into the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring to coat chicken.
- Serve warm.
3) Asian Grilled Chicken with Indoor Grill
You don’t need a backyard to make great grilled chicken—an indoor grill pan works just fine. The secret is in the marinade: soy sauce, garlic, rice vinegar, and ginger.
Let the chicken soak up those flavors for at least 30 minutes. When your grill pan’s hot, cook the chicken for 5-7 minutes on each side.
Check that the inside hits 165°F (74°C) before serving. You’ll get juicy, flavorful chicken every time.
This one’s quick, tangy, and a little sweet. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner when you want something grilled but easy.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Cooking Instructions
- Mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Add chicken breasts and marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Preheat your indoor grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Grill chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through (165°F / 74°C).
- Let the chicken rest a few minutes before serving.
For more details, check out this Asian Grilled Chicken recipe.
4) Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken
Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken is all about fresh, punchy flavors. You marinate chicken in lemongrass, garlic, shallots, fish sauce, and a bit of sugar.
That combo gives the chicken a sweet and savory vibe. You can grill or pan-fry it—either way, it cooks up fast.
Lemongrass brings a fragrant brightness that works so well with steamed rice or vermicelli noodles. On busy nights, this dish is a lifesaver.
If you want a little extra zing, try it with Nuoc Cham, a spicy Vietnamese dipping sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 stalks lemongrass, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 shallots, minced
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- Optional: chili for heat
Cooking Instructions
- Mix lemongrass, garlic, shallots, fish sauce, sugar, and oil.
- Marinate chicken in mixture for at least 30 minutes.
- Heat pan over medium-high heat, about 350°F (175°C).
- Cook chicken until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes per side.
- Serve with steamed rice and Nuoc Cham sauce if desired.
5) Chicken Katsu with Panko Crust
Chicken katsu is a Japanese comfort food that’s easy to love. You take chicken, coat it in flour, dip it in egg, then press it into crunchy panko breadcrumbs.
Panko makes the crust light and crisp, and it stays that way even after frying. Fry the chicken in hot oil until it’s golden brown—usually about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Serve it up with steamed rice and tonkatsu sauce for a classic combo. Or slice it up and pop it in a sandwich or rice bowl for lunch.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts or thighs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Vegetable oil for frying
Cooking Instructions
- Pound the chicken to an even thickness.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Dredge the chicken in flour.
- Dip in beaten egg.
- Coat with panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken 3-4 minutes per side until golden.
- Drain on paper towels and serve.
6) Indian Chicken Curry (Murgh Kari)
Indian Chicken Curry, or Murgh Kari, is all about bold spices and creamy sauce. You cook chicken in a mix of yogurt, tomatoes, ginger, and garam masala.
The result is a mild, comforting curry that’s not too spicy. You can have it ready in about 30 minutes, and it’s great with rice or flatbread.
Most of the ingredients are pantry staples, so you don’t need to hunt for anything fancy.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Yogurt
- Tomatoes
- Fresh ginger
- Garam masala
- Garlic
- Onion
- Cooking oil
- Salt
Cooking Instructions:
- Heat oil and sauté chopped onions, garlic, and ginger until soft.
- Add spices and cook until fragrant.
- Mix in yogurt and chopped tomatoes.
- Add chicken pieces and simmer on low heat for 20 minutes.
- Stir occasionally and cook until chicken is tender and sauce thickens.
- Serve hot with rice or bread.
Learn more from this Indian Chicken Curry recipe.
7) Oyakodon Japanese Chicken Rice Bowl
Oyakodon is a cozy, homey dish you can make in a snap. It’s tender chicken and soft egg, simmered together in a sweet-savory broth, then served over hot rice.
The sauce uses dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar for that classic Japanese flavor. You’ll simmer the chicken and onions first, then slowly pour in beaten eggs.
Cook gently so the eggs stay silky. It’s a quick fix for dinner and feels like a hug in a bowl.
Ingredients
- 2 boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 3/4 cup dashi stock
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sugar
- Green onions, sliced (optional)
Cooking Instructions
- In a pan, combine dashi, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Add onions and chicken. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Pour beaten eggs evenly over the chicken and onions. Cover and cook on low heat until eggs are just set, around 2-3 minutes.
- Serve the chicken and egg mixture over a bowl of hot cooked rice. Garnish with green onions if you like.
8) Ginger Soy Chicken Stir-Fry
Ginger Soy Chicken Stir-Fry comes together in a snap. You toss chicken pieces into a hot pan with fresh ginger and garlic, and the kitchen smells amazing almost instantly.
The sauce is just soy sauce mixed with a bit of honey or brown sugar. It’s salty, sweet, and just really hits the spot.
Bright veggies like bell peppers, broccoli, or snap peas add crunch and color. The whole thing cooks up fast, so it’s a lifesaver on busy nights.
Serve it over rice or noodles. That sauce deserves something to soak into, trust me.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey or brown sugar
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Cooking Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat (about 350°F / 175°C).
- Add ginger and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Toss in the chicken slices and stir-fry until cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Mix soy sauce and honey together, then pour over the chicken. Stir well.
- Add bell pepper and broccoli. Cook 3-4 minutes until the veggies are just tender.
- Serve hot over rice or noodles.
9) Spicy Asian Chilli Chicken
Spicy Asian chilli chicken is a lifesaver when you need something bold and fast. The sticky, savory sauce packs a solid punch of heat—definitely not bland.
You cook everything in one pan, so cleanup’s a breeze. Chili paste, garlic, soy sauce, and honey come together for that sweet-spicy balance that just works.
Want it hotter? Add more chili paste. Not a fan of too much heat? Dial it back—easy.
Crisp onions and capsicum bring a fresh crunch. It’s just one of those meals that feels way fancier than it is.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 8 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1.5 tbsp Korean chili paste
- 2.5 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1 onion, sliced
- 1 capsicum, sliced
- 1 tbsp oil
Cooking Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add chicken and cook until browned.
- Stir in chili paste, honey, and soy sauce.
- Toss in onions and capsicum; cook until tender.
- Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.
10) Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken
Sticky Asian Glazed Chicken is one of those dishes that just makes sense after a long day. You get sweet and savory flavors clinging to every bite.
The glaze thickens up and caramelizes as the chicken cooks. It’s so satisfying when the sauce actually sticks.
Usually, you’ll use honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a bit of chili sauce. There’s a good balance—nothing too wild, just really tasty.
You can bake or pan-fry the chicken, then brush on the glaze for that sticky finish. It’s a quick win for dinner, honestly.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken thighs or breasts
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp chili sauce
- 1 tsp sesame oil
Cooking Instructions
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, honey, garlic, chili sauce, and sesame oil.
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Toss the chicken in the sauce until it’s well coated. Place the pieces in a baking dish.
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Slide the dish into the oven. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken’s cooked through.
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Brush on a bit more sauce. Broil for another 2-3 minutes if you want that glossy, sticky finish.
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Serve hot, maybe with some rice or veggies if you’re feeling classic.
Learn more about this dish at sticky Asian glazed chicken recipes.