If you love bold flavor, glossy sticky sauces, and chicken tenders that taste like restaurant-quality perfection, then Sweet & Spicy Sticky Chicken Tenders are about to become your new obsession. These tenders are seared until golden, then simmered in a thick, glossy glaze made from honey, brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, and chili heat. The result? A finger-licking, sweet-but-fiery sauce that coats every inch of tender, juicy chicken.

It’s the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, savory, and sticky — everything you crave in a quick chicken dinner. The sauce caramelizes slightly as it cooks down, giving that irresistible sticky texture you normally only see in takeout dishes.

This recipe is unbelievably easy and ready in under 25 minutes, which makes it ideal for busy nights. You only need one pan, simple ingredients, and zero marinating time. But don’t let the simplicity fool you — this meal hits HARD in the flavor department.

What Makes These Sweet & Spicy Sticky Chicken Tenders So Good?

1. The Sauce Clings Perfectly

Instead of a thin sauce, this glaze is thickened with cornstarch and cooked down until syrupy and glossy — exactly the texture that gives “sticky chicken” its name.

2. Balanced Flavors

The sticky sauce hits all flavor notes:

• Sweet from honey and brown sugar
• Savory from soy sauce
• Heat from chili paste or sriracha
• Depth from garlic and ginger

This balance keeps every bite exciting.

3. Fast Cooking

Chicken tenders cook much faster than breasts, making this recipe perfect for hectic weeknights.

4. Kid-Friendly + Spice Adjustable

You control the spicy level — keep it mild or kick it up.

5. One Pan + Minimal Cleanup

Everything happens in a single skillet. No oven. No mess.

Ingredients Breakdown

Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders cook evenly and stay moist. Chicken breast strips work too.

Season lightly so the sauce becomes the star.

Sticky Sauce Ingredients

• Soy sauce adds savoriness
• Honey + brown sugar create sweetness and the sticky glaze
• Garlic & ginger build flavor depth
• Chili paste or sriracha brings the heat
• Rice vinegar balances sweetness
• Cornstarch slurry thickens the glaze perfectly

Optional Garnishes

• Sesame seeds
• Chopped green onions
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Lime squeeze for brightness

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Season and Sear the Chicken

Heat oil in a skillet and sear tenders until lightly golden. Don’t overcook — they’ll finish in the sauce.

2. Mix the Sauce

Combine soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, chili paste, vinegar, and water.

3. Add Sauce to Chicken

Pour sauce over the tenders and bring to a simmer.

4. Add Cornstarch Slurry

This thickens the sauce into a rich, sticky glaze.

5. Reduce Until Glossy

Simmer until the sauce coats the chicken completely and becomes beautifully sticky.

6. Serve Immediately

Serve over rice, noodles, salad bowls, or stuffed inside wraps.

Flavor Variations

Honey Lime Sticky Chicken

Add lime juice + zest.

Extra Spicy Sticky Chicken

Add more chili paste or red pepper flakes.

Garlic Explosion

Double the garlic for a bolder taste.

Sticky Sesame Chicken

Add toasted sesame oil and sprinkle sesame seeds.

Crispy Version

Lightly dredge tenders in cornstarch before searing.

Sweet & Spicy Sticky Chicken Tenders

Tender chicken strips coated in a sweet, spicy, glossy sticky sauce packed with garlic, chili heat, and honey.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Asian

Calories: 410

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Chicken

• 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt and pepper to taste

Sweet & Spicy Sticky Sauce

• 0.33 cup soy sauce
• 0.33 cup honey
• 0.25 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp chili paste or sriracha
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp ginger grated
• 0.25 cup water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch for slurry
• 1 tbsp water for slurry

Equipment

• Skillet
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk

Method

 

1. Heat oil in a skillet and add seasoned chicken tenders.
2. Sear chicken on both sides until lightly browned.
3. Whisk together soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, vinegar, chili paste, garlic, ginger, and water.
4. Pour sauce over chicken and bring to a simmer.
5. Cook until chicken is nearly done and sauce begins to reduce.
6. Combine cornstarch and water to make a slurry.
7. Add slurry to skillet and cook until sauce becomes thick and sticky.
8. Garnish with sesame seeds or green onions and serve.

Notes

Adjust chili paste to your preferred spice level.

Serving Suggestions

• Steamed jasmine rice
• Fried rice
• Lo mein noodles
• Roasted broccoli
• Green beans
• Mashed potatoes
• Rice bowls with veggies

These tenders are endlessly versatile and pair well with almost anything.

Storage & Reheating

Fridge:

Up to 3 days.

Freezer:

Up to 2 months.

Reheat:

Warm in a skillet with a splash of water to loosen the glaze.

Ingredients

Chicken

• 1 ½ lbs chicken tenders
• 1 tbsp oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Sweet & Spicy Sticky Sauce

• ⅓ cup soy sauce
• ⅓ cup honey
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp chili paste or sriracha
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated ginger
• ¼ cup water
• 1 tbsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp water (slurry)

Optional Garnish

• Sesame seeds
• Green onions

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Season chicken tenders lightly and add to skillet.
3. Sear until lightly browned on each side (they will finish cooking in sauce).
4. In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, vinegar, chili paste, garlic, ginger, and water.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and bring to a simmer.
6. Cook 5–7 minutes until chicken is nearly done.
7. Stir cornstarch with 1 tbsp water to make a slurry.
8. Add slurry to skillet and stir.
9. Simmer until the sauce becomes thick, sticky, and glossy.
10. Garnish with sesame seeds or green onions and serve hot.