Sweet and Spicy Baked Chicken

Ingredients:

– **2 lbs chicken breast**, cut into bite-sized pieces
– **1/2 cup honey**
– **1/4 cup soy sauce**
– **1/4 cup sriracha sauce**
– **1/4 cup rice vinegar**
– **2 cloves garlic**, minced
– **1 tbsp grated ginger**
– **1/4 cup water**
– **1 tbsp cornstarch**
– **1 red chili pepper**, finely chopped (optional, for extra heat)
– **Salt and pepper**, to taste
– **2 tbsp vegetable oil**

 Instructions:

1. **Preheat Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. **Prepare the Chicken:**
– Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper.
– In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place it in a baking dish.

3. **Make the Sauce:**
– In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, sriracha sauce, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger.
– In a separate bowl, mix the water and cornstarch until the cornstarch is fully dissolved.

4. **Combine Sauce and Chicken:**
– Pour the honey-soy mixture over the chicken in the baking dish.
– Add the cornstarch mixture to the baking dish and stir to combine. Add the chopped red chili pepper if using.

5. **Bake:**
– Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is thickened and bubbly. Stir occasionally to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce.

6. **Serve:**
– Serve the sweet and spicy chicken hot, garnished with additional chopped red chili peppers if desired. This dish pairs well with steamed rice and sautéed vegetables.

Enjoy your delicious and flavorful sweet and spicy baked chicken!