This Copycat PF Chang's Spicy Chicken recipe is the perfect sweet and spicy stir fry served over rice with sesame seeds and scallions!

Why you'll love this recipe
- Perfect copycat: It tastes just like the dish from PF Chang's, for a fraction of the price.
- Homemade sauce: Make the sauce at home and adjust the spiciness according to your tolerance.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Canola oil – use any neutral cooking oil like olive oil.
- Chicken breast – make it with shrimp, beef or chicken thighs instead.
- Cornstarch – potato starch or arrowroot are good substitutes.
- Green onions – chives would also be good.
- Sesame seeds – white or black sesame seeds would both work.
- Sweet chili sauce – use a blend of hot sauce and honey for a similar taste.
- Soy sauce – coconut aminos or tamari are the best substitutes here.
- Hoisin sauce – oyster sauce or garlic teriyaki will provide a similar flavour.
- Garlic – fresh minced garlic is best but jarred minced garlic will work in a pinch.
- Chili flakes – feel free to leave these out altogether if you don’t like spice.
- Rice – use white or brown rice.
- Butter – margarine will also work.

How to make this recipe

Step 1: Make the sauce.
Mix the sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic and chili flakes together.
Step 2: Coat the chicken.
Toss the chicken in cornstarch. Meanwhile, cook the rice.

Step 3: Cook the chicken.
Stir fry the chicken until browned and cooked through.
Step 4: Add the sauce.
Toss the chicken with sauce, then serve over rice.

Recipe tips & variations
Here are my top tips for making this recipe, including some variation options:
- Adjust the spice: Add more or less chili flakes depending on your spice tolerance.
- Don't skip the cornstarch: It'll make the chicken crispy on the outside but tender on the inside.
- Make it sweeter: Add a bit of brown sugar to the sauce to make it sweeter.
- Swap out the protein: Chicken thighs, beef and shrimp would all be yummy.
Frequently asked questions
Is PF Chang's spicy chicken like General Tso?
PF Chang's spicy chicken is basically their version of General Tso chicken as it has very similar flavours.
How spicy is it?
It's definitely got some kick to it, but the sweet chili sauce adds a bit of sweetness. To make it less spicy, add less chili flakes.
How many calories are in this recipe?
The PF Chang's spicy chicken has 570 calories per serving without the rice (which adds an extra 220 calories). In comparison, one serving of my version has 449 calories including the rice.

Storing and reheating
Storing: Store the leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.
Freezing: Freeze the spicy chicken for up to 3 months, then thaw in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: Reheat in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Meal prep tools for this recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on storing the leftovers.
- A rice cooker is invaluable for saving time, and it cooks other grains, too!
- I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.

PF Chang's Spicy Chicken {Copycat Recipe}
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1 lb chicken breast, diced
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 bunch green onions, for garnish
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Sauce
- 1/4 cup sweet chili sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes or more to taste
Rice
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 tsp butter
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Mix together sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Add rice ingredients to a rice cooker and cook.
- Toss chicken with cornstarch in a large bowl. Heat canola oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Once oil is hot, add chicken and stir fry for 6-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Toss chicken with sauce, then serve over rice. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds, then serve and enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Robyn says
Made this just like the recipe (but I doubled the sauce) and it was very good. My family said “Please make this again!
deena young says
I never have to go to pfchangs again
Katie Didow says
Yay! It’s amazing knowing you can cook your faves at home!
Amanda says
This is one of my easy go-to recipes. My mom and I make this all the time. We love it! Thank you.
Taylor Stinson says
Thank you so much for your review! I’m so glad you love it!
Melissa says
Absolutely the best spicy chicken recipe! Amazing!! Husband requests this on a weekly basis now! Thank you so much!!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Krystal Wiltison says
This is a winner in my household! My kids love it and would eat it every night if they could lol
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed 🙂
Veronica says
This is DELICIOUS! All my picky eaters agree!
Could I bake/ broil the chicken instead of browning in the pan? I get super attacked by the oil 😂
Taylor Stinson says
I haven’t tried doing it but it may work.
Stella says
Great recipe. It was delish! I added a nice lil squeeze of honey as well. Thanks for sharing!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
May says
This was great as is! The green onions are not just for garnish, gives it an added dimension.
I always double the sauce in most recipes and for Asian dishes I love to add water chestnuts.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Just me says
So for pages and pages you blabber on about tons of stuff that doesn’t matter, and then when it comes to the recipe, you just say here are the ingredients for the sauce, no time to write words on actualy how to make the sauce? Thanks for wasting my time
Taylor Stinson says
LOL literally the whole post is about helpful tips and tricks including storage info. Don’t know how that doesn’t matter but ok. There is a heading that shows the sauce ingredients, and then the directions say to mix the ingredients together, right at the BEGINNING of the recipe. You wasted your own time making this miserable comment.
Laurie says
Literally, you can see the recipe and how to prepare it. I’m very much an amateur cook and could figure it out.
Find something legitimate to complain about! I love this recipe!
Len Yates says
The dish came out great. Just one thing. Chang’s Spicy Chicken as served in the restaurant has a definite tangy flavor. How can I add some of this tang?
Taylor Stinson says
You could try adding some rice vinegar!