30 Spicy Chicken Recipes That Bring the Heat

overhead view looking down at Nashville hot chicken and pickle slices on top of bread and served on a plate
Credit:

DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS 

Key Takeaways

  • Our best spicy chicken recipes include wings, casseroles, and so much more.
  • With a variety of spice levels, these recipes are perfect for people with a wide range of heat preferences.

Think you can handle the heat? Put your palate to the test with one of our favorite hot and spicy chicken recipes. From mildly hot dinners the whole family will love (try a crowd-pleasing stir fry or a paprika-spiced roasted chicken) to scorching meals, appetizers, and sides that are sure to make you sweat (if you like cayenne pepper and jalapenos, you're in the right place), you'll find irresistible new favorites in this collection of our very best spicy chicken recipes of all time.

01 of 31

Bang Bang Chicken Bites

pale pink platter of fried bang bang chicken nuggets with sliced green onions

Peyton Beckwith

"These bang bang chicken bites are spicy, crispy little chicken nuggets, air-fried or baked, then tossed in a quick chili sauce.." —Nicole McLaughlin

02 of 31

Hot Cowgirl Casserole

Hot Cowgirl Casserole slice on a plate with a fork, next to more casserole in a glass baking dish

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

“Spicy!” recipe taster Julia Levy said about this cheesy chicken casserole that's full of Southwestern flavors and ingredients. “Makes me feel like a cowgirl!”

03 of 31

Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli

a plate of stir-fried chicken and vegetables served over rice
TTV78

This stir fry gets its heat from crushed red pepper and chili paste, while hoisin sauce and brown sugar add sweetness. Recipe creator amanda1432 recommends serving over jasmine rice.

04 of 31

Korean Spicy Chicken and Potato (Tak Toritang)

Korean Spicy Chicken and Potato in a brown bowl
Allrecipes

Chicken drumettes, potatoes, carrots, and onions are simmered in a spicy sauce made with garlic, soy sauce, sugar, and gochujang (Korean hot pepper paste).

05 of 31

Spicy Korean Chicken

korean grilled chicken thighs over rice with green onions and vegetables
Soup Loving Nicole

It's easy to make this simple and spicy chicken with just a few ingredients. "This was excellent and super simple to boot," according to reviewer and Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole. "Made as written and I do not feel any changes are necessary."

06 of 31

Spicy Chicken Curry Meatballs

Spicy Chicken Curry Meatballs on a white plate
SunnyDaysNora

The flavor of this dish, with a creamy sauce spiced with garam masala and cayenne pepper, is "complex and satisfying," according to recipe creator SunnyDaysNora.

07 of 31

Spicy Rapid Roast Chicken

A spice-rubbed roast chicken garnished with parsley and grape tomatoes
cookin'mama

Here's a whole-roasted chicken recipe that everyone at your table will love. Seasoned with just a few pantry staples, this impressive dinner is way easier to make than it looks.

08 of 31

Peach Jalapeño Chicken

plate of peach jalapeno chicken over rice

My Hot Southern Mess

"This peach jalapeño chicken is a sweet, fruity, spicy dish made in one skillet, another quick way to cook boneless chicken breast. Serve over rice." —My Hot Southern Mess

09 of 31

Spicy Apple Cider-Glazed Chicken Thighs

a brown plate with rice and Spicy Apple Cider-Glazed Chicken Thighs
Bibi

Chicken and onions are simmered in an apple cider-sambal oelek sauce. Serve over white rice and top with chives for a burst of color and flavor.

10 of 31

Spicy Hot Chicken Legs

Spicy Hot Chicken Legs on a bed of rice in a white bowl
Erinwoolsey

Use your trusty slow cooker to make these juicy chicken legs seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, and a whole bottle of hot sauce.

11 of 31

Easy and Spicy Thai Basil Chicken with Egg

Thai basil chicken with egg over rice in yellow bowl next to chopsticks
lutzflcat

Garlic is crushed with Thai chile peppers, cooked with soy sauce- and oyster sauce-flavored chicken, then served over scrambled eggs and white rice.

12 of 31

Spicy Chicken Breasts

spice covered chicken breast on a plate with green salad
Shafeera Angullia

These quick and easy chicken breasts — flavored with paprika, garlic powder, thyme, and cayenne pepper — come together in just 30 minutes.

13 of 31

Easy Spicy Mexican-American Chicken

Easy Spicy Mexican-American Chicken
Angela F.

It's easy to make this flavorful dinner with just five ingredients: chicken thighs, Mexican-style hot sauce (such as Valentina), paprika, cayenne pepper, and brown sugar.

14 of 31

Spicy Orange Chicken

Orange chicken with vegetables over white rice on plate
Bibi

Chicken is marinated in a mixture of orange juice, brown sugar, rice vinegar, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes in Chef John's take on this classic dinner.

15 of 31

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Casserole garnished with green onions on a plate with a fork next to another plate and casserole dish

Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

"With this jalapeno popper chicken casserole you will have all the flavors of a jalapeno popper but in a complete dish. Think bacon, cheese, jalapenos in a creamy, cheesy casserole—what's not to love?" —Emily Neinhaus

16 of 31

Spicy Shredded Chicken Tinga

Spicy Shredded Chicken Tinga
Buckwheat Queen

This spicy shredded chicken (cooked with a can of stewed tomatoes, chipotle salsa, apple cider vinegar, and an onion) works well on everything from tostadas to tacos.

17 of 31

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

Spicy Garlic Lime Chicken

The Allrecipes community can't get enough of this top-rated recipe with almost 3,000 rave reviews. The simple recipe is ready in less than half an hour.

18 of 31

Simple Nashville Hot Chicken Biscuits

hot chicken sandwich on a biscuit
thedailygourmet

A Sriracha-agave sauce makes this fried chicken irresistibly sweet and spicy. You can make your own homemade buttermilk biscuits, but store-bought is fine.

19 of 31

Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken

Chef John's Nashville Hot Chicken
Chef John

A buttery, cayenne-infused glaze is the perfect finishing touch for fried chicken marinated in pickle juice, buttermilk, and Louisiana-style hot sauce.

20 of 31

Restaurant-Style Buffalo Chicken Wings

Restaurant-Style Buffalo Chicken Wings
Photo by Tricia Winterle Jaeger.

Almost 3,000 Allrecipes users love these restaurant-style wings. "This made a nice thick and crispy batter that doesn't flake or peel off while frying. Oh so good," according to reviewer April.

21 of 31

Spicy Doritos Chicken

Spicy Doritos® Chicken
lutzflcat

What's not to love about these chicken breasts crusted with spicy nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips?

22 of 31

Spicy Gluten-Free Chicken and Cheddar Waffles with Blackberry-Maple Syrup

Spicy Gluten-Free Chicken and Cheddar Waffles with Blackberry-Maple Syrup
Angela Sackett Superhotmama

Savory Cheddar cheese waffles are topped with baked chicken, then drizzled with spicy maple syrup flavored with cayenne pepper and ancho chile powder.

23 of 31

Spicy Chile Chicken Fritters

Spicy Chile Chicken Fritters
Bibi

"These low-carb chicken fritters are bursting with flavor from Hatch chiles, cumin, and mayonnaise," according to recipe creator Bibi.

24 of 31

Punjabi Chicken in Thick Gravy

Punjabi Chicken in Thick Gravy
Punjabi Chicken in Thick Gravy | Photo by Noah King.

"The flavours were great and the sauce was nice," raves 5-star reviewer Lucie. "Easy to make with not that many spices required."

25 of 31

Hot Chicken Dip

Hot Chicken Dip
Cindy Capps Lepp

Make this hot chicken dip with just two cans of chunk chicken, a can of diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, a package of cream cheese, and two cans of condensed cream of chicken soup.

26 of 31

Baked Cajun Chicken Drumsticks

Baked Cajun Chicken Drumsticks
Soup Loving Nicole

These Cajun-spiced drumsticks are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, according to recipe creator and Allrecipes Allstar Soup Loving Nicole.

27 of 31

Indian Chicken Curry (Murgh Kari)

Indian Chicken Curry (Murgh Kari)
Photo by MelissaZ.

This creamy, yogurt-based sauce (seasoned with curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, and cayenne pepper) pairs perfectly with basmati rice and naan.

28 of 31

Chicken Bombs with Bacon and Jalapeños

Chicken Bombs with Bacon and Jalapenos
Soup Loving Nicole

There's a lot going on with this recipe and we're not mad about it: Chicken breasts are stuffed with cheesy jalapeños, wrapped in bacon, and grilled to smoky perfection.

29 of 31

Chef John's Chicken Paprikash

Chef John's Chicken Paprikash
Chef John's Chicken Paprikash. Chef John

This Hungarian dish features smoked paprika, sweet Hungarian paprika, and cayenne pepper. Chef John suggests topping with sour cream and freshly sliced chives.

30 of 31

Jalapeño Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas

Jalapeno Cream Cheese Chicken Enchiladas
BrianP

Jalapeño-infused cream cheese pairs perfectly with cayenne-spiked shredded chicken in these super decadent enchiladas. "It is absolutely to die for and I get nothing but rave reviews from people who try it," says recipe creator baumanns.

31 of 31

More Inspiration

Instant Pot® Buffalo Wings on a white plate
Soup Loving Nicole

Try one of our Favorite Chicken Wings for the Big Game. Plus, explore our entire collection of Spicy Recipes.

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