1-First Step: Preheat the oven and melt the butter Start by preheating your oven to 425 degrees F. Place the 3 tablespoons of butter in a glass 9×13-inch pan and let it melt in the oven. This step gives the chicken a flavorful base and helps keep the pan ready for baking. Once the butter has melted, carefully remove the pan from the oven.

2-Second Step: Prep the chicken Pat the 1 1/2 pounds of chicken tenders dry with paper towels. This helps the flour stick better. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper, keeping the seasoning simple so the sauce can shine later. If you are cooking for kids or spice-sensitive guests, this mild base makes the finished dish easy to adjust.

3-Third Step: Coat the chicken in flour Pour the 1/3 cup all-purpose flour into a shallow bowl or plate. Dredge each chicken tender in the flour, then shake off the excess. You want a light coating, not a thick crust. That thin layer helps the sauce cling to the chicken and gives the final dish a smooth, sticky finish.

4-Fourth Step: Bake the chicken for the first round Place the floured chicken tenders in a single layer in the buttered pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Keeping the chicken in one layer helps it cook evenly. If your pan is crowded, use two pans so the chicken roasts instead of steaming.

5-Fifth Step: Mix the sauce while the chicken bakes While the chicken is in the oven, grab a medium saucepan. Whisk together the 1/4 cup chicken broth, 1/4 cup white or apple cider vinegar, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup packed light or dark brown sugar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce. This is the heart of the Sweet Spicy Sticky Chicken flavor, so whisk well until everything looks smooth. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. This short simmer helps the sauce thicken a bit before it goes into the oven. It also keeps the chicken from overcooking later because the sauce will already have some body.

6-Sixth Step: Pour on the sauce and finish baking Take the chicken out of the oven and pour the sauce over the top. Return the pan to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce is bubbly and thickened. The sauce will cling to the chicken more as it cools, so do not worry if it looks a little loose at first.

7-Final Step: Serve with rice Spoon the Sweet Spicy Sticky Chicken over hot cooked rice. White rice works well, but garlic rice is especially good if you want extra flavor. The rice catches every drop of sauce and makes the meal feel complete. Serve right away while the sauce is glossy and the chicken is hot.