Food trends are often fleeting, but every now and then one locks onto something that’s been around forever and gives it a catchy new name—“swicy” is exactly that. The sweet-and-spicy combo isn’t new, but what feels fresh is how it’s showing up now, in dishes that lean on global flavors and modern pantry staples.
Think gochujang, Sriracha, hot honey, and sweet chili sauce turning everyday dishes into total flavor bombs. We’ve had our finger on the pulse for a while, and this collection pulls together our go-to swicy recipes, from Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos and Sheet Pan Gochujang Glazed Chicken to Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies. Consider this your invitation to hop on the trend and make your taste buds do a little happy dance.
01 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Gochujang Glazed Chicken and Winter Veggies
“One of my favorite winter combinations brings together chicken breasts, sweet potatoes, and brussels sprouts with a sticky gochujang sauce that’s both sweet and spicy and gives a burnished finish to the roast.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer
02 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Jessica Furniss
Get Recipe: Hot Honey Slow Cooker Chicken
“Chicken breasts or thighs are coated in honey, sriracha, olive oil, and a squeeze of lime. It all gets added to the slow cooker with a little minced garlic, salt, and pepper for an oven-free meal as delicious as it is easy.” —Jessica Furniss, Recipe Developer
03 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera
Get Recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos
“I like to add shredded cabbage to my tacos to give a contrast of textures and to temper the heat of the sauce a bit. The shrimp is served in warmed flour tortillas, but if you want to cut down on carbs, you can serve them in lettuce leaves instead.” —Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer
04 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Hot Honey Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli
“This simple sheet pan dinner is packed with spicy, savory, and sweet flavor and couldn’t be easier to make. Roast shrimp and broccoli florets in the oven, drizzle them with a sweet-and-spicy hot honey, and you have the ultimate 30-minute meal. Pair it with white or brown rice, quinoa, or even orzo for a complete meal!” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
05 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel
Get Recipe: Tteokbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cakes)
“Tteokbokki are rice cakes simmered in a garlicky, sweet, and spicy gochujang sauce until velvety and tender. Tteok means ‘rice cake’ and bokki means ‘to stir fry.’ It’s a popular Korean stovetop dish I learned to cook as an always-ravenous kid.” —Myo Quinn, Former Associate Editorial Director
06 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Cynthia Christensen
Get Recipe: Easy Grilled Gochujang Chicken Thighs
“One of my mom’s easiest and tastiest recipes started with gochujang mixed with sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar, slathered all over chicken that she’d throw on the grill. The sugars would caramelize, just on the edge of burning, the meat would be tender and juicy, and we would quench the spice with some hot rice, cool cucumbers, and a Coke!” —Cynthia Christensen, Recipe Developer
07 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Cynthia Christensen
Get Recipe: Dubu Jorim (Korean Braised Tofu)
“Dubu jorim is sliced and seared tofu that has been simmered in a sweet and slightly spicy soy-based sauce. Lightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s an easy-to-prepare side dish for breakfast, dinner, or a traditional Korean dosirak (packed lunch).” —Cynthia Christensen, Recipe Developer
08 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond
Get Recipe: Bang Bang Broccoli
“Roasted broccoli. It’s probably not the first dish that pops into your brain when you’re looking for an exciting side to serve alongside a beautiful roast chicken or a plate of grilled shrimp. This recipe, however, will change that. It’s broccoli as you’ve never seen it before, and I can all but guarantee you’re going to love it.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer
09 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Millionaire’s Bacon
“Millionaire’s Bacon is similar to candied bacon but with a more complex flavor and a chewier, more jerky-like consistency compared to its crispy candied cousin. It lives up to its name with a sweet and spicy richness.” —Irvin Lin, Recipe Developer
10 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Sriracha Honey Chex Mix
“Since I started making my own Chex Mix many moons ago, I’ve tried lots of variations. I regularly swap out the mix-ins, although I have my favorite combinations. I’ve added hot sauce, various spices, browned the butter, and more. And I think I’ve arrived at my favorite combo yet: sriracha hot sauce and honey.” —Laurel Randolph, Former Associate Editorial Director
11 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: Sticky Potatoes
“I recently came across a recipe for sticky chipotle braised potatoes, and I was intrigued. After giving them a try, I was amazed at how just a few everyday ingredients transformed into something with surprising depth. I decided to put my own spin on this recipe, and in my version, I came up with the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, salty, umami, and sour components to add bold Southwestern-inspired flavor to every bite.” —Anne Wolf, Recipe Developer
12 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
Get Recipe: Adobo Chocolate Chip Cookies
“Chicken adobo stewed in soy sauce and vinegar was always the dinner my parents cooked for us when they needed to fix up a quick but delicious meal. For my signature chocolate chip cookie recipe, I wanted to incorporate all of adobo’s nuanced and comforting flavors. I am a big fan of incorporating savory into my desserts, and this recipe is no exception.” —Abi Balingit, Recipe Developer
13 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: Bang Bang Potatoes
“Generally, a ‘bang bang’ recipe includes a protein like chicken or shrimp that is lightly breaded and fried until crispy and then served with a signature sauce spiked with sweet chili. It’s very easy to make and delicious on several foods, including potatoes.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
14 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Ellen Mary Cronin / Food Styling by Rochelle Honeygan Burgess
Get Recipe: Grilled Chicken Satay With Peanut Sauce
“Travel to Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, and Cambodia, and you’ll find these popular snacks on every corner. However, you don’t have to take a long plane trip to enjoy these tasty bites. You can recreate a version in your own backyard on your grill—whether it’s gas or charcoal.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer
15 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Get Recipe: Firecracker Chicken
“The sauce bakes down into a glaze, and the resulting dish is a little crispy and a little sticky, a little spicy and a little sweet. It’s in the same family as a sweet and sour chicken, but with more of a kick to it, thanks to the buffalo sauce.” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
16 of 16
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: Dakgangjeong (Sweet and Spicy Korean Fried Chicken)
“Eating at KFC, the iconic fast food chicken chain, was a special treat during my childhood, but I’ve come to love another ‘KFC’ as I’ve gotten older: Korean Fried Chicken, specifically dakgangjeong. Who can say no to crispy, bite-size fried chicken tossed in an addictive sweet-spicy-tangy glaze and topped with crunchy chopped nuts?” —Joy Cho, Recipe Developer
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