Mongolian Chicken. Crispy fried chicken smothered in a sticky sweet ginger hoisin sauce. A delicious dish to make for dinner or lunch that comes together in 25 minutes or less!
My easy Mongolian chicken pairs well with white rice or brown rice with green beans or any vegetables! This Asian chicken recipe has easily become a family favorite thanks to it's simplicity and complex flavors!
What does Mongolian chicken taste like?
Imagine crispy fried chicken coated in a sticky sweet savory sauce with a hint of ginger, mild in spice. This popular Chinese takeout dish possesses a wonderful savory flavor. The juicy chicken is fried to crispy perfection. Also, the best part is that it's one of those easy chicken recipes you can make at home!
What is Mongolian chicken made of?
Mongolian chicken is chicken coated in cornstarch and then fried in oil. Then once fried it is then mixed in with a delicious gingery, spicy, garlicky and sweet hoisin-based sauce. The red chili, ginger, and garlic give it a wonderful aroma and taste.
Popular Dish
You'll find this Chinese-American dish served at your local Chinese restaurant. It was made popular by a restaurant chain called P.F. Changs, known for it's Americanized Chinese food. Furthermore, specializing in chicken stir fry, it's a restaurant favorite to many families.
Easy Recipe
My Mongolian chicken recipe is also incredibly easy to make. Firstly, you are simply coating your tender chicken pieces in corn starch and shallow frying them in oil. Finally, in a couple minutes, stir fry the crispy chicken pieces in a simple sauce with the aromatics. It's a great recipe for those busy weeknights!
Ingredients
You will need the following Mongolian chicken ingredients. Please scroll down to the recipe card for full measurements.
Note: Most Asian grocers will carry these ingredients. You may find them at your select grocery store or online, like on Amazon.
- boneless skinless chicken thighs: you may substitute with boneless skinless chicken breasts for a leaner alternative
- cornstarch: or substitute with potato starch or tapioca starch
- green onion
- neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil.
Sauce:
- garlic
- red chili: any long red chili will work for this recipe. For a mild level of spice, de-seed the chili
- fresh ginger
- regular soy sauce: your all-purpose soy sauce. The bottle should just say "soy sauce", not light soy sauce or dark soy sauce.
- If you're gluten free, substitute with gluten free soy sauce, tamari sauce or coconut aminos
- hoisin sauce
- brown sugar: dark brown sugar or light brown sugar will both work
- sesame oil
- cornstarch: or substitute with potato starch or tapioca starch
- water: or substitute with unsalted chicken stock or chicken broth
Garnish (optional):
- green onion
- red chili
How to make Mongolian Chicken
In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ cup water until well combined. Set aside.
Slice chicken thighs into 1.5-inch pieces, about 4-6 pieces per thigh.
In a large mixing bowl, add sliced chicken thighs, followed by cornstarch. Give it a few mixes until each piece is coated in cornstarch. Set aside.
Then in a large skillet or wok on medium high heat, heat vegetable oil. Lower chicken in batches, Fry until crispy golden brown on both sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
Afterward, in the same pan or wok set over medium heat, add ginger, garlic, and red chili. Fry for 10 seconds.
Next add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and mix well before adding cornstarch slurry. (You may need to give the cornstarch water another stir before adding to the hot pan). Mix sauce ingredients until combined. Simmer to thicken.
Add crispy chicken back into the pan and toss with sauce. Remove off heat. Transfer to serving dish. Optional: Garnish with red chili and green onions if desired. Enjoy!
Cooking Tips for the Best Mongolian Chicken
- Have all your ingredients prepared and ready to go! With any quick stir fry, have ingredients ready to toss into the pan or you may overcook the dish, like the crispy chicken strips.
- Chicken thighs are recommended. Chicken thigh is such a forgiving and delicious cut to cook with. Because it contains fat running through it, you can overcook it and it will still remain somewhat juicy and tender.
- Use medium-high heat to fry chicken, but only until golden crispy brown. It can burn if left in the pan for too long.
- Fresh ingredients are important. Especially when it comes to the red chili, garlic, ginger and green onions. This is a dish that relies on this for that wonderful gingery, spicy, garlicky flavor.
Storage
This dish will last up to 4 days in the fridge. To store leftovers, transfer leftover Mongolian chicken into an airtight container. To reheat the next day, microwave or reheat on the stove top on medium heat.
FAQ
Why is it called Mongolian Chicken?
Despite the name, this homemade Mongolian chicken does not originate from Mongolia. In fact, this is a Chinese dish. Many Chinese-American restaurants serve it. It's because of the stir frying technique in Mongolian barbecue created in Taiwan in the 1950s,
What is Mongolian sauce made of?
Mongolian sauce is a mixture of hoisin sauce, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil with a cornstarch slurry to thicken it. It is additionally flavored with ginger, garlic and red chili (sometimes).
What is the difference between Mongolian chicken vs Szechuan chicken?
Szechuan chicken tends to be spicier and sweeter or spicy and sour using Szechuan peppercorns. Mongolian chicken is milder and sometimes doesn’t even use spices but in my version I wanted a kick but feel free to omit this if you cannot tolerate spice.
Can I add some vegetables to Mongolian Chicken?
Yes! Feel free to add bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snap peas or snow peas to make it a well rounded dish.
Can I air fry the chicken?
Yes! To air fry the chicken:
- Spray air fryer basket with sufficient oil.
- Place coated chicken into the basket in a single layer, giving each piece enough room. Do not overlap. You may need to air fry in two batches.
- Lightly spray the chicken with oil.
- Air fry at 400 F for 10-14 minutes until desired crispiness.
Other Chicken recipes you may like!
- Honey Sesame Chicken
- Sweet And Sour Chicken
- General Tso Chicken
- Lemon Chicken
- Orange Chicken
- Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken
- Korean Fried Chicken
Easy Mongolian Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb or 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs
- ¼ cup cornstarch for coating chicken (or sub with potato starch or tapioca starch)
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- 2 teaspoon garlic minced
- 1 red chili pepper sliced (optional)
- 5 slices ginger
- 4 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoon regular soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon sesame oil
Cornstarch Slurry:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch or sub with potato starch or tapioca starch
- ½ cup water
Garnish (optional):
- 1 stalk green onion finely chopped
- 1 red chili pepper sliced
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon cornstarch and ½ cup water until well combined. This is your cornstarch slurry. Set aside.
- Slice chicken thighs into 1.5-inch pieces, about 4-6 pieces per thigh.
- In a large mixing bowl, add sliced chicken thighs, followed by ¼ cup cornstarch. Give it a few mixes until each piece is coated in cornstarch. Set aside.
- Then in a large skillet or wok on medium high heat, heat vegetable oil. Lower chicken in batches, Fry until crispy golden brown on both sides, about 6-8 minutes. Remove chicken from pan and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil. To Air Fry the chicken, please see Notes below for instructions.
- Afterward, in the same pan or wok set over medium heat, add ginger, garlic, and red chili. Fry for 10 seconds.
- Next add hoisin sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and mix well before adding cornstarch slurry. (You may need to give the cornstarch water another stir before adding to the hot pan). Mix sauce ingredients until combined. Simmer to thicken.
- Add crispy chicken back into the pan and toss with sauce. Remove off heat. Transfer to serving dish. Optional: Garnish with red chili and green onions if desired. Enjoy!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I really love the sauce you've created for this dish. Mongolian chicken is one of my very favorites!
Martin
That‘s a delicious dish. It took 45 minutes until it was served and the taste was like I know from China. First time that I cook something with the original taste. Many thanks.
Jessica M
Made this for my family last night and we all LOVED it!! I didn't put in the red chili bc I wasn't sure if it'd be too much spice for the kids. Served it over plain white rice. This one will def be going in our meal rotation. A MUST try!!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Jessica! I am so glad you and the family enjoyed it and it'll be part of the weekly rotation!
Kirsty, Scotland
Hi there, just tried this and loved it! Wen down a treat with my other half and off to explore other recipes.
Thanks for sharing 👍
Take care
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Kirsty! I am so glad you and your other half enjoyed it!
Raelyn
I added chili pepper flakes to the sauce instead of the red pepper and extra garlic. Sooo delicious! Great recipe!
Charlie Benetti
Well what can I say if I closed my eyes I would have said I was in China town in London. It was perfect nice balance of spice and sweetness. That crispy chicken well what can I say superb. Served ours with noddles
christieathome
Thank you so much for your kind review Charlie! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed my recipe with your noodles! It brings me joy to read this! Have a lovely day! - Christie
Ling
Great tasty recipe and so easy to make. The flavours are spot on and I will definitely make this again.
Barb
How much cornstarch is it actually supposed to be? The ingredient list, cooking instructions, and video all have different amounts.
christieathome
Hi Barb, I'm not sure where you see different measurements for the cornstarch as they are all the same in the video, list and recipe card. For the chicken coating it's 1/4 cup. Then you'll also need to an additional 1 tbsp to the sauce mixture. Hope this helps.
Yash
First saw it on TikTok then found this page. Clear, easy to follow instructions and a delicious, flavourful outcome. Looking forward to trying your other recipes!
christieathome
Thank you so much for your kind words and I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Eddie Rivas
My wife is pregnant and she enjoyed this A LOT. Thank you so much! I saw your video on Tick Tock and was curious to know the brand of your WOK used for that video.
Thanks again!
christieathome
Thank you so much for your kind review Eddie! I am so glad your wife enjoyed the recipe! All the best on the big day when baby comes. The wok was purchased off amazon and here's the link: https://amzn.to/35Wio5E
Have a great day!
Christie
André
I made is for the first time and it was really very nice.
I am going to try out more of your recipes.
Thank you.
André van der Kroon
Holland
Mei Hsien
Tried it for the first time and family enjoyed it 😋
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe and I am so glad you and the family enjoyed it 🙂
Ina Ogg
Hello Christie,
I found this recipe on Pinterest and it was so yummie. Directions were great and very clear so every one can make it. Preparation took a little longer, but all was ready at the same time, so there was no problem. (Vegetables and such).
Me and my husband enjoyed it verry much. I will make this dish again and again. It will be our favorite.
From the Netherlands,Thank you so very much.
christieathome
Hi Ina! Thank you so much for making my recipe and for leaving such a kind review on my page! I'm so glad you and your husband enjoyed it! It's a great weeknight meal when one doesn't feel like ordering takeout. Happy to have shared this recipe with you and sending my best wishes from Canada! - Christie
Kathy
Very easy, and very tasty! Will make again.
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Kathy and leaving such a kind review! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Deborah
Husband looooved this (as did I). Requested I put it in the meal rotation often!
Thank you!
christieathome
Awww this is music to my ears! So happy to read this! Thanks for making my recipe Deborah!
Boyd
I love this recipe! Fast and easy to make. My wife has me make it at least once a week.
christieathome
Thank you for making my recipe Boyd! So happy to hear this!
Marisol Estremera
Delicious and easy recipe. I added broccoli for the greens and it did not disappoint.
christieathome
So happy to hear this! Thank you for making my recipe!
Lisa
Love this recipe! Served it with rice and veggies. I wish I did a better job browning the chicken first and I left out the ginger since I didn’t have it on hand. Otherwise everything was perfect.
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for making my recipe!
Sharon
Mine didn’t come out as dark- maybe because I used light brown sugar? My family still loved it!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe Sharon! I am so happy to hear this! It could be depending on how long you fried the chicken for, if it's longer the chicken will come out more darker. Hope this helps!
Elizabeth
Tried this tonight. I "marinated" the chicken in soy sauce (cut back on the amount) and cornstarch. I added chili oil to the sesame oil, and broccoli and fresh red peppers, and was liberal with the ginger and garlic (we like spicy). Served with basmati rice. Great recipe that adapts well to personal taste and has depth of flavors. Thanks for sharing!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe Elizabeth! Glad you enjoyed it.
Sarah
This was delicious! My chicken was barely crispy, some pieces not at all. But it hit temp so I pulled it because I didn’t want to overcook. Where did I go wrong? More cornstarch? Higher temp?
christieathome
Thanks Sarah! Glad it was delicious. Sorry to hear you had some difficulty getting it crispy. I find it really depends on each stovetop's temperature setting as they can vary from brand to brand. For future, I would definitely coat the chicken in more cornstarch until each piece is all white and then increase the temperature to a higher heat setting until you start to see the crispy golden texture. Since chicken thigh is used in this recipe (unlike chicken breast), it's a very forgiving cut of meat. So even if you overcook it just a bit, it will still remain tender and juicy. Hope this helps!
Cori
This recipe was shared with me and I’m so glad I tried it. Seriously delicious and so easy to make. I skipped the red chili (none in stock when I was at the grocery store) and chopped the ginger as I did with the garlic. Super easy, packed with flavour, will definitely be making this many times again!
christieathome
Thank you so much Cori for making my recipe! This makes me so happy to read and I am really glad you enjoyed it!!
Have a lovely day! - Christie
Maddi
Just made this recipe for lunch! Super fast and super delicious! 10/10 recommend!
christieathome
I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed this! Thank you so much for making my recipe ☺️
Kathy Haupers
Was very flavorful and so easy to prepare. Prep time was longer than stated in recipe but we’ll worth it. I had some asparagus in the frig so I quickly stir fried it before the chicken. Definitely on my rotation.
christieathome
So glad you enjoyed my recipe! Thank you for making it 🙂
Chris F
Do you leave the ginger in the mix and eat it with the skin?
christieathome
Yes, I leave the skin on but feel free to remove it to your liking.
Naomi
I just made this for my family and it was a big hit! Thanks for sharing your recipes with us! It’s the first one of yours that I’ve tried, and I can hardly wait to try more!
christieathome
This is music to my ears! I am so very happy to hear that you enjoyed my recipe with your family 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to make it and I hope you enjoy my other recipes!
Allison Elligson
I didn't have chicken to cube on hand, so I swapped the chicken for a cubed venison roast. Let me tell you - it tastes incredible. I followed the recipe exactly as it is printed and it turned out amazing.
christieathome
I am so happy to read that this worked out well with venison! Thank you so much for making my recipe Allison! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Elias
Fantastic! Thanks for sharing. My fickle Missus loves it.
christieathome
I'm so happy to read this! Thank you for making my recipe and glad you both enjoyed it, Elias!
Cheryl
I love this dish! I love the flavour so much that I am actually going to try replacing the chicken with cauliflower for a vegetarian friend - wish me luck!
christieathome
I am so happy to read this Cheryl! Thank you very much for making my recipe and good luck with the cauliflower substitution! I would love to hear how that goes. Have a great day!
Jessica
This was amazing! So simple, flavorful and authentic. Can't wait to try more of your recipes!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Jessica! I am very happy to read this kind comment 🙂 Have a lovely day!
Muskaan
Hi, this looks delicious and I'm planning on making this in the next couple of days and I had a quick question.
Do you use a normal red chili or a Thai red chili?
Thanks
christieathome
Hi there! Thank you very much! Just a normal red chili. If you'd like it spicier, you can definitely add Thai red chili. I hope you enjoy my recipe 🙂
Tiara
hi Christie, just wondering if I could use chicken breast instead of thigh? would it make a big difference?
christieathome
Hi Tiara! You can definitely use chicken breast. I would just suggest to monitor the cooking time and perhaps reduce it to 5-6 minutes since breast tends to dry out faster than thigh due to the lack of fat content. Hope this helps!
Marie
How many teaspoons or table spoons are 5 slices of ginger? I have minced what I thought would be 5 slices worth off of my root, going by the video. I'm going ahead with what I have, but I would appreciate knowing what you would use, in spoons. Thank you.
christieathome
I would say about 1 1/2 tsp since it's minced. Since it's minced, the surface area is greater and will offer a much more powerful taste than sliced.
Amanda
Made this tonight and it was a hit! For those struggling to get their chicken crispy, make sure you pat the raw chicken dry before coating in corn starch. I did jasmine rice in the Instant Pot and roasted broccoli in the oven – delicious, nutritious, and dinner done in less than 40 minutes!
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe Amanda! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing the tip with everyone 🙂
Stella
Came across this recipe a few months ago and have been making it at least once a week ever since! Super tasty, easy to make and turns out great every time. Thanks Christie, excited to try your other recipes!
christieathome
I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed this Stella! Thanks for making my recipe and I hope you enjoy my other recipes 🙂
MamaH
I've made this recipe twice but I still can't manage to get the chicken crispy. Any tips? Thanks!
christieathome
Hi there! Thank you so much for making my recipe! Here are some tips to get that chicken crispy:
1) If there is a lot of moisture on the chicken, pat it dry with a clean paper towel. The excess moisture can attribute to a less crispy crust.
2) When coating the chicken with starch, do not overmix. If you overmix, this can create moisture in the starch. Once I pour the starch onto the chicken, I use kitchen tongs and twist it 3-4 x and this evenly distributes the starch. Alternatively, instead of pouring the starch onto the chicken, you can dredge each piece of chicken into the starch to avoid overmixing.
3) Fry the chicken for a couple minutes longer until the crust is crispier. Because it's chicken thigh, this cut is more forgiving and if you do cook it for longer, it won't dry out like breast.
Hope these tips help!
Melody
Hello 👋
This recipe was absolutely delicious. Thank you so very much for sharing. I was just wondering if you have the nutritional values on this?
I couldn't find them. Thanks so much very much.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe Melody! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Sorry, unfortunately I don't have values for this recipe but I can add them later.
Dan G.
Recipe as-is is great. Very nice flavor and the Corn Starch crisped chicken was just right. Wife didn't want it with rice so I used some Chinese egg noodles (like Lo Mein Noodles but just a little thicker). Cooked them most of the way first then rinsed under cold water and set aside. After cooking everything I added the noodles into my wok and mixed it well and cooked everything together a little longer. The sauce clung to the noodles nicely and it turned out great....And then...my wife said she would have liked some other vegetables in it... sometimes, you just can't win.
This recipe results in a very good Mongolian chicken, with what tastes like an authentic sauce and the perfect texture on the chicken.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe and for this kind review, Dan! So glad you enjoyed it! Egg noodles are a great pairing with this dish!
Patryk
Hoisin sauce is generally sweet, wouldn't adding sugar make a dish bland and too sweet?
christieathome
Not in my experience with this dish and I haven't received that feedback from the many others who made this dish through my other social platforms. But if you feel it's too sweet, omit it and you can always add it later to the sauce.
Patryk
Hoisin sauce and sugar? Is this dish too much sweet?
Rachael
A very delicious meal! My whole family loved it and we will definitely be making it again! Thank you for this awesome recipe, Christie!
christieathome
Glad you enjoyed it with your family, thanks for making it!
peetje Peet
Loved this dish!!! Very tasteful.. simple and quick!!!
Thank you very much for sharing
christieathome
Thank you so much Peetje! I'm so glad you enjoyed it and I appreciate you taking the time to write such a kind review 🙂
Deborah Hathaway
Deliciously sweet and spicy.
My first time making this but it’s definitely not a 25 min meal. I prepped the ingredients (added carrots, peppers and onions) and began frying. It took time working in small batches. I’ll be trying the air fryer next time.
Brendan
Cooked this one last night for some friends, they loved it. Definitely packs a punch!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe, Brendan! Glad you enjoyed it with your friends!
Mommakat
I just found you and will follow. Your recipes are easy to follow and I love Asian cooking and your recipes include most all the ingredients i keep on hand. Thank You!
christieathome
Thank you so much for the kind words and I hope you enjoy my recipes!
Maria
We loved this recipe but could not figure out where the green onions mentioned in the first section went with the recipe. We ended up throwing them in with the aromatics, but the recipe is not clear.
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe and for flagging that! I've corrected the recipe, the green onions are just for garnish.
Bethany Hunter
I loved it!! The only problem I had was that the recipe was a little confusing with the cornstarch. First, I did it correctly by adding the cornstarch directly to the chicken, then, the next step says to make a slurry which confused me so I added water to the cornstarch coated chicken. I then realized that you meant that the slurry was for the sauce and the quarter cup was for the chicken and ended up adding more cornstarch to the slurried chicken. It ended up delicious but I bet it’s even more delicious don’t correctly.
That being said, it ended up so so so delicious! Thank you!
christieathome
Thank you so much for your comment and for making my recipe! I also appreciate you flagging this. I've revised the instructions again so they are more clearly written. Have a great day, Bethany!
Matt
Great taste good Dish except the directions are a little sketchy on the corn starch. It almost sounds like you are supposed to put the cornstarch slurry with the chicken. That is not the case, you are to coat chicken with corn starch. This measurement is not mentioned in the ingredients list.
christieathome
Apologies for the confusion! I've just revised the recipe instructions. I appreciate you flagging this and for making my recipe.
Tracy Palmer Dawson
Yummy! I couldn’t find red peppers so I substituted red pepper flakes. I will try air frying the chicken as suggested next time to improve the healthfulness. Quick and easy. Thanks so much for sharing.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my recipe, Tracy! Glad you enjoyed it!
Sandy Stiner
Oh my gosh, this was so easy! The taste was like we got it from a restaurant. Cannot wait to make it again! Thank you Christie for helping us make tasty Asian dishes at home!!!!
Rex the Dog
It was so delightful and exactly what I was craving. TYSM FOR THIS RECIPE <3333
christieathome
So happy to read this! Thank YOU for making it and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Ade
Made this last night for my family. It was absolutely delicious and so easy to make. The wife was the first one to tuck in followed by my two daughters. As I usually eat last, I kept looking in the pan after each of them had taken their dinner and I was just hoping that there would be enough left for me. To my delight there was plenty left and it was really really tasty. All the family thought it was absolutely delicious and asked me to make it again tomorrow. This recipe is truly awesome. Thank you so much for sharing it.
christieathome
Thank you so much for sharing this kind comment with me, Ade! I am really happy to know that you and your whole family enjoyed my recipe! I appreciate you for making it and I hope you enjoy this recipe again and again. Have a lovely day!
Texasgirl
Very good! A trick I learned in a Chinese cooking class was after frying the chicken in two batches; reheat your oil and place all pcs back in to refry a few minutes. Keeps the chicken very crispy throughout the entire meal even after the sauce is added. Thanks for this recipe!!
christieathome
Thanks for making my recipe and for sharing your quick tip with us all! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂