Easy 30-min. Kung Pao Chicken
If you want a fast weeknight dinner, this easy kung pao chicken recipe comes together in 30 minutes. The sweet and savory sauce balances beautifully with a hint of heat. You get tender chicken and crunchy peanuts in every comforting bite.
Ingredients
- 1 lb skinless boneless chicken thighs
- ½ cup red bell pepper large diced
- 5 green onions chopped into ½" long rounds
- ¼ cup roasted peanuts unsalted
- 10 whole dried Sichuan red chilies
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Chicken Marinade
- 3 tablespoon water cold
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil or any neutral oil
Sauce
- 2 tablespoon white granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon water cold
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ tablespoon dark soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon ground sichuan peppercorn
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon ginger thinly sliced
Instructions
- Dice chicken thighs into uniform 1.5-inch pieces for even cooking and place cubes into a large bowl.
- Mix the listed marinade ingredients thoroughly into the chicken and let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes to tenderize.
- Stir the listed sauce ingredients in a separate bowl until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat, fry the chicken for 5 to 6 minutes until golden, then remove the meat, leaving the residual oil in the pan.
- Stir-fry dried chilis, green onions, and peanuts in residual oil for 15 seconds, then add bell peppers for 30 seconds.
- Return chicken to the pan, pour in the sauce, and stir-fry constantly for 30 seconds until the glaze thickens.
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Nutrition
Calories: 288kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 108mg | Sodium: 877mg | Potassium: 824mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 1840IU | Vitamin C: 189mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 3mg