Easy Kung Pao Chicken (30 Minutes)
If you want a fast weeknight dinner, this easy kung pao chicken recipe comes together in 30 minutes. The sweet and savory sauce has just the right amount of heat. You get tender chicken and crunchy peanuts in every 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 the chicken thighs into uniform 1.5-inch pieces and place them in a large mixing bowl.
- Marinate the Chicken: Mix the water, cornstarch, soy sauce, and baking soda thoroughly into the chicken, then mix in the oil. Marinate for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Whisk all the listed sauce ingredients in a separate bowl until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches for 5 to 6 minutes total, flipping halfway through, until golden on both sides and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Remove the chicken, leaving the residual oil in the pan.
- Stir-fry the dried chilis, green onions, and peanuts in the residual oil for 15 seconds. Add the bell peppers and stir-fry for 30 seconds.
- Return the chicken to the pan. Whisk the sauce again, then pour it in and stir-fry constantly for 30 seconds until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.
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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