Quick & Easy Chinese Lemon Chicken

Quick & Easy Chinese Lemon Chicken

Crispy fried chicken tossed in a sweet, tangy, and savory lemon sauce. This quick and easy Chinese lemon chicken recipe uses simple ingredients and is ready in just 30 minutes - a family-friendly, restaurant-quality main perfect for busy weeknights!

5 from 22 votes

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 10

Total Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings

Calories per serving 616 kcal

Ingredients

1 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs
⅓ cup cornstarch or potato starch
⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon sesame seeds optional garnish
lemon slices optional garnish

Sauce

¼ cup brown sugar
3 garlic cloves minced
½ teaspoon ginger grated
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly-squeezed
2 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
½ cup chicken stock low-sodium
½ tablespoon cornstarch or potato starch

Instructions

In a small bowl, combine the sauce ingredients as listed above. Set aside.
Evenly dice chicken thighs into 1.5-inch cubes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and season with salt and black pepper. (Don't pat the chicken dry as moisture is needed for the next step!)
Add cornstarch to the chicken and toss to evenly coat each piece with tongs.
Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Fry chicken in small batches until cooked, golden and crispy on both sides, about 6-8 minutes in total. Remove and transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil.
Discard any excess oil from the pan and reduce to medium heat. Add sauce and simmer to thicken it.
Once sauce is thickened, add chicken and toss to evenly coat. Garnish with sesame seeds or lemon slices.

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