Here’s a flavorful, classic Kung Pao Chicken recipe—spicy, savory, and slightly sweet 🥢🔥
Kung Pao Chicken
Ingredients (2–4 servings)
Chicken & Marinade
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tsp cornstarch
Sauce
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sugar or honey
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp water
Stir-Fry
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8–10 dried red chilies (adjust to taste)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-inch piece ginger, minced
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- 3 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Marinate chicken
- Mix chicken with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and cornstarch
- Let sit 10–15 minutes
- Prepare sauce
- Whisk together soy sauce, hoisin, rice vinegar, sugar, sesame oil, cornstarch, and water
- Set aside
- Cook chicken
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat
- Stir-fry chicken until golden and just cooked, about 4–5 minutes
- Remove chicken and set aside
- Stir-fry aromatics
- Add remaining oil
- Stir-fry dried chilies, garlic, and ginger 30 seconds until fragrant
- Combine
- Return chicken to wok
- Add sauce and peanuts
- Stir-fry 1–2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken
- Toss in green onions at the end
- Serve
- Serve hot with steamed rice
Tips & Variations
- Vegetables: add bell peppers, zucchini, or broccoli
- Less spicy: reduce dried chilies or remove seeds
- Crispier chicken: lightly toss marinated chicken in cornstarch and pan-fry before stir-frying
- Authentic crunch: use roasted unsalted peanuts
If you want, I can give an easy 15-minute weeknight version, oven-baked Kung Pao Chicken, or Keto/Paleo version.
Do you want the 15-minute quick version?