Authentic Kung Pao Chicken
This simple but delicious Kung Pao Chicken recipe is a Chinese take-out favorite that you can make at home! Stir-fried chicken, peanuts, and vegetables, this recipe is the perfect balance between salty, sweet, and spicy. Make this at home tonight!
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
To marinate chicken
- 1 lb. chicken tenders
- 2 tbsps. soy sauce
- 2 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 tbsp. white vinegar or rice vinegar
- Salt to taste
To prepare the sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 3 tbsps. soy sauce low sodium
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp white vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp ginger minced
- 1 tsp garlic minced
To prepare the chicken stir fry
- 2 tbsps. oil
- 6-8 whole red chilies
- ½ large yellow bell pepper cubed
- ½ large green bell pepper cubed
- ½ cup green onions cut into ½ inch size
- ¼ cup roasted peanuts
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in a bowl by combining soy sauce, cornstarch, vinegar and salt for at least 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and keep it ready.
- Heat a skillet on a medium flame with a tablespoon of oil. Add the chicken cubes and cook for 5-6 minutes until golden and transfer the chicken pieces to a plate.
- To the same skillet add the remaining tablespoon of oil; add the red chilis , peppers and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the prepared sauce and cook for 3-5 minutes until the sauce is thickened.
- Stir the chicken back into the skillet and coat the chicken well with the sauce and let the chicken cook in the sauce for 2 minutes.
- Finally add the green onions, peanuts and sesame seeds, toss it and serve with rice.
Notes
- Feel free to leave the whole red chilies and some of the chili flakes to make the chicken less spicy.
- Feel free to add other veggies if you like. Some recommendations are zucchini, carrots, broccoli, mushroom, and cauliflower.
- Do not overcook the chicken or else it will become chewy. 6 to 7 minutes at the most as they’re diced into small bite-sized pieces.
- You can roast your own peanuts by adding them to a skillet over medium heat then toast it for 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Cut your chicken into even, bite-sized, pieces so they’ll cook evenly.
- Use a large non-stick pan/skillet or wok.
Nutrition
Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 1261mg | Potassium: 898mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 846IU | Vitamin C: 149mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg