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Kung Pao Chicken Close up of a delicious Kung Pao chicken bowl, served on a bed of fluffy rice, topped with vibrant vegetables, peanuts, and fresh green onions.

Kung Pao Chicken

This easy Kung Pao Chicken is a delicious stir-fry filled with bold flavors, perfect for a weeknight dinner. It’s quick, tasty, and sure to impress!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Marinate Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 6
Course: Dinner, Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Calories: 461

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tablespoon corn starch divided, for marinade and sauce
  • 2 tablespoon water divided, plus more for cooking rice
  • 3 tablespoon vegetable oil divided, for cooking
  • 3 tablespoon soy sauce divided, for marinade and sauce
  • 3 tablespoon rice wine divided, or substitute with rice vinegar
  • 2 cloves garlic minced, about 2 tsp
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into chunks
  • 2 tablespoon brown sugar for sauce
  • 2 tablespoon sambal chili sauce, or any chili garlic sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil for sauce
  • 1 medium bell pepper diced
  • ½ lb carrots sliced into strips
  • 1 bunch green onions sliced, both white and green parts
  • ½ cup roasted unsalted peanuts for garnish
  • 1 ½ cups uncooked jasmine rice for serving

Method
 

  1. Prepare the chicken marinade. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of corn starch in 1 tablespoon of water, then add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon rice wine, and the minced garlic. Stir to combine.
  2. Marinate the chicken. Cut the chicken into small chunks, then pour the marinade over it. Stir to coat, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Prepare the sauce. In a separate bowl, dissolve 1 tablespoon corn starch in 1 tablespoon water. Add 2 tablespoon soy sauce, 2 tablespoon rice wine, 2 tablespoon sambal, 2 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.
  4. Prepare the vegetables. Dice the bell pepper, slice the carrots into thin strips, and slice the green onions (reserve the white and green parts separately). Measure out ½ cup of peanuts.
  5. Cook the rice. In a medium pot, combine 1 ½ cups dry jasmine rice with 2 ½ cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Let simmer for 20 minutes, then remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
  6. Cook the chicken. Heat 2 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the white part of the green onions and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the marinated chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
  7. Combine the vegetables and sauce. Add the bell pepper, carrots, and peanuts to the chicken. Stir to combine. Pour the prepared sauce over the mixture and cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 461kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 24gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 690mgPotassium: 440mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 80mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 10mg

Notes

Kung Pao Chicken is packed with savory flavors, crunchy peanuts, and fresh veggies. Customize with your choice of chili sauce for the perfect amount of heat!

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