Kung Pao Chicken
Make Kung Pao Chicken, a Chinese dinner recipe with boneless, skinless chicken thighs, soy sauce, rice vinegar. It has about 30 min, about 450 calories per serving. Get ingredients, step-by-step instructions, nutrition estimates, FAQs, and Recipe Genius app tools.
Quick answer
Kung Pao Chicken is a Chinese dinner recipe that takes about 30 min, makes 4 servings, has about 450 calories per serving. Use the ingredients and steps below, or open it in Recipe Genius for guided Cook Mode, timers, serving changes, and a shopping list.
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View on AmazonKung Pao Chicken ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp black vinegar (or rice vinegar)
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 2 tbsp peanut oil (or other high smoke point oil)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 10-12 whole dried red chilies
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 0.5 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
- 3 stalks green onions, sliced
Watch how to make Kung Pao Chicken
Follow the key cooking steps, then use the full instructions below for measurements and timing.
How to make Kung Pao Chicken
- Cut chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. In a bowl, combine chicken with 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 tbsp cornstarch, and 1 tsp sesame oil. Mix well and set aside to marinate for at least 15 minutes.
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together all 'Kung Pao Sauce' ingredients until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp peanut oil in a large wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until cooked through and lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. Remove chicken from the wok and set aside.
- Add the remaining 1 tbsp peanut oil to the wok. Add minced garlic, grated ginger, dried red chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns. Stir-fry for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add the diced red bell pepper and zucchini to the wok. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes until slightly tender-crisp.
- Return the cooked chicken to the wok. Pour in the prepared Kung Pao sauce and stir quickly to coat all ingredients. The sauce will thicken rapidly.
- Stir in the roasted peanuts. Cook for another minute until everything is well combined and heated through.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve immediately with steamed white rice.
Kung Pao Chicken FAQ
How do I make Kung Pao Chicken?
Make Kung Pao Chicken by gathering the ingredients below, following the step-by-step instructions, and checking that everything is cooked safely before serving.
What ingredients are in Kung Pao Chicken?
The main ingredients include boneless, skinless chicken thighs, soy sauce, rice vinegar, cornstarch, toasted sesame oil. The full ingredient list is included on this page.
How long does Kung Pao Chicken take?
This recipe takes about 30 min, depending on prep speed and kitchen equipment.
How many calories are in Kung Pao Chicken?
Recipe Genius estimates about 450 calories per serving. Nutrition is estimated, so use your own labels when precision matters.
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