Description
A flavorful and vibrant Kung Pao Chicken recipe featuring tender marinated chicken, crisp-tender vegetables, and a tangy orange chili sauce, garnished with roasted peanuts and sesame seeds. Perfect served over rice for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
For the marinade:
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon sherry or Shaoxing wine
- 1 and 1/2 pounds chicken breasts or chicken thighs, cut into 1-2 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for searing
For the veggies:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, for sautéing the veggies
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 green bell pepper
- 2 small zucchini
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, smashed and minced
- 1 and 1/2 inches fresh ginger, about 1 tablespoon grated or minced (or 1 tablespoon ginger paste)
For the sauce:
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili crisp
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or 1/2 cup water with 3/4 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken base)
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, from 1 orange
- 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice, from 1/2 an orange
To serve:
- 1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts or roasted salted cashews
- Green onions, chopped, for garnish
- White sesame seeds, for garnish
- Hot rice, for serving (such as Coconut Jasmine Rice, white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, or basmati rice)
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1 tablespoon sherry or Shaoxing wine. Cut chicken into 1-2 inch pieces, add to the marinade, stir and set aside at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Prepare the vegetables: Chop red and green bell peppers into squares. Slice zucchini lengthwise into strips, then chop into 2 inch pieces. Chop 1/2 cup onion. Smash and mince garlic. Peel and mince or grate ginger. Set vegetables aside separately from garlic and ginger.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 teaspoons cornstarch, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce, 1 tablespoon chili crisp, 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon orange zest, and 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice. Leave whisk in bowl for mixing again later.
- Sear the chicken: Heat a 12 inch cast iron skillet or wok over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes until very hot. Add 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and swirl to coat. Add chicken pieces in batches with space, cook without touching for 2-3 minutes until browned on bottom. Flip and sear other side for 1 minute. Turn heat to medium and cook until chicken reaches 160°F internal temperature. Remove chicken to a plate and repeat with remaining pieces.
- Cook the vegetables: Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the skillet and heat on medium-high. Add peppers, onion, and zucchini and sauté for about 2 minutes until crisp-tender. Add garlic and ginger and cook for another 1-3 minutes depending on desired softness.
- Add chicken and sauce: Return chicken and juices to skillet with vegetables. Add orange chili sauce and stir to coat, scraping browned bits from the pan. Stir in 1/2 cup roasted peanuts or cashews. Remove from heat.
- Garnish and serve: Garnish with chopped green onions and toasted white sesame seeds. Serve hot with rice of choice and extra chili crisp sauce if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken broth with 1/2 cup water and 3/4 teaspoon Better Than Bouillon Chicken base for similar flavor.
- If you don’t have a cast iron skillet, a heavy-bottomed skillet works well too.
- Adjust chili crisp amount according to your preferred spice level, adding more as garnish if desired.
- Use either chicken breasts or thighs based on preference; thighs add more juiciness.
- Vegetables are best cooked crisp-tender as they continue softening off heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg