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Easy Kung Pao Chicken

5 from 1 vote
A quick and easy kung pao chicken that only requires 20 minutes to prepare. Use this method and you’ll always create moist and tender chicken with no fuss!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main
Cuisine: Chinese
Servings: 2
Author: Maggie Zhu

Ingredients

Peanut

  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1/3 cup raw peanuts

Chicken

  • 1 (250 grams) chicken breast , cubed
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch

Sauce

  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
  • 1 and 1/2 tablespoons Chinkiang vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose chili garlic sauce 2 - 3 tablespoons for a less spicy dish
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Stir Fry

  • 1/3 cup Chinese scallion , chopped (or green onion)
  • 1/2 cup cucumber , cubed

Instructions

  • Heat peanut oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat until warm. Add raw peanuts and turn down to medium heat. Stir occasionally, until the peanuts turn brown and have a nice nutty aroma. Transfer the peanuts to a plate lined with several layers of paper towel to cool. Save the rest of the oil in the skillet for later use.
  • Cut chicken breast into 1 to 1.5 cm (1/2 inch) cubes and transfer to a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon light soy sauce and mix well. Add 2 teaspoons cornstarch. Mix by hand until the chicken is evenly coated with a thin layer of starch. Set aside.
  • Combine the remaining 1 tablespoon light soy sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, sugar, chili garlic sauce, and the remaining 1 teaspoon cornstarch to a small bowl. Mix well.
  • Cut and prepare the rest of the veggies.
  • Heat the same nonstick skillet again, over medium high heat. If there is not enough oil to cover the bottom of the skillet, add a bit more. When the oil is hot, spread the chicken across the skillet without overlapping the . Let it cook without stirring for 20 seconds. Flip to cook the other side for another 20 seconds. Stir a few times until all surfaces are cooked and slightly browned, but the inside is still raw.
  • Add the scallion and stir another few times. Mix the kung pao sauce again and pour it over the chicken. Immediately stir a few times to mix well until the sauce thickens, 20 seconds. Stop heat. Add peanuts and cucumber. Give it one last stir to mix well. Transfer everything to a plate.
  • Serve warm over steamed rice.

Nutrition

Serving: 180g, Calories: 413kcal, Carbohydrates: 20.4g, Protein: 32.8g, Fat: 23.1g, Saturated Fat: 3.1g, Cholesterol: 71mg, Sodium: 791mg, Potassium: 472mg, Fiber: 3.2g, Sugar: 11.2g, Vitamin A: 650IU, Vitamin C: 6.6mg, Calcium: 50mg, Iron: 2.7mg