How to Cook Kung Pao Chicken

Kung pao chicken is a Chinese-inspired stir-fried dish made with tender chicken, crunchy peanuts, crisp vegetables, and a sweet, savory, and mildly spicy sauce.

Prep Time10

Cook Time6

Total Time16

Course: Chicken Recipe

Cuisine: Chinese

Keyword: asian dish, chicken recipe, kung pao chicken

Servings: 2 to 3 servings

Calories: 302kcal

Author: Manny

Ingredients

1/2 kilo chicken breast fillet slice into one inch pieces
1 Tbsp corn starch
2 tsp sesame oil or sunflower oil
2 Tbsp. spring onions chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. ginger grated
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. sugar
1/4 cup roasted peanuts
1 Tbsp. spring onion for garnishing

Instructions

How to Cook Kung Pao Chicken:

In a bowl, put the corn starch and toss in the chicken fillet to coat with the cornstarch.
Heat oil in the non-stick wok and stir fry the chicken for 5 minutes. Turn off heat and remove the chicken from the wok and put in an bowl and set aside.
Heat the same wok and another teaspoon of oil. Then add in the garlic, onion, spring onion, red pepper, ginger and stir fry for a few seconds then add in the vinegar, soy sauce and sugar. Stir again and simmer for a few seconds or until sugar is dissolved.
Return the chicken in the wok and stir until well coated with the sauce. Add in the peanuts and stir occasionally. Cook for a minute then turn off heat. Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with spring onions. Serve hot with steamed rice.

Notes

Cooking Tips:

Coat the Chicken Evenly

Toss the chicken thoroughly with cornstarch so every piece has a light, even coating before cooking. This helps lock in moisture and creates a delicate surface for the sauce to cling to. Shake off any excess cornstarch to prevent the coating from becoming gummy.

Cook Over High Heat

Preheat your wok or skillet before adding the ingredients to ensure they sear instead of steam. High heat cooks the chicken quickly while keeping the vegetables crisp and vibrant. Since stir-frying happens fast, have all your ingredients prepared before you start cooking.

Add the Peanuts at the End

Stir in the peanuts during the final minute of cooking to keep them crunchy. Adding them too early can soften their texture as they absorb moisture from the sauce. For even more flavor, use lightly roasted peanuts before mixing them into the dish.