Kung Pao Chicken
A classic stir-fry with tender chicken, crisp peppers, and toasted peanuts in a flavourful sweet-spicy sauce — perfect served over fried rice.
Prep time
30 min (includes marinating)
Cook time
15 min
Serves
Ingredients
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Chicken & Marinade
- 1 lbchicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tbspsoy sauce
- 1 tspsesame oil
- 1 tbspwhite wine vinegar
- 1 clovegarlic, pressed
- 1 tbspcornstarch
Vegetables & Stir-Fry
- 1red bell pepper, cubed
- 1green bell pepper, cubed
- 1 mediumonion, cubed
- 3 tbsppeanut or coconut oil, divided (2 tbsp for chicken, 1 tbsp for vegetables)
Seasoning Sauce
- 2–3 tbspchili garlic paste (adjust for heat preference)
- 1 tsprice wine vinegar
- 2 tbsphoisin sauce
- 1 tspsugar
Finish & Garnish
- ½ cuptoasted peanuts
- to servecooked fried rice
Ingredients
Chicken & Marinade
- 1 lbchicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 tbspsoy sauce
- 1 tspsesame oil
- 1 tbspwhite wine vinegar
- 1 clovegarlic, pressed
- 1 tbspcornstarch
Vegetables & Stir-Fry
- 1red bell pepper, cubed
- 1green bell pepper, cubed
- 1 mediumonion, cubed
- 3 tbsppeanut or coconut oil, divided (2 tbsp for chicken, 1 tbsp for vegetables)
Seasoning Sauce
- 2–3 tbspchili garlic paste (adjust for heat preference)
- 1 tsprice wine vinegar
- 2 tbsphoisin sauce
- 1 tspsugar
Finish & Garnish
- ½ cuptoasted peanuts
- to servecooked fried rice
Instructions
- 1
In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, white wine vinegar, garlic, and cornstarch. Add chicken cubes and toss to coat. Marinate 30 minutes.
- 2
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Stir-fry chicken for 3–4 minutes until lightly golden and almost cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.
- 3
In the same skillet, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add bell peppers and onion; stir-fry 3–4 minutes until crisp-tender.
- 4
Add the seasoning sauce to the vegetables and stir to coat. Return the chicken to the pan and toss 1–2 minutes until heated through. Stir in toasted peanuts.
- 5
Serve immediately over fried rice. Adjust chili garlic paste for desired heat level.
Melissa's Notes
For extra heat, use 3 tbsp chili paste; for mild, use 2 tbsp. Toasting your peanuts adds extra crunch and flavour. Cut vegetables uniformly for even cooking.
Nutrition Information
Per serving — based on 4 servings
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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