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    Home » Asian foods » Chinese Kung Pao Chicken

    Chinese Kung Pao Chicken

    Published: Aug 24, 2021 Modified: Sep 7, 2021 by Tracy O.This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Colorful and flavorful Chinese kung pao chicken or gong bao chicken (宮保雞丁) is one of the popular dishes like orange chicken among American Chinese restaurants. This kung pao chicken recipe is easy. Also, it's a quick and simple ingredient dish that can be done in 20 minutes and great to serve with jasmine rice.

    Love Chinese cuisine? Check out these Chinese eggplant & pork, beef broccoli, zucchini mushroom chicken, sweet and sour pork and steamed minced pork, mushrooms chicken authentic recipes!

    Chinese Kung pao chicken dish with a spoon

    What is Chinese kung pao chicken (宮保雞丁)?

    Kung pao chicken is a Chinese spicy stir fried dish with chicken, peanuts, vegetables and chili peppers. Also, it is called gong bao chicken or kung pow chicken.

    What are the ingredients for gong bao chicken?

    In this Chinese kung pao chicken recipe, I keep it simple and the main ingredients are zucchini, chicken, peanuts, chili peppers and green onion.

    Kung pao chicken or Gong bao chicken ingredients

    Cooking tips for how to cook gong bao chicken:

    • Marinated chicken thighs for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
    • Cut 4 dried red chili peppers depending how spicy you want. Remember to remove as many seeds as possible. If you can't handle spicy, try to use 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers.
    • Stir the sauce mixture very well before pouring into the pan with chicken and zucchini.

    FAQs:

    Can I use other nuts to substitute for peanuts?

    Traditionally this dish uses peanuts. If you have peanut allergies, you can use pine nuts or cashews instead.

    Can I use chicken breast instead?

    Yes, you can use chicken breast. But, the texture will not taste as good as thighs. Also, it cooks faster than thighs, so don’t over cook it.

    How hot is Chinese kung pao chicken dish?


    It's medium hot. I normally use 4 dried red chili peppers. When you cut up the chili peppers, it's a little spicy. Therefore, try to remove as many seeds as possible. I suggest using 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers, if you can't handle spicy. 

    Instructions for how to make Chinese kung pao chicken (宮保雞丁):

    zucchini cut into cubes
    1. Cut and dice 1 medium small sized zucchini.
    minced garlic in the glass container

    2. Mince 4 cloves of garlic and set it aside.

    cut green onion on the chopping board

    3. Cut 2 sticks of green onion and set it aside.

    cut dried red chili peppers

    4. The following, cut 4 pieces of dried red chili peppers. (You can use 2-3 pieces of chili pepper if you can't handle spicy food. Also, try to remove as many seeds as possible.)

    cut chicken thighs into cubes

    5.  After that, cut 2 pieces of boneless and skinless chicken thighs into dice.

    marinate chick thighs in the bowl

    6. To marinate the chicken, add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of cooking rice wine. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.

    sauce mixture in the glass container

    7. At the same time, in a small container, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of water, ½ teaspoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Then, mix it well.

    vegetable oil in the pan

    8. Next, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan.

    minced garlic with oil in the pan

    9. Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit.

    stir fry zucchini in the non stick pan

    10. The following step, add the diced zucchini. and stir fry them a little bit.

    Marinated chicken and zucchini stir fry in the pan

    11. Move the zucchini on the side of the pan and add marinated chicken thighs. Stir fry them until it starts changing color.

    dried chili peppers with chicken and zucchini in the pan

    12. After, add the cut and dried chili peppers.

    sauce stir fry with chicken and zucchini in the pan

    13. Stir the sauce mixture very well. Then, pour it into the pan and stir fry with the chicken and zucchini.

    roasted peanuts stir fry with kung pao chicken

    14. Pour ¼ cup of roasted peanuts into the pan. stir fry it with chicken and zucchini a little bit.

    green onion added into the pan kung pao chicken stir fry

    15. Lastly, add the cut green onion. Mix it and ready to serve.

    Chinese kung pao chicken close up

    Enjoy this simple, easy and delicious Chinese kung pao chicken recipe! Also, check out these cream corn chicken, soy sauce chicken and thai red curry, crab stir fry and pad thai noodle recipes.

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    Chinese kung pao chicken on the silver spoon close up

    Kung Pao Chicken

    Colorful and flavorful Chinese kung pao chicken or gong bao chicken (宮保雞丁) is one of the popular dishes like orange chicken among American Chinese restaurants. This kung pao chicken recipe is easy. Also, it's a quick and simple ingredient dish that can be done in 20 minutes and great to serve with jasmine rice.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 3
    Calories: 143kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 1 Zucchini (Medium small)
    • 2 pieces Chicken thighs (Boneless and skinless)
    • 4 pieces Dried chili peppers (Cut up and remove the seeds)
    • 4 cloves Garlic
    • 2 sticks Green onion
    • ¼ cup Roasted peanuts
    • 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil

    Marinated chicken :

    • ½ tablespoon Sesame oil
    • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
    • ½ teaspoon Garlic powder
    • 1 tablespoon Cooking rice wine

    Sauce mixture:

    • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
    • 1 tablespoon Oyster sauce
    • 2 tablespoons Water 
    • ½ teaspoon Sugar
    • 2 teaspoons Cornstarch 

    Instructions

    • Cut and dice 1 medium small sized zucchini.
    • Mince 4 cloves of garlic and set it aside.
    • Cut 2 sticks of green onion and set it aside.
    • The following, cut 4 pieces of dried red chili peppers. (You can use 2-3 pieces of chili pepper if you can't handle spicy food. Also, try to remove as many seeds as possible.)
    • After that, cut 2 pieces of boneless and skinless chicken thighs into cubes.
    • To marinate the chicken, add ½ tablespoon of sesame oil, ⅛ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon of cooking rice wine. Let it marinate for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
    • At the same time, in a small container, add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 2 tablespoons of water, ½ teaspoon of sugar and 2 teaspoons of cornstarch. Then, mix it well.
    • Next, pour 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil into the non-stick pan.
    • Add the minced garlic and stir fry it a little bit.
    • The following step, add the diced zucchini. and stir fry them a little bit.
    • Move the zucchini on the side of the pan and add marinated chicken thighs. Stir fry them until it starts changing color.
    • After, add the cut and dried chili peppers.
    • Stir the sauce mixture very well. Then, pour it into the pan and stir fry with the chicken and zucchini.
    • Pour ¼ cup of roasted peanuts into the pan. stir fry it with chicken and zucchini a little bit.
    • Lastly, add the cut green onion. Mix it and ready to serve.

    Notes

    Cooking tips for how to cook gong bao chicken:

    • Marinated chicken thighs for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
    • Cut 4 dried red chili peppers depending how spicy you want. Remember to remove as many seeds as possible. If you can't handle spicy, try to use 1-2 pieces of dried red chili peppers.
    • Stir the sauce mixture very well before pouring into the pan with chicken and zucchini.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 143kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 657mg | Potassium: 331mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 491IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Tracy O.
    About Me

    Welcome to Oh My Food Recipes, where you can find inspiration for meals or dinner ideas specialty Asian cuisines. Oh My Food Recipes is tried and tested recipes with step by step photo tutorials.... Read more!

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