Kung Pao Chicken is a popular Chinese restaurant takeout dish for good reason. Make a batch of this tasty stir fry at home!
Prep Time45 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time55 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: chicken, kung pao, stir fry
Servings: 6servings
Calories: 518kcal
Author: David
Ingredients
For the Chicken
1Tbspcornstarch
1½lbsbonelessskinless chicken breasts, cut into ½” pieces
1Tbsprice wine vinegar
1Tbspsoy sauce
1Tbspsesame oil
1tspbrown sugar
For the Sauce
1Tbspcornstarch
1Tbsprice wine vinegar
1Tbspsoy sauce
1Tbspsesame oil
½Tbsphot chili paste
1tspwhite vinegar
2tspbrown sugar
For the Stir Fry
1Tbspvegetable oil
1tspred pepper flakes
½cupchopped peanuts
1medium zucchinisliced into semi-circles
1red bell pepperdiced
¼cupchopped green onions
1Tbspminced garlic
18-oz. can water chestnuts, drained
For Serving
Cooked white rice
Instructions
For the Chicken
Using a medium bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. Add the remaining ingredients (chicken, rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar); toss until well combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes. (Note: This is a good time to cook the white rice for later.)
For the Sauce
Using a medium bowl, whisk the cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of water. Add the remaining sauce ingredients (rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, hot chili paste, vinegar and brown sugar); stir until well combined. Set sauce aside.
For the Stir Fry
Using a wok or large skillet, add vegetable oil and place over medium-high heat. Once hot, add red pepper flakes and peanuts; stir fry, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Remove peanuts and red pepper flakes from wok and place in a medium bowl.
Remove chicken from marinade and place in wok. Stir fry, stirring constantly, for 3-4 minutes, or until chicken is mostly cooked through. Remove chicken from wok and place in bowl with peanuts.
Add remaining ingredients (zucchini, bell pepper, green onions, garlic and water chestnuts) to the wok. Stir fry, stirring constantly, for 2-3 minutes.
Add peanuts, red pepper flakes, chicken and sauce; stir until well combined. Stir fry, stirring often, for 3-4 minutes, or until chicken is fully cooked and sauce has begun to thicken.
Remove ingredients from wok and serve over cooked white rice.