• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Subscribe to updates & get a free recipe book!

Subscribe & Get My Free Ebook!

Recipes, Crafts and More
  • About
  • Video Library
  • My Saved Recipe Box

Onion Rings & Things

Recipes, Crafts and More

  • All Recipes
  • By Course
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Bread and Baked Goods
    • Cocktails and Beverages
    • Desserts and Sweets
    • Main Dishes
    • Salads & Sides
    • Sandwiches & Snacks
    • Soups, Stews, Casseroles
    • Sauces, Dressings, Condiments
    • Fun Food
  • By Ingredient
    • Fish & Seafood
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Grains & Legumes
    • Eggs & Dairy
    • Potatoes, Pasta, Rice
    • Meat & Poultry
  • By Method
    • BBQ & Grill
    • Slow Cooker
    • Pressure Cooker
    • Oven
Home Meat and Poultry

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

5
/5
30 mins
1 Comment
Jump to RecipePrint
By: LalainePosted: 04/06/2018Updated: 06/28/2019
2676 shares
  • Share
  • Email

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!

What is Kung Pao Chicken?

Kung Pao chicken is a Chinese stir-fry made with marinated chicken, roasted peanuts, vegetables, dried red chiles tossed in a spicy, fragrant sauce.

Although authentic Kung Pao (also transcribed as Kung Po) derives its distinctive flavor from Sichuan peppercorns, this Szechuan dish has been heavily adapted over the years to accommodate western tastes and availability of ingredients.

Tips on How to Make Kung Pao Chicken:

This Kung Pao Chicken recipe uses simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry or can easily find in neighborhood grocery stores. Ready in minutes and cooks in one pan, it delivers restaurant flavors without a lot of effort.

While roasted peanuts and dried chilies are common ingredients in kung pao, I highly recommend the addition of zucchini and water chestnuts along with the bell peppers. The crisp texture of the vegetables provide the perfect foil for the sauce’s big, bold flavors!

One key step you shouldn’t skip is marinating the chicken in the cornstarch and egg white mixture. This process called velveting is a Chinese technique that keeps meat moist and succulent in stir-fries.

My cast iron wok (this is an affiliate link) is my can’t-live-without kitchenware as I cook practically everything in it but if you don’t have one, you can still make a successful stir-fry with a large skillet! Use one with a wide bottom and slanted sides to give ingredients room to make contact with the heated surface and to allow easy distribution without spilling.

What to Serve with Kung Pao Chicken?

I find plain steamed rice the perfect canvas for the spicy flavors of the dish but if  you want to recreate the full takeout experience at home, make it a combo and check out my shrimp fried rice recipe complete with helpful tips plus my Panda Express chow mein which is a spot-on copycat!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @OnionRingsAndThings on Facebook and Instagram!

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!
5 from 1 vote

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Author: Lalaine
Course: Main Entree
Print Pin It Email Recipe
6 Servings

Ingredients

For the Marinade

  • 1 large egg white
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh meat, cut into 1 inch

For the Sauce

  • 1/4 cup Chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon chili oil

For the Stir-fry

  • 4 tablespoons canola or peanut oil
  • 1/2 cup peanuts
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
  • 1 thumb-size ginger, peeled and minced
  • 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise into half and sliced into 1/4-inch thick
  • 8 ounces sliced water chestnuts
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 8 pieces dried Chinese chili peppers

Instructions

  • In a bowl, combine marinade ingredients: egg white, soy sauce , rice wine, canola oil, cornstarch, and salt. Whisk together until well-blended. 
  • Add chicken and stir to fully coat. 
  • In another bowl, combine sauce ingredients: chicken broth, soy sauce, rice wine, rice vinegar, brown sugar and cornstarch. Whisk together until well-blended. Set aside.
  • In a wide skillet or wok over high heat, add about 2 tablespoons of oil and swirl to coat bottom. Heat oil until shimmering. 
  • Add chicken and cook until lightly browned. Remove from pan and keep warm.
  • Wipe down wok and add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Heat until shimmering. 
  • Add garlic and ginger and cook for another 30 seconds or until fragrant. 
  • Add peanuts and cook, tossing regularly, for about 30 seconds or until lightly browned. Remove from pan and set aside.
  • Add garlic and ginger and cook for about 30 to 40 seconds or until aromatic.
  • Add zucchini and chestnuts and cook, tossing regularly, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until tender yet crisp. 
  • Add bell peppers and cook for another 1 minute. Remove vegetables from wok and keep warm.
  • Wipe down wok as needed. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and swirl to coat bottom of pan. Heat oil until almost smoking. 
  • Add chili peppers and cook, stirring regularly, for about 10 to 20 seconds or until peppers begin to blacken and oil is slightly fragrant. 
  • Add sauce ingredients (whisk again to disperse cornstarch which may have settled in the bottom) and bring to a boil. 
  • Add chicken, peanuts, and vegetable mixture. Continue to cook, stirring regularly, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through and sauce is thickened. Serve hot.

“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”

Did You Make This?

Mention @OnionRingsAndThings and hashtag your photo with #OnionRingsAndThings

Share

Save Recipe Saved! Rate It
Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe with moist chicken, crisp zucchini, crunchy water chestnuts and peanuts, and vibrant peppers in a sweet and savory sauce. All the bold flavors of your favorite restaurant takeout cooked in one pan and in under 30 minutes!
Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe is ready in minutes and cooks in one pan. With moist chicken, vegetables, peanuts, and peppers in a spicy sauce, it's loaded with bold flavors you'll love!

 

About Lalaine

Welcome to Onion Rings and Things where you’ll find hundreds of comfort food recipes, crafts, and printables. Browse around and make something fun or tasty today! Read More

Caldo de Res made with beef shanks, potatoes, corn, and vegetables. This Mexican beef soup is hearty, delicious and the perfect comfort food!
Previous Post
Caldo de Res (Mexican Beef Soup)
Mini Loaded Hasselback Potatoes turn baby yukon golds into a fun appetizer or side dish! Cut accordion-style, baked and then topped with sour cream, bacon, cheese, and green onions, they're absolutely addicting!
Next Post
Mini Loaded Hasselback Potatoes

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




  1. KristĂ­na says

    Posted on 5/17/21 at 10:04 am

    5 stars
    Took me hour and half, not 30 minutes, but it was the most tender chicken I ever made! Water chestnuts and peanuts are my favorite ingredients.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Welcome!

Welcome to Onion Rings and Things where you’ll find hundreds of comfort food recipes, crafts, and printables. Browse around and make something fun or tasty today!

Read More

Subscribe & Get My Free Ebook!

Get My Copy!

Subscribe & Get My Free Ebook!

Trending Recipes

cherry trifle dessert on a serving plate

Heaven on Earth Cake

Plump and pillowy, these IHOP Pancakes copycat are just as tasty and delicious as what you'd find in the restaurant yet cost a fraction of the price. You can easily double the recipe to feed a large crowd or add chopped fresh fruits to the batter for another layer of yum.

IHOP Pancakes Copycat

bacon ranch chicken sliders in a glass baking dish

Chicken Bacon Ranch Sliders

Golden Corral Bourbon Street Chicken Copycat brings all the sweet, sticky, salty and yummy flavors you love right in your own kitchen. Only 3 ingredients and less than 20 minutes of cook time for an amazing dinner meal the whole family will love!

Golden Corral Bourbon Street Chicken Copycat

Holiday Sweet Treats

stacked Toffee Drop Cookies

Toffee Drop Cookies

holding chocolate caramel candies with fingers

Triple Treat Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars

Flourless Chocolate Fudge Crinkle Cookies stacked on on a plate

Flourless Chocolate Fudge Crinkle Cookies

white chocolate chip cookies on a wire rack to cool

Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

More Popular

Meat and Poultry

serving bacon-wrapped cheese-stuffed chicken with a spatula

Bacon-Wrapped Cheese-Stuffed Chicken

Salsa Verde in a glass bowl

Homemade Salsa Verde

serving chicken and wild rice soup from the slow cooker

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Wild Rice Soup

dipping corn chips in a bowl of blender salsa

Homemade Restaurant-Style Salsa

Coconut Chicken Tenders on a parchment paper with a small bowl of dipping sauce on the side

Coconut Chicken Tenders with Spicy Mango Sauce

Smothered Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy with mashed potatoes on a white plate

Smothered Pork Chops with Mushroom Gravy

Browse All

Get a Free e-Cookbook!

Join our newsletter to get new recipe updates, a free copy of our Top 10 Pressure Cooker e-Cookbook, exclusive meal plans, and more.

As Featured On:

Back to Top
Back to Top
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Contact Us
© 2022 Onion Rings & Things
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled