When I want a hot and spicy stir fry, this Szechuan Chicken recipe is my go-to. The homemade Szechuan sauce—packed with sweet, savory, and fiery flavors—comes together with simple, everyday ingredients. Fresh bell peppers, onions, Thai chilis, and tender chicken are stir-fried to perfection and then tossed with crunchy peanuts for the ultimate texture and taste.
Pin this recipe for later!
Pin ItAs a family that loves Chinese takeout, recreating restaurant favorites at home is always exciting, and this Szechuan chicken recipe has quickly become a star in our kitchen. I used my homemade Szechuan sauce to coat the tender chicken and crunchy vegetables and added peanuts for a crunchy texture. This recipe makes the perfect Chinese stir-fry chicken right at home.
Tips For Beginners
- When making a stir-fry, it’s essential to have all your ingredients prepped and ready before turning on the stove. Stir-fries are cooked at high heat and come together in minutes, leaving little room for multitasking.
- Adjust the balance of sweet, savory, and spicy to suit your palate. Add more sugar to the sauce if you prefer a sweeter sauce, or increase the Thai chilies for extra heat.
In a bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, cornstarch, mirin, and sesame oil. Add in the chicken, and let it sit for 20-30 minutes.
1/4 cup soy sauce, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1 tablespoon mirin, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast*
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Once heated, add in the chicken pieces, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. Place the cooked chicken on a plate.
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Make sure all veggies are dry before adding them to the wok to avoid steaming instead of stir-frying. Add the onion, bell peppers, and Thai chilis to the same skillet, and cook for a few minutes until browned and softened. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute.
1/2 onion, 1 green bell pepper**, 1 red bell pepper, 10-15 dried Thai red chilis, 3 cloves garlic
Add the chicken back to the skillet along with the peanuts, and toss with the vegetables.
1/3 cup peanuts
Pour in the Szechuan sauce and stir to combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens.
1 batch of homemade Szechuan sauce
Sprinkle with chopped green onion, and serve with rice.
Chopped green onion
Serving: 1servingCalories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 33gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 3169mgPotassium: 439mgFiber: 4gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 1146IUVitamin C: 83mgCalcium: 68mgIron: 3mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Cook Szechuan Chicken Step by Step
Marinade the Chicken: In a large bowl, whisk together ¼ cup soy sauce, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp mirin, and 1 tsp sesame oil. Add 1 ½ pounds of chicken breasts sliced into bite-sized pieces. Marinate for at least 30 minutes.
Cook the Chicken: Heat a wok or large skillet with 3 tbsp vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken pieces and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through. Once cooked, place the chicken to the side.
Fry the Vegetables: Make sure all veggies are dry before adding them to the wok to avoid steaming. Add onion, bell peppers, and Thai chilis to the same skillet, and cook for a few minutes until browned and softened. Add in the garlic and cook for another minute. Add ½ cup sliced onion, 1 sliced green pepper, 1 sliced red pepper, and 10-15 dried Thai red chilis. Cook for a few minutes until browned and slightly softened. You still want a little crunch. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 more minute until the garlic is fragrant.
Add the Chicken and Peanuts: Add the cooked chicken back into the pan and add ⅓ cup of peanuts. Toss the chicken and peanuts with the stir-fried vegetables.
Add the Sauce: Pour in 1 batch of the homemade Szechuan sauce and stir to fully combine. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.
Finish and Serve: Finish each serving with a sprinkling of chopped green onion, serve over rice or noodles, and enjoy!
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve this spicy Chinese chicken over fluffy basmati rice or toss it with cooked lo mein or rice noodles for a comforting, low-carb meal. Szechuan chicken is the perfect one-pan meal for your busy weeknights or for dinner parties.
More Chicken recipes to try
Source link