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Home » Creative Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken » Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

BY: Michele
PUBLISHED: Mar 25, 2018
UPDATED: Aug 9, 2024
29 Reviews / 4.6 Average
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Easy Kung Pao Chicken

This Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe is a quick and easy Chinese inspired recipe that can be ready in less than 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight meal to celebrate Chinese New Year or for any time of year.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
Table of Contents
  • Why You’ll Love Kung Pao Chicken
  • Ingredients For Kung Pao Chicken
  • How To Make Easy Kung Pao Chicken
  • Tips for Perfect Kung Pao Chicken
  • Recipe
  • Other Chinese Chicken Recipes
  •  
  • Reviews

Why You’ll Love Kung Pao Chicken

  • Easy – A quick and easy complete meal with chicken, vegetables, kung pao sauce, and rice in under 30 minutes;
  • Flavor – A restaurant quality Chinese dinner that tastes better than take-out, and is made using mostly pantry ingredients;
  • Sauce – An ahhhh-mazing sweet, spicy, and savory Kung Pao sauce.
Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Our favorite place for Kung Pao Chicken was a little family-owned restaurant near our house. We ate there for a number of years until the restaurant closed.

We tried several other restaurants afterward but their Kung Pao was not the same. We gave up trying to find another restaurant, and instead, now I make the Kung Pao Chicken at home.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

Ingredients For Kung Pao Chicken

Below, I discuss the ingredients and possible substitutions if you don’t have a specific ingredient. However, if you are looking for the specific measurements of each ingredient, scroll down to the bottom of this article, just above the comments, for the printable recipe card, which includes all the ingredients and the specific amounts of each one.

  • Sesame Oil – Can usually be found in the international aisle of most grocery stores.
  • Hoisin Sauce – This can also usually be found in the same aisle as sesame oil.
  • Balsamic Vinegar – A good quality balsamic vinegar makes a huge difference in taste and will not be too vinegary.
  • Soy Sauce – I like to use a low sodium version. However, you could also use coconut aminos, or Bragg liquid aminos, or teriyaki sauce.
  • Chicken – You’ll need boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces.
  • Cornstarch – This is to coat the pieces of chicken.
  • Bell Peppers – I like to use a combination of red, green, and yellow bell peppers to add more color to the recipe.
  • Minced Garlic – Mince fresh garlic, or use pre-minced garlic.
  • Peanuts – Omit if you are allergic to peanuts.
  • Green Onions – Optional as garnish.

I understand that you may not want to buy an ingredient just for one recipe, which is why I also recommend checking out some of my other favorite Asian dishes that use either Hoisin sauce or Sesame Oil:

  • Pepper Steak in Wonton Cups – a wonderful Asian-inspired bite-sized appetizer
  • Sticky Asian Chicken Wings – a sweet and spicy Asian-inspired chicken wings.
  • Spicy Orange Chicken – a chicken dish in a sweet and spicy orange sauce similar to a popular restaurant chain.
  • Teriyaki Chicken Stir Fry – a quick and easy Asian stir fry that can be on the table in 20 minutes.
Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe

How To Make Easy Kung Pao Chicken

Here are the basic steps to make this Easy Kung Pao Chicken. For more detailed instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card.

  1. Heat oil in wok or cast iron skillet.
  2. Dredge chicken cubes in cornstarch.
  3. Add chicken cubes to hot cast iron skillet and cook until the chicken is no longer pink.
  4. Add red and green bell peppers and cook until they are just tender.
  5. To make the sauce, in a bowl stir together hoisin, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes.
  6. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables in the pan. Cook until the sauce is thickened.

Tips for Perfect Kung Pao Chicken

  1. Use good quality ingredients for the best results.
  2. Don’t skip the cornstarch. Dredging the chicken in cornstarch makes it crispy.
  3. Use a good quality balsamic vinegar, one that is sweeter than regular vinegar. If you have one that is more vinegary, you may need to add some sugar to the sauce to offset the additional vinegar taste.
  4. I recommend using a lite soy sauce or one that is reduced-sodium because regular soy sauce is extremely salty and could cause the dish to be too salty.
  5. If you add more vegetables or like to pour sauce over rice, then you may want to consider doubling the sauce.

Don’t wait until Chinese New Year to make this recipe! It is so quick and easy and delicious that you can make it all year round and skip the Chinese takeout.

If you like this recipe, be sure to follow me on:

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Recipe

Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
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4.59 from 29 votes

Easy Kung Pao Chicken

Who needs takeout when you can make this easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe at home? Delicious sauce, flavorful chicken, & traditional nuts & vegetables. It’s also gluten-free!! 
Course Main Dishes
Cuisine Chinese
Keyword Chinese Chicken Dinner, Easy Kung Pao Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken
Prep Time 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes minutes
Total Time 30 minutes minutes
Servings 4
Calories 302kcal
Author Michele @ Flavor Mosaic

Ingredients

Meat

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into cubes

Produce

  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 1/2 green bell pepper chopped
  • 4 green onions chopped
  • 1/4 cup peanuts roasted
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped

Marinade

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar (good quality)
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch

Sauce

  • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons corn starch

Baking & Spices

  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

Oils & Vinegar

  • 2 tbsp Peanut or vegetable oil
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Instructions 

  • In a medium bowl, stir in the soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, and cornstarch until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Let stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  • In another bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and cornstarch. Stir until the cornstarch is dissolved and set aside.
  • Heat peanut oil (or vegetable oil) in a wok or large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes.
  • Add the chopped red and green bell peppers to the hot skillet and cook until they are softened. Stir in the minced garlic and grated ginger and continue stirring for about 1 minute. 
  • Add the chicken and continue stirring the chicken for about 4 or 5 minutes or until it is no longer pink.
  • Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and cook until the sauce is thickened.
  • Garnish with peanuts and chopped green onions. Serve hot over rice

Notes

I originally posted this Easy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe on PenneyLane.com as a contributor. However, that blog no longer exists, and this is the original recipe.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 302kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 771mg | Potassium: 591mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 749IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg

Other Chinese Chicken Recipes

Honey Garlic Chicken

Spicy Chinese Cashew Chicken

Easy Spicy Chinese Cashew Chicken

Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs

Slow Cooker Asian Sesame Meatballs by Flavor Mosaic

Sticky Asian Chicken Wings

Sticky Asian Chicken Wings

Spicy Orange Chicken

Spicy Orange Chicken

 

Filed Under: Asian, Budget-friendly, Cast Iron Skillet Chicken Recipes, Chicken, Chinese New Year, Comfort Food, Date Night, Dinner Recipes, Lunch, Quick and Easy, Resized Slider Photos, Stir Fry Tagged With: Asian Stir Fry, chicken

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Reader Interactions

Michele F - Owner / Founder / Creator / Blogger at Flavor Mosaic
Michele

Hi, I’m Michele Feuerborn—a home cook, recipe developer, and founder of Flavor Mosaic with 20+ years in the kitchen. I’m here to help you create tested and trusted, bold, easy, crowd-pleasing recipes you’ll actually make—whether you’re cooking for your family or feeding a crowd.  Reach me anytime: [email protected]

Comments

  1. Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai says

    February 20, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Mmm, I love Kung Pao Chicken. Thanks for the recipe. Please come share your blog posts over at the Home Matters Linky Party! We’d love to have you for a visit. The Door is OPEN. http://lifewithlorelai.com/2015/02/19/home-matters-linky-party-25/ 🙂

    ~Lorelai
    Life With Lorelai

    Reply
  2. Christine says

    February 26, 2015 at 2:12 pm

    Delicious! Love Kung Pao Chicken! Thank you for sharing the recipe. I’ve been looking for one to try! Have a great day!

    Reply
  3. Debbie W. says

    February 26, 2015 at 7:56 pm

    I love Kung Pao Shrimp and Chicken. Gotta try this.

    Reply
  4. Susan says

    February 27, 2015 at 11:26 pm

    Congrats on your new contributor position. You hit it out of the park this recipe, for sure. Thanks for sharing at the This Is How We Roll Link Party on Organized 31.

    Reply
  5. K says

    February 28, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Hi there girly!
    If you’re interested, I starting a new link up on Tuesdays over at my blog. It’s a great way to share your content and meet other awesome bloggers. I’d LOVE to have you share a post!
    -K
    http://www.peeledwellness.com

    Reply
  6. Renee says

    February 28, 2015 at 4:28 pm

    Love Kung Pao it is our favorite to make at home. It has somewhat transformed into our own flavor with a hint of Kung Pao, but we love it just the same. Hoisin sauce lives in the house permanently. Glad I found your blog.

    Reply
  7. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    March 1, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    I love that this takes less than 30 minutes!! It looks so good too! My kids love Chinese food, so I am always glad to get a new recipe! Thanks for sharing it with us at #FoodieFriDIY! Sharing!

    Reply
  8. Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says

    March 2, 2015 at 11:49 am

    This looks amazing! I can see why it has received the most clicks last week, at Simple Supper Tuesday. We would love for you to join us again this week, starting Monday night at 8pm EST.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      March 2, 2015 at 1:11 pm

      Hi Cindy! I’m so happy that it had the most clicks! That is wonderful. Thanks for the wonderful link party! I will definitely join again.

      Reply
  9. Beth McIntire says

    March 2, 2015 at 7:35 pm

    Looks delicious – I can’t wait to try this. Thanks!

    Reply
  10. Nettie Moore says

    March 3, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Congratulations! Your Kung Pao Chicken received the most clicks at our linky party! Simple Supper Tuesday at Moore or Less Cooking! Nettie

    Reply
    • Michele says

      March 3, 2015 at 9:41 am

      Thanks Nettie! That’s awesome! Thank you for a wonderful Linky Party!

      Reply
  11. Cydnee says

    March 5, 2015 at 5:55 am

    This recipe looks amazing. I pinned it on my pin board. Love meals that come together in 30 minutes! Thank you very much for joining in the celebration of #purebloglove, we enjoy having you each week. I hope to see you on Thursday at 8PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee

    Reply
  12. Theresa @DearCreatives says

    March 5, 2015 at 2:33 pm

    Your recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it. Shared….Thanks for joining in the Inspiration Spotlight party! Hope to see you again this week.

    Reply
  13. lance says

    January 8, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    where’s the recipe?

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 8, 2016 at 3:21 pm

      Click on the blue text near the bottom of the post: “Get the recipe and a little trivia about food for the Chinese New Year at Penney Lane Kitchen.”

      Reply
  14. Sidney says

    November 27, 2016 at 10:44 am

    I see a lot of story about Kung pao chicken, but there is no actual recipe. I wish there was. The pictures looks ok good.

    Reply
    • Michele says

      November 27, 2016 at 11:28 am

      Hi Sidney! Thank you so much for visiting. You can navigate to the recipe when you click on the phrase at the bottom of the blog post (below the photos) “GET THE RECIPE AND A LITTLE TRIVIA ABOUT FOOD FOR THE CHINESE NEW YEAR AT PENNEY LANE KITCHEN.” This was my contributor post on the Penney Lane site.” Then scroll down to see the printable recipe.

      Reply
  15. Laura says

    January 1, 2017 at 6:00 pm

    I am very interested in making this recipe, but I cannot find the actual recipe…only your descriptions of how delicious it is…

    Reply
    • Michele says

      January 2, 2017 at 2:19 am

      Hi Laura! Thank you so much for visiting. You can navigate to the recipe when you click on the phrase at the bottom of the blog post (below the photos) “GET THE RECIPE AND A LITTLE TRIVIA ABOUT FOOD FOR THE CHINESE NEW YEAR AT PENNEY LANE KITCHEN.” This was my contributor post on the Penney Lane site.” Then scroll down to see the printable recipe. Here is a direct link to the post: http://penneylane.com/easy-kung-pao-chicken-recipe/

      Reply
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Hi, I’m Michele, a home cook with 20+ years experience. I created Flavor Mosaic as a place to share our favorite fast, easy, and flavorful creative recipes with bold flavors, including Southern, Mexican, Tex-Mex, and Instant Pot recipes.
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