5 Mouthwatering Chinese Chicken Recipes You'll Love

Welcome to a culinary journey through the diverse and flavorful world of Chinese cuisine, where chicken takes center stage in an array of dishes that will tantalize your taste buds. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just dipping your toes into the vibrant flavors of Chinese cooking, this post promises to be your go-to guide for mouthwatering chicken recipes. Today, we're not just exploring the rich tapestry of tastes that define Chinese cuisine, but we're also uncovering the secrets to preparing five standout Chinese Chicken Recipes that you can easily make at home.

General Tso’s Chicken

General Tso’s Chicken is a beloved classic of Chinese-American cuisine, known for its sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy sauce. Here’s how to recreate this iconic dish:

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks
  • Cornstarch for dredging
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, minced
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • ¹⁄₂ cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water for the slurry
  • Green onions and sesame seeds for garnish
• Instructions:
  1. Coat chicken pieces in cornstarch and fry until crispy.
  2. In another pan, sauté garlic and ginger, then add sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin, oyster sauce, and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer.
  3. Add the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, then toss the fried chicken in the sauce until well coated.
  4. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds before serving.

Notes:

✏️ Note: For a healthier version, you can bake the chicken instead of frying it. Keep the sauce, but just pan-sear the chicken before adding it.

Mongolian Chicken

Delight in the taste of this flavorful and easy-to-prepare Mongolian Chicken, a dish inspired by the Mongolian Beef served in Chinese restaurants:

• Ingredients:
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 inch ginger, sliced
  • Green onions, cut into 2-inch pieces
  • Cornstarch for dredging
  • Vegetable oil for cooking
• Instructions:
  1. Marinate the chicken in a mixture of soy sauces, sugar, and hoisin sauce for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Dust the chicken with cornstarch before frying in hot oil until golden.
  3. In the same pan, sauté garlic and ginger, then add the marinated sauce. Simmer briefly.
  4. Add the fried chicken and green onions, cook until everything is well coated and hot.

Kung Pao Chicken

With its spicy heat, crunchy peanuts, and vibrant flavors, Kung Pao Chicken is a fan favorite:

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
  • 8-10 dried red chilies
  • ¹⁄₂ cup roasted peanuts
  • 1 tablespoon Sichuan peppercorns (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon black vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• Instructions:
  1. Marinate chicken with soy sauce, rice wine, and cornstarch. Let it rest for 20 minutes.
  2. In a wok or large skillet, heat oil and add chicken, cooking until no longer pink.
  3. Remove chicken and in the same pan, stir-fry garlic, ginger, and chilies. Add the sauce ingredients and return chicken to the wok.
  4. Toss in peanuts, and if using, Sichuan peppercorns for that unique mouth-numbing sensation.

Honey Garlic Chicken

For a sweet and sticky treat, this Honey Garlic Chicken will surely become a family favorite:

• Ingredients:
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
  • 4 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ¹⁄₂ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
  • Vegetable oil for frying
  • Chopped chives or green onions for garnish
• Instructions:
  1. Whisk together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and vinegar for the sauce.
  2. Bread the chicken by dipping in flour, egg, then Panko.
  3. Fry chicken until golden brown and crispy.
  4. Serve chicken drizzled with the honey garlic sauce, garnished with chives or green onions.

Chicken Chow Mein

This stir-fry dish is a quintessential example of Cantonese cuisine, balancing flavor and texture:

• Ingredients:
  • 8 oz chow mein noodles
  • ¹⁄₂ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dark soy sauce
  • ¹⁄₄ cup chicken broth
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 carrot, julienned
  • ¹⁄₂ bell pepper, julienned
  • 2 cups napa cabbage, shredded
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • Sesame oil and bean sprouts for garnish
• Instructions:
  1. Cook noodles as per package instructions and set aside.
  2. Stir-fry chicken with garlic until nearly cooked, then add all the vegetables.
  3. Mix in the sauces, including the chicken broth, and add the noodles, tossing to combine.
  4. Garnish with sesame oil and bean sprouts.

From the sweet and tangy General Tso's to the spicy and savory Kung Pao Chicken, these five Chinese Chicken Recipes offer a range of flavors and textures to satiate any craving. Experiment with these dishes to make them your own, and remember, the key to great Chinese cooking is not just in the preparation but also in the balance of flavors. Here's to many delightful meals ahead, where every dish you cook tells its own story.

Can I make these Chinese Chicken Recipes gluten-free?

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Yes, many Chinese Chicken Recipes can be made gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce, avoiding wheat-based ingredients, and checking labels to ensure that hoisin and oyster sauces are gluten-free.

Is it possible to reduce the sugar in these recipes?

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Absolutely! You can reduce the sugar by half or use natural sweeteners like honey or agave. Keep in mind that this might slightly alter the flavor profile, so taste and adjust as necessary.

How can I make these recipes healthier?

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To make these recipes healthier, consider baking or grilling the chicken instead of frying. Also, use less oil in the stir-fries, add more vegetables, and opt for low-sodium soy sauce to reduce salt intake.