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Kung Pao Chicken

December 21, 2015 by hipfoodiemom 25 Comments

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Easy Kung Pao Chicken. Make your fave Chinese food at home! Spicy, savory, easy and delicious. . . you’ve got to try this! #spon

Easy Kung Pao Chicken. Make your fave Chinese food at home! Spicy, savory, easy and delicious. . . you’ve got to try this! 

This might seem like an odd recipe to be sharing, the week heading into the Christmas holiday . .  but for me and my family, by this time in December, we are a little turkey-ed and ham-ed out so Asian food looks and sounds awfully good to us!

Easy Kung Pao Chicken. Make your fave Chinese food at home! Spicy, savory, easy and delicious. . . you’ve got to try this! #spon

We usually do steaks for Christmas and Asian food right after and into the New Year . .  so, Easy Kung Pao Chicken. Make your fave Chinese food at home! Spicy, savory, easy and delicious. . . you’ve got to try this! #spon

I also love supporting local Asian food restaurants but sometimes you need to cook at home. Some of you may not have a good Asian food restaurant close by and I really want to convey that cooking Asian food at home is not difficult. You will have to go to an Asian food grocery store, but if you like and eat Asian food and haven’t visited one in your area, now is the time!

I hope you check out my recipe over at The Kitchenthusiast!! And yes, I am using my favorite pan again!

Happy Holidays!!!!

Print Recipe

Kung Pao Chicken

Note for the cook: This is not an authentic Chinese Kung Pao Chicken recipe as I use a favorite Korean food ingredient, gochujang, to spice things up! *If you don’t have time to marinate your chicken overnight, marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
Prep Time1 hour hr
Cook Time30 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Asian
Servings: 4
Author: Hip Foodie Mom

Ingredients

For the marinade:

  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 4 teaspoons Chinese rice wine
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless, chicken thigh meat, cut into 1 to 1 1/2-inch cubes

For the kung pao chicken sauce:

  • 2 tablespoons good-quality balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 to 2 heaping tablespoons Korean hot pepper paste; 2 tablespoons will make this very spicy
  • 1 heaping tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons honey or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon ground Sichuan pepper

For the kung pao chicken:

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 8 to 10 dried red chilies
  • 3 scallions diced fine
  • 1/2 green bell pepper chopped into 3/4 inch pieces
  • 1/2 red bell pepper chopped into 3/4 inch pieces
  • 2 to 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 heaping teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1/3 cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts for garnish

Instructions

  • First, you need to marinate your chicken. Using a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, sesame oil and cornstarch until the cornstarch is dissolved. Place the chicken in one layer in a baking dish and pour the soy sauce mixture evenly over the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight for best results, flipping the chicken just once halfway through.*
  • When ready to cook, leave the chicken on your kitchen counter and start making the sauce. Using another small mixing bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, gochujang, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, honey, cornstarch, and Sichuan pepper. Stir together and taste, adjusting any ingredients as needed. Set aside.
  • Using skillet or pan over medium-high heat, heat the vegetable oil and after a minute or two, add in the dried chilies and stir-fry for about 1 to 2 minutes, or until the oil starts to become slightly fragrant. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until no longer pink, for about 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Next, add the scallions, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger. Mix together and stir fry for about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the sauce and toss together to coat. Let your Kung Pao Chicken cook for another 3 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through and is no longer pink. Sprinkle on and mix in the peanuts and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving plate, garnish with more scallions and peanuts if desired and serve with rice and enjoy!
  • *If you don’t have time to marinate your chicken overnight, marinate for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

To see the rest of the instructions and complete recipe card, please visit The Kitchenthusiast

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with KitchenAid USA. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting me in working with the brands and products that I use and love.

 

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Filed Under: Asian, Meals, Poultry

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Laura (Tutti Dolci)

    December 21, 2015 at 12:31 am

    Oh yes, Chinese food sounds pretty perfect to me! I love Kung Pao chicken and I can’t wait to try your recipe!

    Reply
  2. Mir

    December 21, 2015 at 5:19 am

    Favorite pans are for using!
    And I’ll take Kung Pao literally every day over turkey or pretty much anything else. It’s sooooo good. I can’t wait to try it your way!

    Reply
  3. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy

    December 21, 2015 at 5:52 am

    I don’t think that this is an odd recipe for this time of year. I think it’s the perfect quick, easy and delicious meal to make amongst all the other chaos that is going on.

    Reply
  4. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice

    December 21, 2015 at 6:30 am

    Kung pao chicken is one of my favorite dishes to order out, though I’ve never made it at home before! This sounds delicious, Alice! I love all of the flavorful ingredients in here!

    Reply
  5. David @ Spiced

    December 21, 2015 at 7:03 am

    Christmas week or the middle of July…I don’t care when it is because this kung pao chicken looks amazing! Happy holidays, Alice! 🙂

    Reply
  6. Jen | Baked by an Introvert

    December 21, 2015 at 8:08 am

    I typically don’t order kung pao chicken when I order out but I could certainly get down with making this at home. It sounds so flavorful and easy to put together. Great recipe, Alice!

    Reply
  7. Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary

    December 21, 2015 at 8:55 am

    Chinese food actually sounds quite fabulous right about now, Alice!! I have been craving something other than the normal holiday food, so this Kung Poa Chicken needs to get up in my belleh! Pinned! Cheers, my friend!

    Reply
  8. Adri

    December 21, 2015 at 9:00 am

    This sounds wonderful to me, and it is welcome change from all the holiday fare. Kung Pao Chicken is my favorite Chinese dish. I hope you have a great holiday season.

    Reply
  9. Jess @ whatjessicabakednext

    December 21, 2015 at 11:49 am

    Love Chinese food anytime! Never tried kung pao chicken before, but it sounds and looks delicious. Definitely going to try this soon! Thanks for sharing, Alice! 🙂

    Reply
  10. mira

    December 21, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Love Kung Pao Chicken, it is one of my favorite Asian dishes! Pinned to try your recipe!

    Reply
  11. Meghan | Fox and Briar

    December 21, 2015 at 1:08 pm

    This looks like just what I want to eat, any time of year! I think after awhile all the turkey and ham and cookies get a little old. I have been looking for some recipes to mix it up, and this is perfect. Pinning!

    Reply
  12. sue|theviewfromgreatisland

    December 21, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    This is perfect timing, we always have Asian take out of some kind on Christmas Eve, maybe this year we’ll change it up and make it at home 🙂

    Reply
  13. Jennifer Farley

    December 21, 2015 at 4:07 pm

    One of my favorites!

    Reply
  14. Liz

    December 21, 2015 at 7:32 pm

    Oh, yeah! I am now officially craving Chinese food! This looks amazing, Alice.

    Reply
  15. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness

    December 21, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    I don’t think I can even wait one day for this! Kung Pao Chicken is one of my favorites ever and this looks amazing!

    Reply
  16. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven

    December 22, 2015 at 6:58 am

    Would you believe that this girl has NEVER had kung pao chicken before?? That’s changing right now because this seriously looks INCREDIBLE, Alice!!

    Reply
  17. Kelly

    December 22, 2015 at 7:41 am

    This kung pao chicken looks amazing! It’s one of my husband’s favorites!
    Merry Christmas, Alice, hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family!

    Reply
  18. marcie

    December 22, 2015 at 10:40 am

    Can I just say I’m glad you posted this because I can’t really look at Christmas cookies anymore? I haven’t even baked any yet, either! It’s all about real food for me right now, and this looks like something I want for dinner ASAP! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Alice!

    Reply
  19. Asha

    December 22, 2015 at 4:17 pm

    I really am so glad to see this, really wanted to see something savory. I love love kung pao chicken, and we do order when we go out, but nothing like home made. My family love Chinese food and I do try to make it quite often, Pinning this for sure.
    Thanks for sharing and the Merriest Christmas to you my friend.
    xx

    Reply
  20. Ashley | The Recipe Rebel

    December 22, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    This is one of our favorites to get when we eat out — love that we can make it at home now! Totally not disappointed that it’s not something red and green 😉 Merry Christmas Alice!

    Reply
  21. Ashlyn | Dollop of Yum

    December 26, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    This Kung Pao Chicken looks amazing! Love a homemade alternative to a typically take out dish.

    Reply
  22. Brielle @ Breezy Bakes

    January 5, 2016 at 12:55 pm

    We did Thai for Christmas Eve! Sometimes you just need a break from the traditional. I wouldn’t mind a steak dinner right about now!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 30 Quick and Easy Chicken Recipes for Busy Weeknights says:
    March 30, 2016 at 1:33 am

    […] Kung Pao Chicken […]

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  2. A Meat & Greet with Our Just BARE Chicken Recipe Partners | Just Dish® – A Just BARE Blog says:
    April 21, 2016 at 12:01 am

    […] Kung Pao Chicken. […]

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  3. 25 Delicious Chicken Dinners To Make Now • Hip Foodie Mom says:
    September 17, 2017 at 7:31 am

    […] Kung Pao Chicken. Make your fave Chinese food at home! Spicy, savory, easy and delicious! You’ve got to try […]

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Meet Alice

Alice Choi from Hip Foodie MomHello! My name is Alice. Here, at Hip Foodie Mom, you will find fresh food recipes using local, seasonal ingredients. From meat dishes to vegetarian to Asian inspired dishes, you are sure to find something you like. Thank you for stopping by!

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