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Hunan Chicken Recipe
4.9 from 26 votes

Hunan Chicken Recipe

This Hunan chicken recipe is an iconic Chinese stir fry of lightly pan fried chicken and stir fried vegetables in a spicy Hunan sauce. It's so easy to make, on the table in 15 minutes!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 248 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese, American

Ingredients

FOR THE HUNAN CHICKEN SAUCE
  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
  • 2 tablespoons doubanjiang or use a chili paste, like sambal oelek
  • 1 tablespoon rice wine
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon sugar or use honey
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or more to taste - I use extra
  • 1/2 teaspoon Sichuan peppercorn optional - not traditional, but I love the extra kick, ground
  • 1 tablespoon corn starch mixed with 1 tablespoon water to form a slurry
FOR THE HUNAN CHICKEN
  • 1 pound chicken breast cut into strips or cubes
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • black pepper to taste
  • salt to taste
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil for frying
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced, large
  • 1-2 jalapeno pepper sliced (optional, or use other hot peppers
  • 1 zucchini sliced into rings
  • 1 carrot sliced into sticks, medium
  • 1 tablespoon garlic fresh, minced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger fresh, minced
  • green onion for serving, chopped green onion; cooked
  • red pepper flakes
  • sesame seeds
  • rice
  • noodles

Instructions

MAKE THE HUNAN CHICKEN SAUCE
    Cup of Yum
  1. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
MAKE THE HUNAN CHICKEN
  1. Add the corn starch to a large bowl with salt and pepper to taste and add the chicken. Toss the chicken to evenly coat each piece.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a large wok or pan to medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook, stirring, until golden brown. Do this in batches if needed. Should take 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken and set aside.
  3. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the wok and add the peppers, zucchini, and carrot. Stir fry for 5-6 minutes to soften.
  4. Add the garlic and ginger. Stir fry for 1 minute.
  5. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir in the sauce. Stir to coat the ingredients and thicken the sauce, 1-2 minutes more.
  6. Garnish and serve.

Notes

  • Hunan chicken is often served with cooked rice. Try it with noodles. Nutritional information is estimated without rice or noodles.

Nutrition Information

Calories 248kcal (12%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 28g (56%) Fat 5g (8%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 1g (5%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 73mg (24%) Sodium 1354mg (56%) Potassium 751mg (16%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 6g (12%) Vitamin A 3725IU (75%) Vitamin C 54mg (60%) Calcium 34mg (3%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 248

% Daily Value*

Calories 248kcal 12%
Carbohydrates 22g 7%
Protein 28g 56%
Fat 5g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g 5%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 73mg 24%
Sodium 1354mg 56%
Potassium 751mg 16%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 6g 12%
Vitamin A 3725IU 75%
Vitamin C 54mg 60%
Calcium 34mg 3%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.