5 from 16 votes
Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken features bite-sized chicken pieces baked with a flavorful sauce made from orange zest, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. The dish incorporates dry-roasted peanuts and optional green onion garnish, offering a balance of sweet, savory, and mildly spicy notes. Baking the chicken in sauce allows for easy preparation without stovetop cooking. Adjusting red pepper flakes customizes the heat level.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings:
6
people
Calories:
356 kcal
Course:
Dinner
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. chicken breast cut into bite-sized pieces, boneless, skinless
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic about 3 cloves, minced, fresh
- 1 teaspoon ginger or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, grated fresh
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes add more for a spicier dish or omit for a mild dish, crushed
- ½ cup peanuts or more to taste, dry roasted
- green onion optional garnish, sliced
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray a medium baking dish with nonstick cooking spray (I have used a deep 9-inch by 6-inch dish and an 11-inch by 7-inch dish, and both work well). Place the chicken in the prepared dish. Sprinkle with cornstarch and toss to coat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the orange zest, chicken broth, brown sugar, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, salt, garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes. Pour the sauce over the chicken and stir to combine.
- Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Stir, return to the oven for 5-10 more minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened.
- Remove from oven, stir in the peanuts. Season with additional salt and red pepper flakes, to taste. Garnish with sliced green onions just before serving.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- For smaller portions, halve all ingredients and bake in a 1-quart dish; baking time remains the same.
Nutrition Information
Serving
1/6 of the recipe
Calories
356kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
36g
(72%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
5g
(25%)
Trans Fat
0.02g
(1%)
Cholesterol
98mg
(33%)
Sodium
687mg
(29%)
Potassium
692mg
(15%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
22g
(44%)
Vitamin A
100IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
4mg
(4%)
Calcium
39mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6 people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 356
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/6 of the recipe | |
| Calories | 356kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 5g | 25% |
| Trans Fat | 0.02g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 98mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 687mg | 29% |
| Potassium | 692mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 22g | 44% |
| Vitamin A | 100IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 4mg | 4% |
| Calcium | 39mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.