5.0 from 63 votes
Quick & Easy Chinese Lemon Chicken
Crispy fried chicken coated in a sweet and savory lemon sauce. This quick and easy Chinese lemon chicken is made with simple ingredients. Saving you money and beating takeout! Great as a main dish for the family on busy weeknights! I also share how to air fry the chicken in the Notes section below.
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 3
Calories: 616 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Chinese
Ingredients
- 1 lbs skinless boneless chicken thighs
- ⅓ cup cornstarch or potato starch
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce:
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon ginger grated
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 2 tablespoon Regular soy sauce
- ½ cup chicken stock low sodium
- ½ tablespoon cornstarch or sub with potato starch
Optional:
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds garnish
- lemon slices
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine your sauce ingredients as listed. Set aside.
- Dice chicken thighs into bite size pieces, about 1.5-inch pieces. Transfer diced chicken to a large bowl. Do not pat the chicken thighs dry as moisture is needed for the next step. Season diced chicken with salt and black pepper.
- Add cornstarch to the bowl of diced chicken and evenly coat each piece in the cornstarch with tongs. Or toss the diced chicken in a Ziplock bag with the cornstarch.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Carefully lower coated chicken and spread apart quickly. Fry chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side until golden and crispy. Remove fried chicken from oil and transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess oil. (To air fry the chicken, see the notes section below).
- Discard any excess oil from pan. Heat pan on medium heat and pour in sauce. Keep stirring sauce until it bubbles and thickens.
- Toss in chicken. Optional, garnish with sesame seeds, lemon slices or green onions. Enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Lightly spray air fryer basket with vegetable oil or any neutral oil.
- Lay coated chicken into air fryer basket in a single layer giving each piece enough space. Lightly spray oil over coated chicken.
- You may need to air fry in small batches if needed depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Air fry at 400 F for 12-14 minutes until golden crispy brown. The amount of time depends on your air fryer.
Nutrition Information
Calories
616kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
37g
(12%)
Protein
36g
(72%)
Fat
35g
(54%)
Saturated Fat
9g
(45%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
7g
Monounsaturated Fat
15g
Trans Fat
1g
Cholesterol
204mg
(68%)
Sodium
1282mg
(53%)
Potassium
546mg
(16%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
19g
(38%)
Vitamin A
165IU
(3%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
49mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 616
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 616kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 37g | 12% |
| Protein | 36g | 72% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 7g | 41% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 204mg | 68% |
| Sodium | 1282mg | 53% |
| Potassium | 546mg | 12% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 19g | 38% |
| Vitamin A | 165IU | 3% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 49mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.