Now you don’t have to go out to taste the spicy flavors and delicious dishes of Chinese food. In this blog, we will learn about easy Chinese recipes with chicken that are perfect for absolute beginners.
With simple ingredients and basic techniques, you can make restaurant-style Chinese chicken dishes quickly and easily.
Easy Chinese Recipes With Chicken
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Mixing bowl
- Tongs or Spatula
- Knife and Cutting Board
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Rice Cooker ( optional )
Ingredients
- 3 boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pic
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ tbsp salt
- ½ tbsp black pepper
- ½ tbsp ginger and garlic
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil for frying
- 10 tbsps plain flour ( all-purpose )
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds ( optional, for garnish )
- 1 green onion, sliced ( optional, for garnish )
Sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp Chinese rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
- 4 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Why Try Chinese Recipes With Chicken?
It is very easy to love the powerful flavors, sauces, and freshness of ingredients in Chinese cuisine, especially if you try chicken recipes. Chicken is versatile and cooks up quickly, which makes it excellent for any weeknight meal.
With a few easy steps and a handful of ingredients, you can make a delicious Chinese chicken recipe in the comfort of your home.
Essential Ingredients for Chinese Chicken Recipes
Bringing authentic Chinese flavors home is easy if you have a few essential ingredients in your kitchen.
- Soy sauce: A base for sauces, you can use dark and light soy sauce.
- Sesame oil: To add nutty flavors to stir-fries and sauces.
- Ginger and garlic: A must for adding heat and depth to Chinese dishes.
- Rice vinegar: For balance and a little acidity in sauces.
- Cornstarch: Thicken sauces and make chicken crispy.
Keep these ingredients at home and you can make Chinese chicken recipes anytime!
Easy Chinese Recipes With Chicken Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s what you’ll need
Step 1.
- Heat 5 tablespoons vegetable oil in a wok or large frying pan until it is very hot.
Step 2.
- While the oil is heating, place the egg in a small bowl and the cornflour in another small bowl. Place the plain flour, salt, pepper, ginger, garlic, salt, and paprika in another bowl and mix together.
- 2 eggs, ½ cup cornflour (cornstarch), 10 tablespoons plain flour, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon ginger, garlic, 2 teaspoons paprika,
Step 3.
- Dip the chicken in the cornflour, then dip it in the egg—make sure the whole chicken is dipped in the egg batter. And finally, dip in the spiced flour. Add to the wok, and cook over high heat for 6-7 minutes, turning two or three times while cooking, until nicely browned. You may need to cook in two batches. I think I can do this in one batch, provided it’s no more than 3 chicken breasts. Remove from pan and set aside in a bowl.
Step 4.
- Add all sauce ingredients to a hot wok, stir over high heat, and cook until the sauce is reduced by about a third, this should take 2-3 minutes. Add chicken back in and stir to coat in sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Chinese rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 4 tablespoons soy sauce
Step 5.
- Remove from heat and divide into four bowls. Serve with steamed rice and top with sesame seeds and green onions.
Serving Suggestions for Easy Chinese Chicken Recipes
- With steamed rice: Plain, steamed rice is a good balance to almost any flavor in any given Chinese chicken dish.
- Fried rice or noodle course: Any chicken stir-fry and the main course combining it with fried rice or stir-fry noodles.
- Garnish with herbs: Top it off at serving time with green onions, fresh cilantro, or sesame seeds for flavor and presentation.
- Sauteed Vegetables: Steam broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots together for a well-rounded meal.
Tips for Cooking Chinese Chicken Dish
Restaurant Like Taste at Home
- Prep everything ahead of time: Chinese cooking is fast-paced, so it’s important to have everything ready.
- Use high heat: High heat gives that signature charred flavor.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan: For crispiness, don’t cook the chicken and vegetables in one pan.
- Use fresh ingredients: Ginger, garlic, and spices help add flavor and authenticity to the vegetables.
Storage for Chinese Chicken Recipes
- Refrigeration: Let the cooked Chinese chicken recipes cool down completely, then refrigerate them in tight-sealing containers for up to 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing: In case of longer retention, transfer the cooked recipe into the containers with freezer aptness and put it in the freezer. This way, they can stay fresh for up to 2 months.
- Reheating: When you reheat the pan in a microwave, it will ensure that it doesn’t make the chicken lose either its texture or flavor. In stir-fries and crispy dishes, put a little oil in the pan when reheating.
- Sauces separately: If you are putting away a saucy dish, it is best to store chicken and sauce separately for the chicken to stay crispy and keep the sauce intact in consistency.
Conclusion
These Chinese chicken recipes are absolutely easy to make at home, and such dishes give flavor and variety to the meals. You can easily make delicious and authentic dishes with simple ingredients and basic techniques in no time, whether sweet and sour chicken, fried rice, or stir-fry. The recipes are friendly for beginners, and thus you can add your favorite vegetables and flavors to them.
These simple Chinese recipes with chicken will enable one to enjoy the flavor of Chinese food in their kitchen and then share it with family and friends. Experiment and recreate restaurant-style Chinese food in the convenience of your home-much healthier.
Nutrition
Total Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1912mg | Total Carbohydrate: 47g | Dietary Fiber: 2g | Total Sugars: 22g | Protein: 26g | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 97mg | Iron: 4mg | Potassium: 570mg
FAQ
Can I use boneless chicken thighs instead of breasts?
Yes! Chicken thighs do have a bit more flavor and are juicier. However, you may want to adjust the cooking time as thighs take a bit longer than breasts or wings.
What’s the best oil for stir-frying?
Neutral oils with a high smoke point, like vegetable, canola, or peanut oil, work best for stir-frying at high heat.
Can I make these recipes gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute soy sauce with gluten-free tamari and ensure any other sauces used are also gluten-free.
Can I make these recipes vegetarian?
Yes, you can make each of them vegetarian by substituting chicken with tofu, mushrooms, or more vegetables.
If you prepare these simple Chinese recipes using chicken, you will develop some fundamental abilities in cooking and at the same time gain some level of confidence in the kitchen. These are ingredients that you already probably have in your home, so there is no need to call for takeout since you can make such flavors right in your own home.