Hunan Style Chicken Recipe Video

Why We Love Hunan Style Chicken

Hunan chicken is a fabulous Chinese stir fry dish, from the Hunan province of China, that incorporates chicken and mixed vegetables in a tangy-sweet sauce with quite a bit of spicy heat. It’s similar to our fantastic Hunan beef recipe, but swaps red meat for leaner poultry. We have several delicious Chinese chicken stir fry’s available to you: chicken and garlic sauce, sesame chicken, Mushu chicken, bourbon chicken, firecracker chicken, orange chicken, chicken Manchuran, Kung pao chicken, and black pepper chicken… However, Hunan chicken has its own unique spicy brown sauce that makes it completely irresistible. Plus, it’s easy to make in well under an hour! And hey, If you would like to make this dish but aren’t a fan of spicy foods, you can certainly lower the amount of chili garlic paste to reduce the heat taste.

Ingredients You Need

For the Hunan Chicken Recipe –

Chicken thighs – or boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces Broccoli – fresh chopped florets Bell Pepper – green and red, or whatever colors you prefer Scallions– green onions chopped and separated into whites and greens Celery – sliced thin on a bias Cornstarch – to make the chicken lightly crispy without heavy breading Peanut oil – or vegetable oil Salt and pepper – a pinch of both

To Make the Hunan Sauce –

Oyster sauce – can swap with hoisin sauce if not available Soy sauce – low sodium Honey – or granulated sugar Chili garlic sauce – chili paste offers the bold and spicy flavor that gives Hunan-style chicken its signature heat Rice vinegar – adds just the right amount of acidity and tanginess Garlic – minced

How to Make Hunan-Style Chicken Stir Fry

Prep the ingredients, by chopping the skinless chicken thighs into 1-inch bite-size pieces. Then chop all the fresh produce into 1-inch pieces. Make sure to separate the scallions into whites and greens. The scallions will be added to the recipe at different times. Set out a large mixing bowl and add the chicken pieces to it. Sprinkle cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon of cracked black pepper over the chicken. Toss well until all the chicken pieces are coated. Set out a small bowl (or measuring pitcher) to mix the stir fry sauce. Combine the oyster sauce, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, honey, rice vinegar, and minced garlic. Stir well to mix. Place a wok (or large skillet) over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the pan and swirl it around. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces to the pan. Stir fry the chicken pieces for 5 minutes, until they are lightly browned on all sides. Then move the chicken pieces out of the pan to a holding plate, leaving the remaining oil in the skillet. To the empty skillet, add the scallion whites, celery, and red and green bell peppers. Stir fry the vegetables for 2-3 minutes, then add the broccoli florets and chicken pieces back to the pan. Pour the sauce over the stir fry. Stir and simmer the sauce for 3-4 minutes until the broccoli florets are cooked, but still firm. Sprinkle scallion greens over the top of the stir fry, and serve warm.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Hunan chicken warm with a side of fluffy white jasmine rice or brown rice. For a low carb option try our delicious cauliflower rice recipe! Pair with other classic Asian-inspired sides dishes for a meal to feed a hungry crowd… Try homemade potstickers, egg drop soup, zesty wor wonton soup, Panda Express super greens, or sweet and spicy roasted broccolini for even more tangy spiciness. And if you really love spicy food you’ll want to have a side of more chili garlic sauce on hand, too!