Best 5 Crispy Kung Pao Chicken Recipes

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Kung Pao chicken, a classic Sichuan dish, is a beloved delicacy known for its vibrant flavors, tender chicken, and the perfect balance of crispy and soft textures. Originating in the kitchens of imperial China, this iconic dish has captivated palates worldwide, becoming a staple in Chinese restaurants and home cooking alike. In this article, we embark on a culinary journey to discover the secrets of creating the ultimate crispy Kung Pao chicken, exploring the essential ingredients, techniques, and tips to elevate your cooking and impress your friends and family with this mouthwatering masterpiece.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

KUNG PAO CHICKEN



Kung Pao Chicken image

Spicy chicken with peanuts, similar to what is served in Chinese restaurants. It is easy to make, and you can be as sloppy with the measurements as you want. They reduce to a nice, thick sauce. Substitute cashews for peanuts, or bamboo shoots for the water chestnuts. You can't go wrong! Enjoy!

Provided by Arlena

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Chinese

Time 1h30m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into chunks
2 tablespoons white wine
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons sesame oil, divided
2 tablespoons cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water
1 ounce hot chile paste
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
2 teaspoons brown sugar
4 green onions, chopped
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts
4 ounces chopped peanuts

Steps:

  • To Make Marinade: Combine 1 tablespoon wine, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon cornstarch/water mixture and mix together. Place chicken pieces in a glass dish or bowl and add marinade. Toss to coat. Cover dish and place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
  • To Make Sauce: In a small bowl combine 1 tablespoon wine, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon cornstarch/water mixture, chili paste, vinegar and sugar. Mix together and add green onion, garlic, water chestnuts and peanuts. In a medium skillet, heat sauce slowly until aromatic.
  • Meanwhile, remove chicken from marinade and saute in a large skillet until meat is white and juices run clear. When sauce is aromatic, add sauteed chicken to it and let simmer together until sauce thickens.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 436.5 calories, Carbohydrate 25.3 g, Cholesterol 65.9 mg, Fat 23.3 g, Fiber 4.2 g, Protein 34.4 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 595.6 mg, Sugar 6.8 g

CRISPY KUNG PAO CHICKEN



Crispy Kung Pao Chicken image

This is an easy recipe. The chicken is extra crispy with out being greasy and the sauce is excellent.

Provided by Chef Tristin

Categories     One Dish Meal

Time 30m

Yield 2 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 15

1/2 lb chicken tenders, cut into bit size pieces
vegetable oil (for frying)
1 egg
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
6 tablespoons soy sauce
6 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
2 -3 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts
2 cups cooked rice, hot

Steps:

  • Coat chicken with beaten egg, shake off excess, then coat in panko.
  • Heat oil over med heat in wok and fry chicken pieces until cooked turning once, about 3 minutes per side.
  • Place fried chicken on a cookie sheet and put into oven set on warm.
  • Remove oil from wok and wipe clean with a paper towel.
  • Turn heat to med and add onions, garlic, ginger, and crushed red peppers. Stir fry until fragrant, about 3 minutes
  • Dissolve cornstarch in water.
  • Turn heat to med low and add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sugar, and cornstarch slurry to the wok. Stir until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes
  • Remove from heat and add the peanuts to the sauce.
  • Remove chicken from oven and place on serving dish.
  • Coat chicken with kung pao sauce.
  • Serve with hot cooked rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 956.5, Fat 26.2, SaturatedFat 4.6, Cholesterol 171.6, Sodium 3837.1, Carbohydrate 124.5, Fiber 7.3, Sugar 20, Protein 56.3

KUNG PAO CHICKEN



Kung Pao Chicken image

Provided by Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 40m

Yield 2 servings

Number Of Ingredients 18

1 tablespoon rice wine
1 tablespoon peanut oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons peanut oil
4 dried red chiles remove stems and cut in halves
1/2-inch piece ginger, peeled, thinly sliced, smashed
1 garlic, smashed
1 green onion, cut the white part into 1/2 -inch pieces, julienne the green parts
1/4 cup deep-fried peanuts
2 tablespoons chicken stock plus 1 tablespoon cornstarch, mixed together to make slurry

Steps:

  • Marinade: In a non-reactive bowl, prepare the marinade. Combine the rice wine, peanut oil, soy sauce, salt and cornstarch. Stir in the chicken pieces and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Sauce: In a small bowl, combine the ingredients for the sauce. Set aside.
  • Over high heat, in a wok, bring the peanut oil to almost smoking temperature. Stir-fry the chilies, ginger, garlic and white part of the green onions for 30 to 40 seconds, or until the chilies turn dark. Add the chicken and stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes, until golden in color.
  • Add the sauce and bring to a boil. Add the peanuts. Thicken with the slurry and continue to cook until glossy. Transfer to a serving plate and garnish with julienne green onions.

CRISPY KUNG PAO CHICKEN



Crispy Kung Pao Chicken image

This is an easy recipe. The chicken is extra crispy with out being greasy and the sauce is excellent. Serve with hot cooked white rice.

Provided by tristin

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian

Time 45m

Yield 2

Number Of Ingredients 15

1 quart vegetable oil for frying
½ pound chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces
1 egg, beaten
1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
3 tablespoons chopped green onion
2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
6 tablespoons soy sauce
6 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
⅓ cup dry roasted peanuts

Steps:

  • Heat 1 quart of vegetable oil in a deep-fryer or electric skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
  • Toss chicken with beaten egg in a bowl until coated. Place the panko in a shallow dish, then drop the egg coated chicken pieces into the panko one at a time, and roll to coat; set aside.
  • Deep fry the chicken pieces in the hot oil until golden brown on all sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to drain on a paper towel, and keep warm.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok over high heat. Stir in garlic, ginger, green onion, and red pepper flakes. Cook and stir until the garlic and ginger begin to turn golden brown, then pour in the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil. Dissolve cornstarch in water, then stir into the boiling sauce to thicken. Cook and stir until the sauce clears, about 45 seconds.
  • Toss the fried chicken with the sauce and peanuts in the wok to serve.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1017.9 calories, Carbohydrate 67.8 g, Cholesterol 162.2 mg, Fat 71.3 g, Fiber 3.5 g, Protein 43.8 g, SaturatedFat 10.7 g, Sodium 3270.5 mg, Sugar 15.8 g

KUNG PAO CHICKEN



Kung Pao Chicken image

My family loves the kung pao chicken from our favorite Chinese restaurant. But in less time than it takes for the delivery guy to arrive, we can be digging into a steaming platter of this copycat recipe! -Jennifer Beckman, Falls Church, Virginia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 40m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 16

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
3 teaspoons cornstarch, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons chicken stock
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce or 1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 tablespoons peanut oil, divided
1 small red onion, chopped
1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon minced fresh gingerroot
1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts

Steps:

  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, salt and pepper; set aside., Place remaining cornstarch in a small bowl. Stir in the stock, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce and chili sauce until smooth; set aside., In a large skillet or wok, stir-fry chicken in batches in 1 tablespoon oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm., Stir-fry onion and red pepper in remaining oil for 2-5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Add garlic and ginger; cook 1 minute longer., Stir cornstarch mixture and add to the pan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken; heat through. Stir in cilantro and peanuts.

Nutrition Facts :

Tips:

  • Use boneless, skinless chicken thighs for a juicy and flavorful dish.
  • Marinate the chicken in a mixture of soy sauce, rice wine, and cornstarch for at least 30 minutes to tenderize the chicken and help it absorb the flavors.
  • Make sure the chicken is coated in a thin layer of cornstarch before frying. This will help the chicken stay crispy.
  • Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit before frying the chicken. This will help the chicken cook evenly and prevent it from sticking to the pan.
  • Fry the chicken in batches so that it doesn't overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding the pan will cause the chicken to steam instead of fry.
  • Cook the chicken until it is golden brown and crispy. This should take about 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Drain the chicken on paper towels to remove any excess oil.
  • Stir-fry the sauce ingredients in a separate pan until the sauce is thickened. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir to coat it in the sauce.
  • Serve the Kung Pao chicken over rice or noodles.

Conclusion:

Kung Pao chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. The chicken is crispy and flavorful, and the sauce is sweet, savory, and slightly spicy. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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