Panda Express Copycat Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
Discover the vibrant flavors of this Panda Express Copycat Kung Pao Chicken, ready in just 20 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings, this dish features tender chicken, crisp veggies, and crunchy peanuts enveloped in a sweet and spicy sauce. Easy to prepare and customizable with your favorite vegetables, it’s a delicious alternative to takeout that maintains quality without compromising on taste. Enjoy it over rice or noodles for a satisfying meal everyone will love!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main
- Method: Stir-frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ lb skinless, boneless chicken breast (or thigh)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon oil
- Salt and ground pepper (black/white, to taste)
- ½ medium zucchini (diced)
- ½ red bell pepper (diced)
- 5–6 dried red chilies (deseeded and chopped)
- ¼ cup shelled peanuts (roasted)
- 2 green onions (chopped – white and green parts separated)
- 3–4 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ inch ginger (minced)
- 2 ½ tablespoon oil (for stir frying)
- 1 teaspoon dark soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons chicken stock (or water)
- ½ teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine chicken with cornstarch, light soy sauce, oil, salt, and pepper. Let marinate.
- Dice zucchini and red bell pepper; mince garlic and ginger.
- Mix dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, chicken stock (or water), and sesame oil in another bowl.
- Heat oil in a wok over medium-high heat and stir-fry marinated chicken until browned.
- Add veggies, garlic, ginger, and peanuts; stir-fry until tender-crisp.
- Pour in the sauce mixture and stir until thickened before serving hot over steamed rice or noodles.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (200g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg