Hunan Chicken

Released: January 16, 2023 from dina

This Hunan chicken is prepared with juicy, crispy chicken and tender vegetables. This hearty umami dish is packed with amazing flavors and so easy to make.

If you love Chinese food, you should try this Chinese Eggplant Salad and Mongolian Beef.

Stir skillet with Hunan chicken and vegetables with wooden spoon

Table of contents

recipe details

I love this deceptively easy Hunan chicken recipe. It’s as good as any restaurant and everyone wants seconds when I serve it to friends and family alike.

TASTE: This Hunan chicken is hearty, garlicky, salty and packed with umami flavor. It’s such a delicious dish.
TEXTURE: Crispy chicken and tender veggies in a thick, hearty sauce make this recipe. The texture differences are absolutely delicious.
TIME: This dish takes about 30 minutes to prepare.
EASE: This restaurant-quality meal is surprisingly easy to recreate at home. Follow my step-by-step instructions and photos for the perfect chicken dish every time.

what you will need

Ingredients for Hunan Chicken: Chicken breast, mushrooms, broccoli, chili bean sauce, honey, paprika, oil, ginger, salt, pepper, red pepper, flakes, garlic, rice vinegar, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, cornstarch, and chicken broth.

Notes on ingredients

Chicken- I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts because the meat dices nicely and gets crispy.
cornstarch This ingredient is added to the chicken to give it a nice crispy outer layer. It also helps thicken the sauce.
Broccoli- Only use the florets, as the stems can be tough and fibrous.
Mushrooms- I used baby bella mushrooms here. They have a deliciously meaty texture.
Paprika- Red, yellow or green is fine. They become very tender when cooked.
Garlic- This is for the sauce and adds tons of flavor. Use fresh cloves if you can, they taste better than pre-chopped garlic.
Ginger- Freshly chopped ginger is so aromatic. The taste and smell will really uplift this sauce.
sauce The Hunan sauce contains a combination of seasoned rice vinegar, chilli bean sauce, oyster sauce and soy sauce. They give this dish spicy, spicy, salty and umami flavors that are key to its deliciousness.
Treasure- This adds some sweetness to the sauce to counteract the salty elements.
Chicken soup- This will thin the sauce just enough. Use little sodium as the other ingredients are high in sodium.
Sesame oil- A little of this oil goes a long way in adding lots of toasted sesame flavor to your dish.
red pepper flakes– For a little more spice.

Add-Ins and Substitutions

Add other vegetables- Make this recipe with carrots, onions, zucchini, eggplant, or corn for some variety.
Substitute other meat – You can also make this with chicken thighs, pork, or ground beef. It’s a great way to freshen up the dish so it’s always new.
make it harder- Or not spicy at all. You can add as much or as little red pepper flakes as you like to achieve the desired level of spice.
add nuts- Try this recipe with a nutty twist by adding some almonds, cashews, walnuts, or peanuts for extra crunch.

How to Make Hunan Chicken

Make the sauce. Place the chopped garlic and ginger in a saucepan along with the honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, chili bean sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, and sesame oil.
Cook. Stir over medium-high heat until sauce simmers and thickens, then remove from heat. Put aside.

Steps to prepare Hunan Chicken: Simmer and mix the sauce ingredients in a saucepan with a whisk.

Dredge the chicken. Now cut the chicken breast into thin slices and season both sides with salt and pepper. Then transfer the cornstarch to a plate and dredge the seasoned chicken in it.
Cook. Heat a nonstick skillet or wok with avocado oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, sear the chicken on both sides until fully cooked. Then let cool and cut into cubes. Put aside.

Pro Tip: To make slicing easier, freeze the raw chicken breasts for 10 minutes before slicing so they are slightly stiff.

Steps to make Hunan chicken: Dredge the chicken, fry, let cool, then cut into cubes.

Sweat the vegetables. In the same pan, add the broccoli, mushrooms, and peppers, and more oil if needed. Then stir over medium-high heat until the vegetables are crisp and tender.
Combine. Now add the chopped chicken and the sauce back in. Bring to a gentle simmer while mixing over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy.

Steps to prepare Hunan chicken: Fry the vegetables, then add the sauce and chicken to the pan and mix.

recipe tips

Cut the chicken evenly- Keep your slices even and thin so the chicken cooks quickly and thoroughly. This prevents uneven cooking, resulting in dry portions and undercooked portions.
freeze chicken- Place the chicken breasts in the freezer for 10 minutes to stiffen them up a bit. This makes cutting a bit easier as they can be quite slippery.
Cut the vegetables evenly Keep them all a consistent size, both for appearance and for even cooking. So when you take a bite of everything, something comes onto the fork.
Allow the chicken to cool before slicing. Allow the chicken to rest as this will allow the juices to be absorbed. If you cut it straight off the stove, the juice will run out and the chicken will remain dry.

frequently asked Questions

What is Hunan chicken made of?

Hunan Chicken is a Chinese stir-fry from Hunan province that combines succulent chicken, vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, peppers and more, and a spicy, savory ginger and garlic sauce. This dish is incredibly flavorful and easy to make at home.

What is the difference between Szechuan and Hunan chicken?

The difference between Szechuan and Hunan chicken is their taste. Szechuan chicken is known for its fiery, mouth-burning spiciness with a hint of sweetness, while Hunan chicken has a “dry spiciness” and some spiciness.

serving suggestions

This Hunan Chicken recipe goes great with so many other main dishes and side dishes. Enjoy it with soups, rice, vegetables and noodles.

rice: Serve this with a bowl of hot white rice, brown rice, or wild brown rice. Or try this Pork Fried Rice, Hibachi Fried Rice or Quinoa Fried Rice.
vegetables: Try it with crispy air fryer broccoli, Chinese eggplant salad, sautéed garlic asparagus or Asian chicken salad.
Soup: Serve with She Crab Soup, Shrimp Tempura Udon Soup, or Cream of Mushroom Soup.
Noodles: Enjoy this Hunan chicken with some chow mein (VIDEO), lo mein, or gluten-free stir fry with rice noodles.

Make this recipe ahead of time

Get ahead: You can make the chicken ahead of time and store it in the fridge, wrapped in plastic wrap, until you’re ready to prepare and assemble the rest of the dish. Remember to sear it briefly to make it crispy again.

storage: Store any leftovers of this Hunan Chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Freeze: You can freeze this dish in a freezer-safe container or ziplock bag for up to 6 months. Thaw in the fridge before heating in the microwave or on the stovetop until warm through.

More delicious Asian dishes!

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Full Recipe Guide

Tender, hearty, crispy and packed with delicious umami flavor, this Hunan Chicken has it all. And it’s a breeze to make!

Print Pen rate

Course: main course

Kitchen: Asian

Diet: Gluten free

Preparation time: 10 protocol

Cooking time: 22 protocol

Total time: 32 protocol

Servings: 6

Calories: 263kcal

instructions

Start by preparing the sauce first. Place the chopped garlic and ginger in a saucepan along with the honey, rice vinegar, cornstarch, chili bean sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, red pepper flakes, and sesame oil.
Stir over medium heat until the sauce is simmering and thickening. Then remove from the heat and set aside for later.
Now cut the chicken breast into thin slices and season both sides with salt and pepper. Then add 1/4 cup cornstarch to a plate and dredge the seasoned chicken in the cornstarch.
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add 3 Tbsp avocado oil to the skillet. Once hot, sear the chicken on both sides until fully cooked.
Then let the chicken cool and cut into small cubes. Set aside for later.
In the same pan, add 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets, 8 ounces sliced baby bella mushrooms, and 1 chopped red bell pepper. Add more oil if necessary. Then stir over medium-high heat until the vegetables are crisp and tender.
Now add the chopped chicken back in along with the sauce. Bring to a gentle simmer while mixing over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy.

Remarks

Cut the chicken evenly- Keep your slices even and thin so the chicken cooks quickly and thoroughly. This prevents uneven cooking, resulting in dry portions and undercooked portions.
freeze chicken- Place the chicken breasts in the freezer for 10 minutes to stiffen them up a bit. This makes cutting a bit easier as they can be quite slippery.
Cut the vegetables evenly Keep them all a consistent size, both for appearance and for even cooking. So when you take a bite of everything, something comes onto the fork.
Allow the chicken to cool before slicing. Allow the chicken to rest as this will allow the juices to be absorbed. If you cut it straight off the stove, the juice will run out and the chicken will remain dry.

nutrition

Hello, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I think life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy-to-follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be amazed at how quickly a healthy and delicious meal can be prepared. I hope you find something you enjoy!

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