Hunan Chicken
Skip your usual take-out order tonight and instead save a little money by making this homemade Hunan Chicken! Bite sized pieces of chicken breasts are made delicious with the most mouthwatering homemade sauce that’s a little spicy, a little sweet, and wholly delicious. Green beans add just the right amount of vibrancy to the savory entree!
Hunan Chicken
Is it just me, or is take-out getting more and more expensive lately?! It used to be a cheap option for dinner that got us all through our early twenties, but now it seems like it’s a real splurge.
Give your wallet a little break by instead learning how to make your very own fake-out take-out Hunan Chicken! The best part? It’s not only more affordable – it’s also way less calorie packed and more flavorful than most take-out.
The sauce is really what sends this at-home Hunan Chicken right over the top. There’s some sweetness from the oyster sauce and honey that’s balanced perfectly with chili paste, soy sauce, fresh garlic and rice vinegar.
A splash of chicken stock is also added to create the best consistency and to add even more savory depth to the sauce. It’s all mixed together to make every bite of chicken and green beans seriously addictive!
When served over a pile of fluffy white rice, it’s pretty hard to not finish every last bite of this Chinese-American staple. I really love what a well-rounded meal it is! It’s got protein, veggies, carbs, and plenty of flavor to not only keep you full, but very satisfied. Oh, and it also couldn’t be easier to make. It’s essentially just a quick stir fry recipe that you can have on the dinner table in no time.
How to Make Hunan Chicken
This quick and easy Chinese-inspired chicken dinner comes together in just a few minutes. Let’s take a sneak peak at the step-by-step instructions:
- Make the sauce. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the measured chili paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, honey, chicken stock and garlic until combined.
- Prepare the chicken. Slice the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces and toss in cornstarch to coat.
- Sauté the chicken. Add the chicken to a large skillet (or wok) that’s been preheated with oil over high heat. Sauté on all sides until fully cooked.
- Add the veggies. Add more oil to the pan, then toss in the green beans. Cook for 2-3 minutes before stirring in the onions and cooking for an additional minute.
- Finish it off! Return the chicken to the pan and stir in the sauce. Cook for another 2 minutes or so, until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is warmed through.
Is Hunan Chicken spicy?
There is chili paste in the homemade sauce that lends a little heat to the dish as a whole. However, I wouldn’t classify this entree as overly spicy! The sauce also contains oyster sauce, soy sauce, and honey that all help to tame the heat from the chili paste. You can omit the chili paste entirely if you’re avoiding any heat at all. On the other hand, you can double the amount if you’d really like the heat to be more pronounced!
How long will Hunan Chicken stay fresh?
In an airtight container in the fridge, any leftovers you have of Hunan Chicken will stay fresh for about 3-4 days. Just be sure to let it fully cool to room temperature prior to storing. Hunan Chicken makes a great next-day meal! Reheat it in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time until it’s warmed all the way through.
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Get the Recipe: Hunan Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoon chili paste
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 2 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 1/2 tbsp peanut oil, divided, or other oil such as canola oil
- 2 cups chopped fresh green beans
- 2 green onions, sliced into 1 inch pieces
Equipment
- 1 wok
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the chili paste, soy sauce, rice vinegar, oyster sauce, honey, chicken stock and garlic.
- Toss the chicken in the cornstarch to coat.
- Heat half the oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat.
- Add the chicken to the pan and saute until cooked through.
- Add the remaining oil to the pan. Stir in the green beans and cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in the onions and continue cooking for 1 minute.
- Return the chicken to the pan and toss to combine.
- Stir in the sauce and cook for 2 more minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Serve immediately over rice or rice noodles, if desired.