This Authentic Kung Pao Chicken Recipe is as good (if not better than) take out, but you’ll save money and 100’s of calories with this low calorie meal.
This recipe for kung pao chicken is adapted from a recipe in my second cookbook Lose Weight By Eating Detox Week. I have eliminated the marinating, and thus a few ingredients. This has allowed me to cut the sodium and make this meal in just 20 minutes.
My low calorie kung pao chicken recipes are packed full of metabolism boosting ingredients, and this particular kungpao chicken recipe is only 286 calories per cup! Just the right amount of calories so you can enjoy it over a healthy serving of rice.
What is Kung Pao Chicken? Kung Pao Chicken is a popular, often spicy, Chinese chicken dish that has been made popular by Chinese take out restaurants all over the U.S.
Chicken kung pao recipes are wonderful over rice, have crunchy veggies and peanuts, and a lovely brown sauce.
The Best Authentic Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
My goal for this article is to supply you a low calorie, low cost version of the popular authentic kung pao chicken recipe.
You may need to stock up on some pantry essentials like Hoisin sauce and sesame oil… But once you have these ingredients, they will last a long time in the fridge.
Here’s What You’ll Find in this Article:
- Ingredients for Kung Pao Chicken (shopping list!)
- How to Make Kung Pao Chicken
- Authentic Kung Pao Chicken Recipe (printable recipe card!)
Kung po chicken is easy to make and delicious! It does require a lot of ingredients, but many of these are pantry staples like honey and soy sauce… So don’t let the shopping list scare you. You most likely have most of the ingredients to make homemade kung pao sauce already!
Kung Pao, often spelled kong pao chicken is easy to make with a few pantry staples. You likely have all of the kung pao sauce ingredients in your pantry or fridge already!
Ingredients for Kung Pao Chicken
Below you will find the printable recipe card with the recipe for kung pao sauce, cook times and ingredient amounts. Plus a nutrition label for kung poa chicken.
This section will supply you with the ingredients for Kung Pao chicken. I recommend taking a screenshot with your phone so you have the ingredient list with you next time you go to the grocery store.
This recipe for chicken kung pao does require a lot of ingredients, but don’t fret… You likely have most of them in your pantry already!
Shopping List for Kung Pao Chicken Recipe:
Chicken Kung Pao:
- Toasted sesame oil
- Dried chiles optional- for spice
- Chicken breasts
- Bell peppers
- Celery
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Unsalted peanuts
Kung Pao Sauce:
- Reduced-sodium soy sauce or Tamari
- Balsamic vinegar
- Hoisin sauce
- Rice wine vinegar
- Honey
- Sugar
- Red pepper flakes
- Cornstarch
Up next we will discuss how to make kung pow chicken… and further down you’ll find a printable recipe card!
Please don’t let the list of ingredients scare you… You likely have most of them in your pantry already. And the ingredients for kon pao sauce will hold a long time in your fridge and pantry so you cane make this countless times.
How to Make Kung Pao Chicken
This authentic kung pao chicken recipe is adapted form my second cookbook Lose Weight By Eating Detox Week.
In the cookbook you will find many more low calorie, high nutrition recipes that can help you boost metabolism and lose weight. All while enjoying your favorite dishes!
This recipe is made in just 20 minutes… Including prep time! This makes it a great weeknight dinner…
How to Make Kung Pao Chicken:
- In a medium bowl combine all of the Kung Pao Sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over high heat, add in the chiles and cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the chicken and cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the bell peppers, celery, and onion. Lower the heat to medium-high heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add in the garlic, ginger, and peanuts. Mix together and cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant. Add in the Kung Pao Sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes until the chicken is cooked through with no pink in the center, and the sauce is thick.
- Serve over rice.
The Best Authentic Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
This delicious Chinese chicken recipe is made in just 20 minutes, including prep time… That’s about the amount of time it takes to make rice!
Talk about an easy dinner!!
The Best Authentic Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Kung Pao:
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 5 dried chiles optional- for spice
- 2 chicken breasts cut into bite sized cubes
- 2 bell peppers diced
- 3 celery stalks diced
- 1 onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- ½ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ cup unsalted peanuts
Kung Pao Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce or Tamari
- 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 3 tablespoons Hoisin sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine all of the Kung Pao Sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Heat the oil in a skillet over high heat, add in the chiles and cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the chicken and cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the bell peppers, celery, and onion. Lower the heat to medium-high heat and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often.
- Add in the garlic, ginger, and peanuts. Mix together and cook for 1-2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant. Add in the Kung Pao Sauce and cook for 1-2 minutes until the chicken is cooked through with no pink in the center, and the sauce is thick.
- Serve over rice.
Notes
Nutrition
What to Read Next:
Lose Weight By Eating Cookbooks
I’m so glad you loved the recipe!! Thanks for commenting!!
Oh.my.gosh! This was DELICIOUS!! Next time I’ll do 5 peppers instead of 7, lol, but the second meal I made for my detox diet was a complete success and I’d make and eat this, regardless.
I’m so glad the recipe was a hit! Thank you for sharing!!
This was definitely a hit with family. I will keep this in the rotation. Thanks for sharing it.
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