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Quick Spicy Hunan Chicken

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A quick and easy spicy Hunan chicken recipe that delivers bold, saucy goodness in under 30 minutes. Perfect for weeknights, this dish balances fiery heat with savory depth and juicy chicken.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce (for marinade)
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (for marinade)
  • 1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry (optional, for marinade)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (for sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
  • 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
  • 1 dried red chili or pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: In a medium bowl, combine chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon cornstarch, and Shaoxing wine if using. Toss well and let sit for 10 minutes.
  2. Mix the sauce: Whisk together 2 tablespoons soy sauce, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, sugar, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Prepare veggies and aromatics: Mince garlic and ginger, slice green onions and red bell pepper thinly.
  4. Heat wok or skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. When hot, add marinated chicken in a single layer. Let sear without moving for about 2 minutes, then stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until almost cooked through.
  5. Push chicken to one side, add garlic, ginger, and dried chili to empty space. Stir quickly for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add bell pepper slices and stir-fry for another 2 minutes until slightly softened but still crisp.
  6. Pour sauce over chicken and veggies. Toss and cook for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens and coats chicken.
  7. Stir in sliced green onions and remove from heat immediately.
  8. Serve hot over steamed jasmine rice or noodles.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper searing. Marinate chicken for at least 10 minutes for tenderness. Adjust chili garlic sauce to taste. If sauce is too thin, thicken with cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch + 2 tsp water). For gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with tamari and use gluten-free hoisin or a mix of miso and honey.

Nutrition

Keywords: Hunan chicken, spicy chicken recipe, quick dinner, stir-fry chicken, easy Chinese recipe, weeknight dinner, spicy chicken stir-fry

Find it online: https://bouncybowl.com/quick-spicy-hunan-chicken-recipe-30-minute-easy-homemade-dinner/