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It is easy to make your Chinese food recipes at home! This Hunan chicken recipe is a stir-fried chicken dish with vegetables and a family favorite. The sauce is sticky and rich and this recipe will make you think you’re at a Chinese restaurant. It’s a quick and easy dish that can be made in one pan and takes less than half an hour to create. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you want, and this Americanized Hunan chicken pairs well with all kinds of popular Chinese-style sides to make the kind of dinner you’ll crave every week. Everyone will agree that it’s way better than take-out!
Seared chicken breast, stir fried veggies and a rich, spicy, thick sauce give Hunan chicken so much flavor appeal. It’s a quick, easy and definitely delicious.
Love Asian flavors? Also try this fresh Chinese chicken salad, crispy ginger beef, General Tso shrimp stir fry, or sweet tangerine chicken.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick and easy: Hunan chicken is an easy weeknight dinner that you can make in under half an hour.
A one-pot recipe: The whole thing can be cooked in just one pan.
A very popular dish: Hunan chicken is a popular restaurant and takeout pick, but you can easily recreate this classic Chinese recipe at home, and everyone will love the tender chicken, rich Hunan sauce and al dente veggies.
Hunan Style Chicken Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken breasts: I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts. You could use chicken thighs if you prefer.
Cornstarch: To coat the chicken pieces and thicken the sauce.
Fresh vegetables: Broccoli, celery, red pepper, and baby corn add color and flavor.
Chicken broth: The basis of the sauce.
Honey: For sweetness.
Rice wine vinegar: To add a tangy touch to the overall flavor.
Soy sauce: For a savory, salty taste.
Chili paste: I use sambal oelek (you can buy online) but you can use any chili bean paste you prefer.
Olive oil: Swap for canola oil, peanut oil or another kind if you want.
How to Make Hunan Chicken Stir Fry
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the chicken: Toss the chicken pieces in cornstarch, salt and pepper and pan fry in olive oil until browned.
Cook the vegetables: Stir fry the vegetables until tender, adding the garlic and baby corn afterwards and cooking for another minute.
Make the Hunan chicken sauce: Whisk the broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste, and some cornstarch to make the spicy Hunan sauce.
The finishing touches: Add the chicken and sauce to the pan and bring to a simmer, cooking until thickened. Serve over boiled or steamed rice, noodles or with your preferred side dishes.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, ensure your chicken broth and soy sauce are both free from gluten.
A different protein: Thinly sliced chicken thighs, pork, beef, or shrimp would also work in this recipe.
Add a Szechuan flair: Add crunch with peanuts or cashews (popular in Szechuan cooking but also delicious in many Hunan recipes!)
Different vegetables: Asparagus, zucchini, mushrooms, green or yellow bell peppers, green onions, and carrots would all work in Hunan chicken too.
Make it sweeter: Add extra honey or swap half the soy sauce for oyster sauce. A splash of pineapple juice would also work.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Serve pork potstickers or shrimp spring rolls to start. Egg drop soup is another option.
Side dishes: Hunan chicken pairs well with PF Chang’s style fried rice or your favorite noodles.
Desserts: Finish up with something light, perhaps 2-ingredient dragon fruit ice cream or mixed berry parfait.
How to Store Spicy Hunan Chicken
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze Hunan chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Frozen chicken is easier to slice: Pop it in the freezer for half an hour before cooking. It’s easier to slice this way.
Cook the chicken in batches: You might need to cook the chicken in batches depending on the size of your skillet or wok. If you try to cook too much at once, it will steam instead of searing.
Watch the salt levels: You might need less or more salt depending on which soy sauce brand and chicken broth you use. Taste and use your judgement to get it just right.
Hunan Chicken Recipe FAQs
This Chinese-American dish originates from China’s Hunan Province. Hunan is known for its use of tart flavors and chili peppers. Hunan chicken is made with chicken and stir-fried vegetables, and thickened with cornstarch which gives it a sticky texture and rich flavor. It’s a popular restaurant pick and also super-easy to recreate in the comfort of your own kitchen!
You can make Hunan chicken as spicy or as mild as you prefer. If you make it as written, you can expect a medium heat, so reduce or increase the amount of chili paste to suit your palate.
Both of these Chinese cuisines are known for their spicy dishes. Hunan cuisine tends to use fresh chilies or chili paste while Szechuan cuisine typically uses dried chilies along with Sichuan peppers, along with lots of onions and garlic. Hunan recipes include plenty of vegetables while Szechuan dishes often have seeds such as sesame seeds or nuts like cashews or peanuts.
Easy Hunan Chicken Recipe
Hunan Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 Pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- ¼ Cup plus 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ Teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper, plus more to taste
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Cup broccoli florets
- 2 Stalks celery, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
- 15 Ounces baby corn, canned, drained and halved lengthwise
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- ½ Cup chicken broth
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Teaspoons rice vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon honey
- 2 Teaspoons chili paste, sambal oelek or similar
Instructions
- Put the chicken, ¼ cup of cornstarch, salt and black pepper in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Stir to coat evenly.
- Heat the olive oil in a large wok or skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Add the chicken to the pan and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove chicken to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Add the broccoli, celery and bell pepper to the same skillet. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the baby corn and garlic and cook for an additional 30 to 60 seconds or until garlic is fragrant.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, chili paste, and remaining tablespoon of cornstarch.
- Add the chicken back to the pan with the vegetables. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables and bring to a simmer.
- Cook until the sauce has thickened, about 3 or 4 minutes.
- Serve immediately, with rice if liked.
Notes
Cook the chicken in batches: You might need to cook the chicken in batches depending on the size of your skillet or wok. If you try to cook too much at once, it will steam instead of searing.
Watch the salt levels: You might need less or more salt depending on which soy sauce brand and chicken broth you use. Taste and use your judgement to get it just right.
Nutrition
Treat your taste buds to Hunan chicken, a delicious chicken and vegetable stir fry recipe with a vibrant, sticky sauce. Whether you pair Hunan chicken with rice, noodles or another tasty side dish, you’re sure to love the incredible flavors. It’s easy to make, you only need one pan and even the leftovers are delicious over the next couple of days.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Such a great dish! The sauce was rich and flavorful, and it really felt like I was eating at my favorite Chinese restaurant. Quick, easy, and super tasty!
I’m seriously obsessed with how delicious this turned out! Definitely making it again soon!
This Hunan chicken recipe is so simple but tastes like it came straight from a restaurant. Definitely adding this to my weeknight rotation.
We loved this stir fry recipe! So easy to make, too.