Go Back
+ servings
overhead shot of salt and pepper chicken on plate
Print

Salt and Pepper Chicken

Chicken seasoned with Chinese five spice and fried with onions, peppers and garlic makes this recipe a tasty weeknight dinner.
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 413kcal
Author Ryan Beck

Ingredients

  • ½ cup cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 ½ lbs chicken thighs, cut into 1" cubes
  • 1 cup + 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 1 jalapeño pepper, seeds removed and diced
  • 1 Fresno chili pepper, seeds removed and diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 green onions, chopped

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix together the cornstarch, Chinese five spice, salt and pepper. Add the chicken, tossing to coat.
  • Heat 1 cup oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or wok. Fry chicken in batches for 5-6 minutes, turning once so the chicken is cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
  • In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat and add the onion and peppers. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and green onions and cook for another minute.
  • Return chicken to skillet, tossing to coat. Remove from heat and serve over some white rice.

Notes

  • When coating the chicken with the cornstarch mixture, make sure to do it evenly and press the coating onto the chicken to ensure it adheres well. This will result in a better-textured crust.
  • Fry the chicken in batches to maintain a consistent temperature in the oil and to ensure each piece cooks evenly. Overcrowding the pan can lead to uneven frying and less crispy chicken.
  • Once the chicken is fried, place it on a wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil. This will help keep the chicken crispy.
  • You control the amount of heat if you leave or remove the seeds from the peppers.
  • Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice to brighten up the dish.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 413kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 475mg | Potassium: 14mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g