Healthy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe- Easy Home-cooked Meal
I am excited to share a fantastic way to make a healthier version of the classic Kung Pao chicken (宫保鸡丁)! Using an air fryer instead of deep-frying, you can enjoy all the delicious flavors with a fraction of the oil. This healthy Kung Pao chicken is quick and easy and requires only one tablespoon of oil. You need an air fryer to make this delicious and healthy Chinese chicken dish.
🛒Ingredients needed for the healthy Kung Pao chicken recipe
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Below are the key ingredients required to prepare the Kung Pao chicken.
- Chicken. Boneless, skinless chicken breast is the most common cut of chicken used in making Kung Pao chicken. Chicken thighs are also suitable and are more tender compared to breast meat.
- Seasoning. The components of Kung Pao sauce include light soy sauce, white pepper, sugar, vinegar, and salt. These are all common ingredients in most kitchen pantries. While Chinese black vinegar is usually used in this recipe, you can substitute it with balsamic vinegar or rice vinegar.
- Spices. The most important spice is red dry chilies, which should be cut into sections. If you prefer less spiciness, remove the seeds. You can substitute dry chilies with red pepper flakes, but the flavor may not be as good. Besides, this healthy also Kung Pao chicken recipe includes garlic, ginger, and white parts of green onions.
Note: Kung Pao Chicken in Chinese is called 宫保鸡丁. There are several variations of the English translation. The most common spellings I have seen are Kung Pao Chicken, Kung Po Chicken, Gong Bao Chicken, and Gong Bao Ji Ding.
👉 How to make healthy Kung Pao chicken with an air fryer
Using an air fryer instead of a deep fryer is the best way to make healthy Kung Pao chicken.
Healthy Kung Pao Chicken Recipe- Easy Home-cooked Meal
3
servings15
minutes20
minutesThe best way to prepare healthy Kung Pao chicken at home is to use an air fryer. It is just as good as deep-frying but with less oil.
Ingredients
- Chicken:
500 g chicken breast meat
5 g salt
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- Sauce:
1/2 tablespoon black vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
- Spices and aromatics:
1 tablespoon garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon ginger, chopped
1 tablespoon green onion, the white section only
6 pieces dry red chili, cut to about 2 cm length, remove seeds
20 g cashew nuts
Directions
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, about half an inch square. This size is best for cooking in the air fryer, as larger pieces will take longer and won’t absorb the sauce well during stir-frying. Marinate the chicken with salt, cornstarch, and vegetable oil. It is a small amount of vegetable oil compared to deep frying. Mix well and set aside to marinate for 20 to 30 minutes.
- While marinating the chicken, prepare the Kung Pao sauce by mixing vinegar, sugar, and light soy sauce in a small bowl.
- After 20 minutes, preheat the air fryer to 240°C/ 460°F. Transfer the marinated chicken to the air fryer.
- Cook for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Heat some vegetable oil over medium heat and sauté the chopped garlic and ginger until aromatic in a large skillet or wok. Keep the heat low to medium to avoid burning the garlic. Next, add the white part of the green onion. You can substitute it with chopped onion if you don’t have green onion. At this point, you also need to add the dried chilies. Continue sautéing over low heat until they become fragrant.
- Once these ingredients are aromatic, pour the Kung Pao sauce we made earlier into the skillet to combine.
- After the sauce boils, add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and mix well.
- Sauté over medium-high heat for about 20 seconds, then reduce the heat and add the cashew nuts. For additional flavor, add a splash of Shaoxing wine or dry sherry just before removing the chicken from the wok. Dish out to serve.
Recipe Video
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 3
- Calories: 312kcal
- Carbohydrates: 11g
- Protein: 38g
- Fat: 11g
💡Tips and notes for the healthy Kung Pao chicken
- Traditional Chinese Kung Pao Chicken does not require any vegetables. If you prefer to add some vegetables, I highly recommend adding onion cubes and bell peppers. Both red and green bell peppers will provide a more colorful presentation.
- The traditional Kung Pao chicken is usually prepared with Sichuan peppercorns, providing a numbing sensation. I am not adding it to this recipe as I do not intend to write an authentic kung pao chicken recipe, as Sichuan peppercorns may be hard to find in certain places outside of Asia. Nevertheless, if you want to include it in the recipe, add a tablespoon of the Sichuan peppercorns to the hot oil before sautéing the chopped garlic and ginger. Let it sauté for half a minute until aromatic, then remove it from the oil. The oil will then be infused with the flavor of the peppercorns. Alternatively, add the ground Sichuan peppercorn at any time during the stir-frying process.
- You can consider sprinkling sesame seeds on top and adding chopped green onions before serving for garnishing and flavor.
- Hoisin sauce is not an ingredient in the Kung Pao chicken sauce, but you can add some to make a difference.
🆒 How to store Kung Pao chicken?
Leftover Kung Pao Chicken can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. If you need to store it longer, you can put the chicken into a freezer-friendly container or a freezer bag. It can be frozen for up to three months. This suggestion does not include other vegetables, such as onions or bell peppers, in the recipe, as these vegetables will become mushy when thawed.
It’s best not to cook more than you can serve in one day. It’s always best to enjoy the freshest meal possible at home. If you want to make it easier for your next cooking, I suggest making the Kung Pao sauce ahead of time instead of cooking the chicken beforehand. Just mix all the ingredients for the Kung Pao sauce and keep it in a freezer-safe container. The sauce can keep well in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or even up to 3 months in the freezer.
🍽️ Other recipes that might interest you
Making this healthy Kung Pao chicken is one of the best ways to enjoy it at home without ordering Chinese takeout or eating it in Chinese restaurants. If you like this healthy and easy Kung Pao chicken recipe, here are some other recipes that might interest you.
