Kung Pao Chicken
Rice, Chicken
,
Hearty, High Protein
Kung Pao Chicken is a flavorful, protein-packed meal-prep dish featuring tender chicken thighs stir-fried with crisp bell peppers, red onion, and roasted peanuts in a rich, savory sauce with subtle heat and warming Sichuan pepper. The sauce delivers the perfect balance of salty, umami, and lightly spicy notes while keeping the dish glossy and satisfying. Served with fluffy jasmine rice, this recipe is ideal for meal prepping, offering great texture even after reheating. It’s quick to prepare, easy to portion, and designed to stay delicious throughout the week, making it a reliable go-to for both busy weekdays and stress-free cooking.
Prep Time
15 Min
Cooking Time
30 Min
Total Time
45 Min
Prep the Ingredients
Dice the chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces.
Wash and dice the red and green bell peppers and red onion.
Slice the spring onions, keeping the white parts for cooking and the green parts for garnish.
Grate the garlic and fresh ginger.
Slice the red chilies, if using.
Prepare the Sauce & Marinate the Chicken
In a bowl, combine all marinade ingredients until well mixed.
Transfer ⅓ of the sauce to the diced chicken and mix until evenly coated.
Set aside to marinate while preparing the rest of the dish.
Reserve the remaining ⅔ of the sauce for later.
Cook the Jasmine Rice
Rinse the jasmine rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
Add the rice, water, and salt to a pot and bring to a boil.
Reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer until the water is absorbed and the rice is fluffy.
Keep warm until ready to serve.
Roast the Peanuts
Heat a wok over high heat without oil.
Add the roasted peanuts and toast, stirring constantly, until golden and fragrant.
Remove from the wok immediately and set aside.
Cook the Chicken
Heat half of the oil in the wok over high heat.
Add the marinated chicken in a single layer and stir-fry until golden brown and fully cooked.
Transfer the chicken to a bowl and set aside.
Stir-Fry the Vegetables
Add the remaining oil to the wok and reduce to medium-high heat.
Add the bell peppers, red onion, spring onion whites, and chilies.
Season lightly with salt and stir-fry until cooked but still crisp.
Combine & Glaze
Return the cooked chicken and roasted peanuts to the wok.
Pour in the reserved ⅔ of the sauce and toss everything together until well coated and glossy.
Adjust seasoning with salt and ground white pepper to taste.
Portion & Garnish
Divide the jasmine rice evenly between meal prep containers.
Top with the Kung Pao chicken mixture.
Finish with sliced spring onion greens as garnish.
Reheat / Warm Up
From the fridge:
Reheat in the microwave for 2–3 minutes, stirring halfway if possible.
Alternatively, reheat gently in a pan over low heat with a small splash of water or cream.
From the freezer:
For best results, thaw overnight in the fridge.
Reheat in the microwave or pan until hot throughout.
If reheating directly from frozen, defrost first, then heat fully.
Nutrition Facts
Kung Pao Chicken
Per Serving
Calories
620.5
kcal
Fat
21.3
g
Carbohydrates
52.8
g
Protein
54.4
g
The calories and macros shown for this dish are calculated using the exact ingredients and amounts listed in this recipe.
If you use different brands, substitute ingredients, or adjust quantities, the nutritional values will change. To stay accurate with your tracking, calories and macros should always be calculated based on the products you actually use.
Our SimplyMealTracker is designed to make this process fast and effortless, allowing you to calculate calories and macros for any recipe, portion size, or ingredient variation in just a few clicks. The values shown here can be used as a reference for this specific version of the recipe.
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