Description
Black Pepper Chicken brings sizzling Sichuan-style comfort straight to your dinner table with bold, spicy flavors that dance across your palate. Tender chicken pieces tossed in a fiery pepper sauce create a quick weeknight meal that delivers restaurant-quality taste without complex preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast
Vegetables:
- 1 onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic
- 0.5 teaspoon ginger
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Toss 1 ½ lbs chicken breast pieces with 1 tablespoon soy sauce and 2 tablespoons cornstarch. Let the chicken absorb flavors for exactly 10 minutes at room temperature.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet at 375°F. Carefully arrange chicken pieces in a single layer without crowding the pan.
- Sear chicken for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer cooked chicken to a clean plate.
- In the same skillet, add diced onion and bell peppers. Sauté vegetables for 4-5 minutes over medium-high heat until they’re slightly softened but retain a crisp texture.
- Combine 2 tablespoons oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, 3 minced garlic cloves, ½ teaspoon minced ginger, and 2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Return chicken to the skillet with vegetables. Pour prepared sauce over the mixture and stir thoroughly to ensure even coating.
- Cook the combined ingredients for an additional 2-3 minutes, allowing sauce to caramelize and chicken to absorb rich flavors. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Check chicken tenderness by cutting into the thickest part to ensure no pink remains and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Freshly ground black pepper delivers more intense flavor than pre-ground pepper, so grind whole peppercorns just before cooking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap soy sauce with tamari and verify all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- When slicing chicken, cut against the grain and use a sharp knife for clean, even pieces that cook consistently and look professional.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 230 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 410 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg