Hunan Chicken Recipe (2024)

Hunan Chicken Recipe

We're cooking up an iconic Chinese stir fry in the Chili Pepper Madness kitchen tonight, my friends. Are you a fan of stir fry? I love a good stir fry because not only are they easy to make, they usually require very little prep and cooking time.

You'll have this one on the table in well under 30 minutes, including your prep time, and that is fantastic for a slow cook like me. Plus, you can really adjust the spice and heat factor very easily.

This recipe is called Hunan Chicken, and I think you're going to love it.

What is Hunan Chicken?

Hunan Chicken is a spicy chicken stir fry dish from the Hunan province of China. The chicken is velveted then quickly stir fried with a mixture of vegetables, then finished in a spicy and slightly sweet brown sauce.

You may have tried Hunan chicken in your favorite Chinese restaurant, as it is quite a popular Chinese-American dish.

Hunan Chicken Vs. Szechuan Chicken

A common question is - what's the difference between Hunan chicken and Szechuan chicken? While the recipes are quite similar, these are actually two different dishes varying primarily in the sauce ingredients.

Hunan chicken relies more on a fermented Chinese chili-bean paste called doubanjiang for it's heat and flavor, where Szechuan chicken focuses more on tongue-numbing Sichuan peppercorns and spicy peppers. Both Hunan cuisine and Sichuan cuisine are known for being spicy.

Why You'll Love My Hunan Chicken Recipe

• My version of Hunan chicken incorporates some elements of the Sichuan version in order to bring that heat and spice level up a notch.
• I've loaded up the stir fry with vegetables, but with a focus on the heat and flavor of chili peppers for the perfect dish.

Hunan Chicken Ingredients

• FOR THE HUNAN CHICKEN SAUCE
• Soy Sauce.
• Oyster Sauce.
• Doubanjiang. Doubanjiang is a Chinese fermented chili and bean paste. As an alternative, use a chili paste, like sambal oelek.
• Rice Wine.
• Sesame Oil.
• Sugar. Or use honey.
• Chicken Broth.
• Chili Flakes.
• Sichuan Peppercorns. This is not traditional, used more commonly in Sichuan chicken, but I love the extra kick.
• Corn Starch. To thicken the sauce. Mix it with a bit of water to make a slurry.
• FOR THE HUNAN CHICKEN
• Chicken Breast. You can use chicken thigh as well, skinless and boneless.
• Corn Starch. For coating the chicken.
• Salt and Pepper.
• Vegetables. I'm using thinly sliced bell pepper, jalapeno, zucchini and carrot for the stir fry. Plus fresh garlic and ginger.
• For Serving. Chopped green onion, red pepper flakes, sesame seeds, cooked rice or noodles.

How to Make Hunan Chicken - the Recipe Method

MAKE THE HUNAN CHICKEN SAUCE

Get Whisking. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.

MAKE THE HUNAN CHICKEN

Coat the Chicken. Add the corn starch to a large bowl with salt and pepper to taste and add the chicken. Toss the chicken to evenly coat each piece.

Stir Fry the Chicken. Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a large skillet or wok or pan to medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken and cook, stirring, until golden brown.

Do this in batches if needed. Should take 2-3 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

Stir Fry the Vegetables. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the wok and add the peppers, zucchini, and carrot. Stir fry for 5-6 minutes to soften.

Ginger and Garlic. Add the garlic and ginger. Stir fry for 1 minute.

Reserved Chicken and Sauce. Add the chicken back to the pan and stir in the sauce. Stir to coat the ingredients and thicken the sauce, 1-2 minutes more to warm and cook the chicken through.

Recipe Tips & Notes

• Heat Factor. Mild-Medium. Hunan chicken isn't as spicy as some other Chinese dishes, but you'll get some nice heat and spicy flavors from the Doubanjiang or chili paste. I add in extra elements, including some spicy peppers, spicy chili flakes and Sichuan peppercorns, which are not traditional, but I love them.
• Sichuan Peppercorns.Sichuan peppercorns (aka Szechuan pepper) are different than other spicy foods, bringing not so much heat to a dish, but a distinctive tingling and numbing experience to your tongue and lips. They can be an acquired taste, so keep this in mind if you have not tried them before. They are different from black peppercorns.
• Make the Sauce Ahead of Time. You can easily make the Hunan sauce ahead of time if you'd like to save time later. There aren't many ingredients, but just stir them together and keep in the refrigerator, sealed, until you're ready to start cooking.
• Vegetable Options. You can use any of your favorite vegetables for this famous Chinese stir fry. I'm using red bell peppers, zucchini and carrot (along with jalapenos), but consider some others that go great with sir fries. Try mushrooms, baby bok choy, sugar snap peas, baby corn, bamboo shoots, broccoli, sprouts, or other popular stir fry veggies. Make it your way!

Storage & Leftovers

Store any leftover Hunan chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. To enjoy it again, gently warm it in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop until heated through.

You can also freeze the chicken in vacuum sealed bags or containers in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Recommended Cookbooks

If you love Chinese recipes and cooking, I recommend these books for the American cook. They're loaded with easy Chinese recipes that are full of flavor. I refer to them quite often.

• The Food of Sichuan, by Fuchsia Dunlop (affiliate link, my friends!) - This book is fantastic with loads of authentic Sichuan recipes and knowledge. Highly recommended.
• Easy Chinese Cookbook: Restaurant Favorites Make Simple, by Chris Toy (affiliate link, my friends!)
• The Essential Wok Cookbook, by Naomi Imatome-Yun (affiliate link, my friends!)

Try Some of My Other Popular Recipes

• Hunan Beef
• Kung Pao Chicken
• Szechuan Chicken
• Cashew Chicken
• Dragon Chicken
• Bourbon Chicken
• Chicken Lo Mein
• Chicken Stir Fry
• Mapo Tofu
• Chicken Adobo
• Spicy Chicken Fried Rice
• Sichuan Dry-Fried Green Beans Recipe (Ganbian Sijidou)
• Hot and Sour Soup