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Black Pepper Chicken

A flavorful dish featuring tender chicken, vibrant vegetables, and a savory black pepper sauce, perfect for busy weeknights or weekend meals.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For Marinating Chicken
  • 1 lb chicken breasts (or thighs), sliced against the grain into 1/4” (5-mm) thick pieces
  • 1 tablespoon light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
For the Sauce
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons light soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry)
  • 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce (or soy sauce)
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
For Cooking
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bell peppers, chopped I used mixed colors

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Combine chicken, 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of Shaoxing wine, and 1 tablespoon of cornstarch in a medium-sized bowl. Mix gently by hand until the chicken is well coated. Let it marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, mix all the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
Cooking
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the chicken, spreading it out in a single layer with minimal overlap. Sear for about 1 minute until the bottom is lightly browned.
  2. Flip the chicken and cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring occasionally until the chicken is browned but still slightly pink in the center. Transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Add the minced ginger and garlic, stirring quickly until fragrant. Then add the chopped onion and bell peppers, cooking for about 20 seconds.
  4. Stir the sauce mixture until the cornstarch is fully dissolved, then pour it into the skillet. Stir with a spatula until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, just a few seconds.
  5. Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and stir to coat everything in the sauce. Turn off the heat and remove the skillet from the stove.
  6. Transfer everything to a large plate so the food doesn’t cook any longer in the hot skillet.
  7. Serve hot as a main dish.

Notes

For extra flavor, let the chicken marinate longer than 15 minutes if you have the time. Adjust the amount of black pepper to suit your spice preference. Feel free to mix in or substitute different vegetables like broccoli, snap peas, or carrots. You can serve Black Pepper Chicken over steamed rice or with noodles.