If you are looking for easy and delicious chicken stir-fry recipe, you need to try this easy black pepper chicken. Chicken pieces are stir-fried with colorful veggies and aromatic black pepper that is enough to give you that kick without being overpowering.
This easy black pepper chicken is one of the American Chinese dishes made popular by American-based fast-food restaurant chain such as Panda Express. Few years ago I remember Chinese food bistro such as P.F. Chang, had similar dish called Singapore black pepper chicken on their menu, but it didn’t seem to be there anymore. Anyway, this dish is super easy and quick to make and it’s one of our family’s favorite too. We like it better than the fast-food chain version 😉
How to make easy black pepper chicken stir-fry
1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. If using thighs, trim off any excess fat. Put the chicken pieces along with the marinade ingredients in a bowl or a ziplock bag (the latter marinates more evenly). Marinate for at least 30 minutes up to overnight in the fridge
2. Mix all the seasonings in a bowl and set aside
3. If the chicken has been in the fridge, pull it out from the fridge to let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before you start cooking. Get everything ready within your reach before you start cooking. Preheat a wok or skillet over medium heat. Add the freshly ground black pepper and toast it on a dry pan over low-medium heat until aromatic. About 3-5 minutes. Take care not to burn the pepper. This extra step brings out the aroma of the ground pepper even more
4. Add butter and let it melts
5. Add garlic, onions and stir fry over high heat for about 1 minute
6. Add bell pepper strips and stir fry for another minutes. Push to the side
7. Add marinated chicken and seasonings you prepared earlier. Let them cook undisturbed for about 30 seconds or so and then stir a little bit and let them cook undisturbed again. We want a little bit of “char” on the chicken that will really bring out the flavor
8. Finally stir everything to mix together. Have a taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. It should be savory with just a hint of sweetness and some “kick” from the black pepper
9. Remove from the heat and garnish with some finely chopped onion. This is great to serve with rice or noodles
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Easy Black Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs you can use breast too if you prefer
- 4 Tbsp butter unsalted
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 large purple onion sliced
- 2 large colorful bell peppers cut into strips
To marinate chicken:
- 1 Tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 2 tsp cornstarch
- 1 Tbsp shaoxing wine / dry sherry
Seasonings:
- 2 Tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste
Garnish:
- 1 stalk green onion finely cut
Instructions
Marinate chicken:
- Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces. If using thighs, trim off any excess fat. Put the chicken pieces along with the marinade ingredients in a bowl or a ziplock bag (the latter marinates more evenly). Marinate for at least 30 minutes up to overnight in the fridge
Cooking:
- Mix all the seasonings in a bowl and set aside
- If the chicken has been in the fridge, pull it out from the fridge to let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before you start cooking.
- Get everything ready within your reach before you start cooking. Preheat a wok or skillet over medium heat. Add the freshly ground black pepper and toast it on a dry pan over low-medium heat until aromatic. About 3-5 minutes. Take care not to burn the pepper. This extra step brings out the aroma of the ground pepper even more
- Add butter and let it melts, then add garlic, onions and stir fry over high heat for about 1 minute. Add bell pepper strips and stir fry for another minutes. Push to the side and add marinated chicken and seasonings you prepared earlier. Let them cook undisturbed for about 30 seconds or so and then stir a little bit and let them cook undisturbed again. We want a little bit of "char" on the chicken that will really bring out the flavor. Finally stir everything to mix together. Have a taste and adjust seasoning to your preference. It should be savory with just a hint of sweetness and some "kick" from the black pepper
- Remove from the heat and garnish with some finely chopped onion.
Serve:
- This is great to serve with rice or noodles
2 comments
I made this tonight and it was delicious! Now, there’s no way I’m taking the time to freshly grind a whole tbsp of black pepper so I just used pre-ground, which is probably too much recipe-wise but it was perfect for us. So that was the tbsp that went into the marinade which is the only black pepper mentioned in the recipe, so what and how much freshly ground black pepper is it that is mentioned in step 3 of the instructions? I just did ‘a bit’, not much at all really. It probably equalled out with the pre ground stuff I previously used. Anyway, we loved it, it was easy to make and my daughter and I will definitely be having it again. Neither of us thought there’s enough for 4 people though and we’re not overweight by any stretch!
Hi Bill, I’m glad you enjoy it. The amount of freshly ground black pepper in step 3 is 1 Tablespoon. Of course you can always adjust to your taste preference. Thank you for your feedback on the serving size 🙂 Perhaps because we have it as part of a multicourse meal, but I will update the serving size accordingly 😉