This Black Pepper Chicken is a quick stir fry made in just 3 easy steps! This Panda Express copycat is made from scratch with just a few ingredients.
I was asked recently by one of my readers for an Asian restaurant copycat recipe. After sharing my favorites (P.F. Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps, anyone?), I realized it was time to make a new one. A quick and easy stir fry that is! This Black Pepper Chicken will sound and look familiar to Panda Express fans. It only requires a handful of ingredients and 3 steps to make it: cook the chicken, saute veggies and simmer everything with the sauce. Just like that, an easy yet delicious dinner ready to be served!
Ingredients:
- chicken (breasts or thighs)
- olive oil
- bell pepper
- celery
- onion
- garlic
- ginger
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- cornstarch
- black pepper
How to make Black Pepper Chicken?
- Start by slicing pepper, onion, and celery.
- Mince garlic and grate ginger.
- Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Heat up oil in a skillet and cook chicken until no longer pink. Remove from skillet.
- Add garlic and ginger to the pan and saute for 1 minute.
- Add pepper and saute for about 3 minutes. Then add onion and celery. Cook until veggies are cooked but not completely soft.
- Mix sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Add to veggies, along with the chicken. Stir everything together and simmer until the sauce thickens.
Can I make it ahead of time?
This dish can be easily prepared ahead of time. Cook the chicken and veggies. You can even mix the sauce ingredients together. Chill everything for up to 4 days. I do recommend adding the sauce to the dish before serving. Otherwise, it will thicken too much and soak into the veggies and chicken. If you like it saucy, add it just before serving and simmer everything to reheat.
How to serve Black Pepper Chicken?
The best way is to serve it with rice (white, Jasmin, etc.). I have a simple recipe for cooking rice in the Instant Pot that never fails me. You can also serve it with noodles.
What other veggies can I add to this dish?
You can add anything you like, just like with any stir fry. Mushrooms, zucchini, baby corn, all work well. Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
More Asian dinner recipes:
For more recipes like this one, feel free to browse our Asian category.
If you like this recipe and make it, snap a photo and share it on INSTAGRAM! Tag me @crunchycreamysweet so I can check it out and leave a comment!
Black Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts boneless and skinless
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ medium yellow onion sliced
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 green bell pepper sliced
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ¼ cup water or chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
- In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, water, vinegar and cornstarch. Set aside.
- In a skillet, heat up 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until no longer pink. Remove from skillet onto a plate and set aside.
- To the same pan, add more oil. Add garlic and ginger and saute for 1 minute.
- Add pepper and saute for about 3 minutes. Then add onion and celery. Cook until veggies are cooked but not completely soft.
- Add pepper and stir.
- Give the sauce mixture a few stirs and add it to veggies, along with the chicken. Stir everything together and simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Serve with rice, garnished with chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds.
Notes
- Make sure to use low-sodium soy sauce. Regular is very salty.
- Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.
Andrea Thueson says
So tasty the perfect week night meal!
Anna says
Absolutely! Thank you, Andrea!
Betsy says
Yay! Love this! This is so good! One of my all time favorites! I love getting this at Panda Express and other restaurants that make this. There’s actually a restaurant nearby that makes a version of this with calamari! So good. It’s so great to be able to make this at home, too and not have to pay a whole lot of money at a restaurant!
Anna says
I always enjoy recreating restaurant favorites at home. Thanks, Betsy!
Jen says
I seriously couldn’t believe how easy this was to make! Perfect for busy nights when no one really wants to cook. Thank you!
Anna says
Right? So easy! Thanks, Jen!