This 30-Minute Black Pepper Chicken is a quick and delicious dish that brings the flavors of your favorite takeout right to your home kitchen. With tender, juicy chicken, a rich and peppery sauce, and the perfect amount of spice, it’s a versatile and gluten-free meal that can be enjoyed with steamed rice, quinoa, or veggies. Ideal for busy weeknights, it’s an easy and satisfying meal that can be on the table in just 30 minutes!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Marinade:

• 1 tablespoon light soy sauce or regular soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine or dry sherry

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

For the Sauce:

• ½ cup chicken broth

• 2 tablespoons light soy sauce or regular soy sauce

• 2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry

• 2 teaspoons dark soy sauce or regular soy sauce

• 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 ½ tablespoons sugar

• 2 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

For the Stir-Fry:

• 2 tablespoons peanut oil or vegetable oil

• 1 tablespoon minced ginger

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ white onion, chopped

• 2 bell peppers, chopped (mix of colors if preferred)

For the Chicken:

• 1 lb chicken breasts or thighs, sliced against the grain into ¼-inch thick pieces

Directions

1. Marinate the Chicken: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the chicken with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, and cornstarch. Gently mix by hand and let marinate for 10-15 minutes.

2. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, mix the chicken broth, soy sauces, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, sugar, black pepper, and salt. Stir well and set aside.

3. Cook the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and sear for 30 seconds until lightly browned. Flip and cook for another 15-20 seconds, until both sides are browned but still slightly pink in the center. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

4. Stir-Fry the Vegetables: Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the minced ginger and garlic, and cook briefly until fragrant. Add the chopped onion and bell peppers, stir-frying for 20 seconds.

5. Combine and Simmer: Stir the sauce mixture again to dissolve the cornstarch and pour into the skillet. Stir quickly and cook for a few seconds until the sauce thickens. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet and stir to coat with the sauce.

6. Serve: Remove from heat and serve immediately with your choice of side dishes.

Nutrients (per serving)

• Calories: 272 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 15g

• Protein: 27g

• Fat: 10g

  • Saturated Fat: 2g

  • Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g

  • Monounsaturated Fat: 4g

• Cholesterol: 73mg

• Sodium: 1009mg

• Potassium: 610mg

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 8g

• Vitamin A: 1898 IU

• Vitamin C: 79mg

• Calcium: 21mg

• Iron: 1mg

Why This Recipe Works for Busy Weeknights

This 30-Minute Black Pepper Chicken is the ideal meal for those busy evenings when you want a home-cooked dish that’s quick, tasty, and satisfying. Unlike many traditional takeout dishes that require a lot of time and attention, this recipe minimizes prep and cooking time, allowing you to enjoy a flavorful meal without much hassle. The marinade and sauce are simple to prepare, and since the dish comes together in just one skillet, clean-up is a breeze.

With just a few ingredients and straightforward steps, this meal is a great way to enjoy the savory, spicy, and tangy flavors of a restaurant-quality dish at home.

The Marinade: Elevating the Chicken’s Flavor

The marinade plays a key role in infusing the chicken with flavor and ensuring that it remains tender and juicy. The combination of soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry), and cornstarch helps to not only season the chicken but also create a slight coating that locks in moisture as the chicken cooks. This gives the chicken a silky texture and makes it more flavorful, preventing it from becoming dry during cooking.

Shaoxing wine, a Chinese rice wine, adds an aromatic depth to the chicken. If you can’t find Shaoxing wine, dry sherry can be used as an alternative, offering a similar flavor profile that enhances the overall dish. Letting the chicken marinate for 10-15 minutes is enough time for it to absorb these flavors without requiring too much prep time.

The Sauce: A Perfect Balance of Sweet, Salty, and Spicy

The sauce for this dish is what truly brings it all together. It’s a beautiful blend of chicken broth, soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, sugar, and coarsely ground black pepper. The dark soy sauce adds depth and color, while the regular soy sauce provides saltiness. The sugar adds a touch of sweetness that balances out the spiciness of the black pepper, creating a savory-sweet sauce that coats the chicken and vegetables perfectly.

The black pepper is the star of the sauce, giving the dish its signature peppery kick. If you like things spicy, you can always add extra black pepper to increase the heat. The cornstarch in the sauce helps to thicken it, giving it a glossy, rich texture that clings to the chicken and vegetables.

Cooking the Chicken: Tender and Juicy

To cook the chicken, the key is to get a good sear on it. Heating a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-high heat allows the chicken to brown slightly on both sides. This step adds a depth of flavor by caramelizing the chicken’s surface while keeping the inside tender and juicy. It’s important to only cook the chicken for about 30 seconds on each side, as it will continue to cook later with the sauce.

Once the chicken is browned, remove it from the skillet and set it aside to make room for the vegetables and sauce. The chicken will return to the skillet later, allowing it to soak up the flavors of the sauce while remaining juicy.

Stir-Frying the Vegetables: Crisp and Flavorful

The vegetables in this dish, particularly the bell peppers and onions, are lightly stir-fried to maintain their crunch and vibrant color. Stir-frying them for just 20 seconds after adding the garlic and ginger helps to release their natural sweetness and infuses them with the aromatic flavors of the garlic and ginger. This quick stir-fry method allows the vegetables to stay crisp-tender, adding texture and freshness to the dish.

Ginger and garlic both add warmth and complexity to the dish, infusing the sauce with a fragrant depth that balances out the heat from the black pepper.

Combining Everything: Bringing it All Together

Once the vegetables are stir-fried, the sauce is added to the skillet and simmered briefly until it thickens and becomes glossy. The chicken is then returned to the skillet, allowing it to cook through and coat evenly with the rich sauce. Stir everything together to ensure that the chicken and vegetables are well coated, and cook for a few more seconds to allow the sauce to fully thicken.

At this stage, the flavors meld together beautifully, with the chicken, vegetables, and sauce all combining into a harmonious, flavorful dish.

Serving Suggestions

This 30-Minute Black Pepper Chicken is perfect when paired with steamed rice, quinoa, or a vegetable medley. The slightly sweet and spicy sauce is perfect for soaking into rice, making it a delicious and satisfying meal. For a low-carb or keto-friendly option, serve it with cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.

The dish also pairs well with a light salad, such as a simple cucumber or Asian-style slaw, to add a refreshing contrast to the rich, savory flavors of the chicken. For those who enjoy extra heat, you can sprinkle some chili flakes or sliced fresh chilies on top for added spice.

Nutritional Benefits

This dish is a great source of lean protein, with about 27 grams of protein per serving, making it filling and satisfying. The chicken is paired with fresh vegetables, which provide vitamins and fiber, contributing to a well-rounded meal. With only 15 grams of carbohydrates and 2 grams of fiber, it’s a relatively low-carb option that fits well into a variety of dietary plans, including keto and low-carb diets.

The use of peanut or vegetable oil adds healthy fats to the dish, with about 10 grams of fat per serving, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. The peppery sauce is rich in flavor but doesn’t contain added sugars or unnecessary calories, making this a flavorful yet nutritious meal.

Conclusion

30-Minute Black Pepper Chicken is a quick, flavorful, and versatile dish that brings the bold flavors of takeout right to your home kitchen. With tender chicken, a rich, peppery sauce, and the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors, it’s an easy-to-make meal that’s both satisfying and delicious. Whether you serve it with rice, quinoa, or vegetables, this dish is sure to become a favorite in your weeknight dinner rotation. With its balance of protein, vegetables, and flavor, it’s a meal that everyone will love, and it can be ready in just 30 minutes!