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This Chinese-inspired Chicken in Garlic Sauce is a quick and flavorful dish perfect for busy weeknights. With crispy chicken, a tangy garlic sauce, and vibrant veggies, this dish is a satisfying meal in just 30 minutes. It’s a great homemade alternative to takeout, customizable to your heat preference and perfect over rice.

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

1½ lbs boneless chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces)
2 tbsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp neutral cooking oil (canola or vegetable oil)

For the Aromatics & Veggies:

4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 tbsp fresh ginger (minced)
1 red bell pepper (sliced)
4 green onions (chopped)

For the Garlic Sauce:

3 tbsp dark soy sauce
½ cup chicken broth
2 tbsp rice vinegar
1½ tbsp light brown sugar (or honey)
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp sriracha (optional)
¼ cup water
½ tsp black pepper

Directions

Prepare the Sauce:
In a small bowl, whisk together dark soy sauce, chicken broth, rice vinegar, brown sugar, sesame oil, sriracha, water, and black pepper. Set aside.
Marinate & Coat the Chicken:
Place the chicken pieces in a bowl. Add dark soy sauce and cornstarch, tossing to coat evenly.
Cook the Chicken:
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken in batches, cooking for 3 minutes per side until golden and crispy. Remove the chicken and drain excess oil, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
Cook the Aromatics:
Add garlic and ginger to the skillet. Sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Finish the Dish:
Return the chicken to the skillet along with sliced red bell pepper and chopped green onions. Pour in the prepared garlic sauce and toss everything to coat. Let it simmer for a couple of minutes until the sauce thickens.
Serve:
Serve the chicken in garlic sauce hot over rice.

Nutrients

Calories: 365 kcal
Carbohydrates: 20g
Protein: 29g
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 4g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 135mg
Sodium: 1040mg
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 7g

The Importance of Crispy Chicken in Garlic Sauce

At the heart of this dish lies the crispy chicken, which provides both texture and flavor. By coating the chicken pieces in a light cornstarch mixture and frying them until golden brown, you achieve a satisfying crunch that contrasts perfectly with the tender chicken. This crispy exterior helps the chicken absorb the garlic sauce without losing its texture, making every bite a delightful experience.

The dark soy sauce in the marinade adds depth and color to the chicken, infusing it with a rich umami flavor that balances beautifully with the sweetness of the sauce. It’s this combination of crispy and juicy chicken, paired with the savory garlic sauce, that makes this dish a standout.

Aromatic Ingredients: Garlic, Ginger, and Veggies

The garlic and ginger in this dish are essential to creating the vibrant, aromatic flavors that define it. Garlic provides a pungent, savory foundation, while ginger adds a touch of spice and warmth. Sautéing these two ingredients in the pan brings out their fragrant oils, creating a mouth-watering aroma that fills the kitchen.

The red bell pepper and green onions contribute both color and crunch to the dish. The bell pepper adds a hint of sweetness, while the green onions provide a mild, fresh flavor that contrasts with the richness of the sauce. These vegetables don’t just add texture—they also enhance the overall flavor profile of the dish, offering a balance of sweetness and freshness.

The Garlic Sauce: The Heart of the Dish

The garlic sauce is the most important element of this recipe, bringing together the flavors of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and brown sugar. The dark soy sauce adds a deep, umami flavor, while the rice vinegar provides a tangy contrast that cuts through the richness. The brown sugar (or honey) adds a touch of sweetness, balancing the tanginess of the vinegar and the saltiness of the soy sauce.

Sesame oil adds a nutty aroma that complements the other ingredients, giving the sauce a richness that coats the chicken and vegetables beautifully. For those who like a little heat, sriracha is optional, adding just the right amount of spiciness to elevate the dish. The sauce is simple yet packed with complex flavors, making it the perfect complement to the crispy chicken and veggies.

Customizing the Heat Level

One of the best things about this Chinese-inspired dish is that it’s fully customizable to your preferred spice level. The recipe includes sriracha for an optional spicy kick, but you can easily adjust the heat by adding more or less sriracha. For those who enjoy a milder version, simply omit the sriracha altogether or substitute it with a touch of chili paste or fresh red chili for a more subtle heat.

Alternatively, if you prefer a spicier dish, feel free to increase the amount of sriracha or add additional chili flakes to the sauce. The versatility of this recipe makes it easy to tailor to your taste, ensuring everyone at the table can enjoy it to their liking.

Quick and Easy: A Perfect Weeknight Meal

What makes this Chicken in Garlic Sauce stand out is how quickly it comes together. In just 30 minutes, you can prepare a dish that’s full of flavor and texture, making it an ideal option for busy weeknights when you’re craving something tasty but don’t have the time for a complicated recipe. The chicken is quickly marinated, fried until crispy, and then combined with the sautéed aromatics and garlic sauce.

The vegetables are added toward the end, ensuring that they retain their color and crunch, adding freshness to the dish without overcooking. This means that the entire meal is ready in less time than it would take to get takeout, yet it’s packed with homemade flavor that’s far superior to anything you’d find in a takeout box.

Serving Suggestions: Perfect Over Rice

While this dish is delicious on its own, serving it over rice is a great way to round out the meal. The rice acts as a base that soaks up the rich, flavorful garlic sauce, making every bite even more satisfying. You can opt for white rice, brown rice, or even cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.

To complete the meal, consider pairing it with a simple side salad or steamed vegetables. The freshness of the salad or the added veggies will provide a nice contrast to the richness of the chicken and sauce, making for a well-balanced and complete meal.

Nutritional Information: A Well-Balanced Dish

Chinese-Inspired Chicken in Garlic Sauce is not only delicious but also a fairly well-balanced dish. With 365 calories per serving, it offers a good amount of protein (29 grams) from the chicken, which is the main source of nourishment in this dish. The carbohydrates (20 grams) come primarily from the rice or noodles it’s served with, making it a great option for those seeking a hearty meal without excessive calories.

The fats in this dish (18 grams) come from the cooking oil and sesame oil, providing healthy fats that add flavor and help keep the meal satisfying. While the dish is moderate in fat, it contains no trans fats and provides a decent amount of unsaturated fats, which are better for heart health. Additionally, the garlic sauce contains a touch of sugar, but this can be adjusted to your preference, offering flexibility for those watching their sugar intake.

Conclusion

Chinese-Inspired Chicken in Garlic Sauce is a quick, flavorful, and customizable dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights or any time you’re craving takeout-quality food at home. With crispy chicken, a tangy garlic sauce, and vibrant vegetables, it delivers a satisfying, well-rounded meal that’s full of flavor. Whether you enjoy it mild or spicy, this dish is versatile and can be adjusted to your preferences.

What makes this recipe stand out is its simplicity and speed. In just 30 minutes, you can create a delicious, restaurant-quality meal that’s perfect for serving over rice and sharing with family or friends. The balance of savory, sweet, and spicy elements in the sauce, paired with the tender chicken and crunchy veggies, makes this a dish that’s sure to become a household favorite.

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