Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for Chinese Black Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry — tender chicken coated in a savory, slightly spicy black pepper sauce with crisp veggies. It’s bold, aromatic, and ready in under 30 minutes!
🥢 Chinese Black Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry
🕒 Prep Time: 15 mins | Cook Time: 10 mins
Serves: 2–4
🧂 Ingredients:
For the Chicken:
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1 lb (450g) chicken breast or thigh, thinly sliced
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1 tbsp soy sauce
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1 tbsp Shaoxing wine (or dry sherry, optional)
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1 tsp cornstarch
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Pinch of white pepper
For the Stir-Fry:
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1 tbsp oil (vegetable or peanut oil)
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1 small onion, sliced
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1 green bell pepper, sliced
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1 red bell pepper, sliced
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2–3 cloves garlic, minced
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1-inch piece fresh ginger, minced
For the Black Pepper Sauce:
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2 tbsp oyster sauce
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1 tbsp soy sauce
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1 tbsp dark soy sauce (for color; optional)
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1 tbsp water or chicken broth
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1/2–1 tsp coarse black pepper, to taste
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1 tsp sugar
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1/2 tsp cornstarch (for thickening)
🔥 Instructions:
✅ 1. Marinate the Chicken:
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Combine chicken with soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, cornstarch, and white pepper.
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Let sit for 10–15 minutes while prepping other ingredients.
✅ 2. Mix the Sauce:
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In a small bowl, whisk together oyster sauce, soy sauces, water/broth, sugar, cornstarch, and black pepper.
✅ 3. Stir-Fry:
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Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat.
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Add chicken in a single layer. Sear undisturbed for 1–2 minutes, then stir-fry until browned and cooked through. Remove and set aside.
✅ 4. Cook the Veggies:
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In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed.
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Stir-fry onions, garlic, ginger, and bell peppers for 2–3 minutes until just tender-crisp.
✅ 5. Combine Everything:
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Return chicken to the pan.
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Pour in the black pepper sauce.
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Toss everything together for 1–2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.
🍚 Serve With:
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Steamed jasmine rice or fried rice
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Stir-fried noodles
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A side of bok choy or Chinese broccoli
🔄 Variations:
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Add mushrooms, snap peas, or baby corn.
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Use tofu instead of chicken for a vegetarian version.
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Like it spicier? Add a sliced chili or a dash of chili oil.
Want a meal-prep version, a low-sodium tweak, or a sheet pan version for the oven? Just say the word!