Authentic Sichuan Kung Pao Chicken

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-30 · Updated 2026-03-30

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A fiery Sichuan dish with tender chicken, crispy peanuts, and a numbing Sichuan peppercorn sauce. This Chinese-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chicken breast, dried Sichuan peppercorns, dried red chilies for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 20 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Chinese cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

400g chicken breast
1 tbsp dried Sichuan peppercorns
8 dried red chilies
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp peanut oil
100g peanuts
1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

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Instructions

Step 1: Cut chicken breast into 1-inch cubes and marinate in 1 tbsp soy sauce and 1 tsp cornstarch for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp peanut oil in a wok over high heat. Add 3 dried chilies and 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns, stir-fry until fragrant and slightly charred (about 30 seconds).
Step 3: Add chicken cubes and stir-fry for 4-5 minutes until nearly cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.
Step 4: In the same wok, add 1 tbsp peanut oil, 1 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp water. Bring to a simmer, then stir in 100g crushed peanuts and 1 tbsp sesame seeds until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
Step 5: Return chicken to the wok, toss to coat in the sauce, and serve immediately with steamed rice.