Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili
A fiery Chinese stir-fry featuring thinly sliced pork tossed with garlic, dried chili, and Sichuan peppercorns for a bold, numbing heat. This chinese-inspired pork ready in about 25 minutes pairs thinly sliced pork tenderloin, vegetable oil, Sichuan peppercorns for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 3, 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.
Ingredients
- 12 oz, thinly sliced pork tenderloin
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 8 whole, broken into pieces dried red chilies
- 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 2, sliced on the diagonal scallions
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Step 1: In a bowl, toss 12 oz thinly sliced pork tenderloin with 1 tsp cornstarch, 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine, and 1/2 tsp salt. Set aside for 10 minutes to marinate.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add 1 tsp Sichuan peppercorns and 8 dried red chilies broken into pieces, stir-frying for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 3: Add 4 minced garlic cloves and 1 tbsp minced ginger, stir-frying for 20 seconds until aromatic.
- Step 4: Increase heat to high and add the marinated pork slices in a single layer. Stir-fry for 3-4 minutes until the pork is browned and cooked through.
- Step 5: Pour in 2 tbsp soy sauce and sprinkle 1 tsp sugar over the pork. Toss everything together for 1 minute until the sauce thickens slightly and coats the meat.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and stir in 2 sliced scallions before serving immediately with steamed rice.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili take to make?
Total time is about 25 minutes (15 min prep + 10 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep thinly sliced pork tenderloin from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 3 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 3). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Sichuan-Style Stir-Fried Pork with Garlic and Chili?
Chinese pork like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
