Stir-Fried Sichuan Pepper Chicken with Toasted Sesame
A vibrant stir-fry featuring tender chicken pieces tossed with aromatic Sichuan peppercorns and toasted sesame seeds for a bold, numbing flavor. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, Sichuan peppercorns, toasted sesame seeds 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.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 3 stalks scallions, sliced
- 5 pieces dried red chilies
- 1 tsp brown sugar
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut 1 lb boneless chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces and toss with 1 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp soy sauce, and 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; let marinate for 15 minutes.
- Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering; add 1 tbsp Sichuan peppercorns and 5 dried red chilies, stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Step 3: Add the marinated chicken pieces to the wok and stir-fry for 5-6 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and edges start to crisp.
- Step 4: Stir in 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, and 3 sliced scallions; cook for 1-2 minutes until aromatic and slightly softened.
- Step 5: Add 1 tsp brown sugar and 1 tbsp soy sauce, tossing to coat the chicken evenly; cook for another minute until the sauce thickens and glazes the chicken.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and sprinkle 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds over the dish before serving warm.







