Stir-Fried Szechuan Chicken with Toasted Sesame
Tender chicken pieces stir-fried with bold Szechuan peppercorns and toasted sesame seeds for a spicy, aromatic dish. This Chinese recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs boneless chicken thighs, Szechuan 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, cut into 1-inch pieces boneless chicken thighs
- 1 tsp, toasted and ground Szechuan peppercorns
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 4, minced garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp, minced ginger
- 6, whole dried red chilies
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 2, sliced into 1-inch pieces scallions
- 1 tsp, mixed with 1 tbsp water cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
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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: Heat 3 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok over high heat until shimmering. Add 4 minced garlic cloves, 1 tbsp minced ginger, and 6 dried red chilies. Stir-fry for 30 seconds until fragrant but not burnt.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb cut chicken thighs to the wok and stir-fry vigorously for 4-5 minutes until the chicken is lightly browned and nearly cooked through.
- Step 3: Stir in 3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp Shaoxing wine, 1 tsp brown sugar, and 1/4 cup water, cooking for 2 minutes until the sauce simmers.
- Step 4: Add 1 tsp ground toasted Szechuan peppercorns and 2 sliced scallions, stirring to combine.
- Step 5: Pour in the 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp water and stir continuously until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken, about 1 minute.
- Step 6: Remove from heat and sprinkle 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds over the dish before serving.








