Delicious Hunan Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Recipe

Delicious plate of Hunan chicken stir fry served with jasmine rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Hunan Chicken Stir Fry with Rice

I’d never heard of Hunan Chicken before, and honestly, I kept reading it as "Human" chicken – definitely not right! But once I looked over the ingredient list, I knew I had to make it. It combines the bold flavors of low-sodium soy sauce, oyster sauce, garlic, ginger, and gochujang – and it all comes together with honey for a perfectly balanced sauce. It’s got the perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and savory goodness all in one bite!

My first bite left me speechless, aside from a delighted "yum"! The flavors are so pronounced with a definite spice kick. I've had oyster sauce before (and I don't like seafood) and it doesn't taste like seafood at all. Having the chicken with a side of stir fry vegetables and rice balanced out the heat and offered more flavor that I couldn't resist.

• Family-Friendly: YES, my teen, fiancé and I all ate our plates clean
• Difficulty Level: Easy/Intermediate
• Best Served With: A side of frozen stir fry vegetables, jasmine rice, and topped with sesame seeds. Pair it with a fresh salad or extra stir-fried veggies for a more hearty meal
• Total Cook Time: Less than 20 minutes

What is Hunan Chicken?

Hunan Chicken is inspired by the flavors of the Hunan province in China, known for its bold and spicy cuisine. This dish brings a fiery, flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with tender chicken and vegetables. With tender chicken, crispy vegetables, and a perfectly balanced sauce, it's a well-rounded meal that satisfies every craving. Hunan cuisine is known for its bold flavors and liberal use of chili peppers, making it a fan favorite for spice lovers.

Why You Will Love This Hunan Chicken Recipe

It may have an interesting name, but it's a very flavorful and filling dish. Jace compared this recipe to hibachi chicken but I thought it had more flavor and spice than traditional hibachi. The flavor is like nothing I've ever experienced before and that's why I think you will love it – if you like to try new meal ideas and you enjoy international cuisines, this is the one for you.

It's fairly simple (don't let the long ingredient list scare you) with a total cook time of less than 20 minutes. If you have more time during the week or the weekend, I would definitely make this recipe. The chicken is tender and perfectly cooked and has a great balance of flavor. This recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners, but also impressive enough for weekend guests – a true crowd-pleaser!

If You Enjoy Quick Asian-inspired Dishes

If you love Asian-inspired meals and easy stir fry recipes like we do, you may also want to try:
Healthy Beef Lettuce Wraps
Easy Chicken Hibachi Bowl
Easy Chicken Lo Mein

Ingredients for Hunan Chicken Stir Fry with Rice

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission if you purchase using any of my links. For more information, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

• 1/2 cup water (or chicken broth)
• *3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
• *2 tbsp oyster sauce
• 2 tbsp gochujang
• 1 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp cornstarch (for the sauce)
• 1/4 cup cornstarch (for the chicken)
• 1 tbsp ground ginger
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1–2 cups frozen stir fry vegetables
• 1 cup jasmine rice
• *Sesame seeds for topping
• 1–2 tbsp olive oil

Note: If you don’t want your chicken to be spicy, you can reduce or omit the gochujang.

Prepared ingredients for Hunan chicken recipe, including soy sauce, gochujang, and chicken

How to Make Hunan Chicken Stir Fry (Step-by-Step)

✓ Step #1: Make the sauce
In a bowl, combine and whisk together all of the sauce ingredients: water, soy sauce, oyster sauce, gochujang, rice vinegar, honey, cornstarch, ground ginger, and garlic powder.

Whisked homemade sauce for Hunan chicken stir fry

✓ Step #2: Prepare the vegetables
Spray a frying pan with PAM or cooking spray and cook the vegetables according to the bag directions. I cooked ours for about 7–8 minutes on medium-high. Remove and add to a separate plate.

Stir fry vegetables ready to be added to the Hunan chicken dish

✓ Step #3: Cook the chicken
Cut the chicken into small pieces and add them to a bowl. Add in the 1/4 cup of cornstarch and toss until all pieces are evenly coated. In the same frying pan, add 1–2 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat and add the chicken. Top with more garlic powder and ground ginger. Cook for about 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through.

Cooking chicken pieces for Hunan chicken stir fry in a frying pan

✓ Step #4: Add the sauce
Pour the Hunan sauce into the pan with the chicken and stir often for about two minutes until the sauce thickens.

Hunan chicken and bubbling sauce on the stove.

✓ Step #5: Serve immediately
Serve the chicken with stir fry vegetables and jasmine rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and enjoy!

Hunan chicken stir fry with rice and vegetables ready to eat

Storage & Reheating Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4–5 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave for 2 minutes or until heated through, stirring halfway for even heating.

The vegetables may soften slightly after reheating, but the flavor will still be just as delicious.

What Did You Think?

Did you make this Hunan Chicken Stir Fry? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

✓ Share this recipe with family and friends
✓ Tag @abbiefisher0202 on Instagram with your creations
✓ Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save for later
✓ Leave a review or rating to help others find and love this recipe too

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Easy Slow Cooker Potato Soup with Bacon & Cream Cheese (Perfect for Fall & Winter)

Image
Slow Cooker Potato Soup Recipe With Fall and Winter quickly approaching, there’s nothing better than a warm, comforting bowl of creamy crockpot soup. This easy slow cooker potato soup with bacon is an easy recipe and uses simple ingredients like frozen hash browns, bacon bits, and cream cheese. This slow cooker potato soup recipe is kid-friendly, easy to customize, and perfect for busy weeknights or those cool, rainy days. Here's What Some Readers Had to Say "Just wanted to let you know that this is my family's favorite potato soup recipe!" "I have been cooking and taking meals to my in-laws on the weekends for awhile now. This was an easy recipe to make and take - travels well. It hits the spot - delicious, creamy, cheesy, and comforting. They appreciated it. I now have a go-to potato soup recipe! Thank you, Pam" "It looks good enough...lovely recipe share" Recipe Details Total cook time: 6-7 hours on low, 4-5 hours on high ...
Read more

How to Make a Healthy Iced Matcha Latte

Image
How to Make a Healthy Iced Matcha Latte This recipe is another one that was voted "yes" on to make by my Instagram followers, and, to be honest, I was looking forward to making this. My nutritionist has been suggesting different types of drinks to have so I can transition from my Coke Zero that I love so much. Unfortunately, I have come to realize that I don't like matcha. But you know who does? My 14-year-old. So I made this for him and he loved it. He initially rated it an 8/10 and then as he drank more, he said it got better and we ended with a 9.5/10 with him saying that he would make that again. • Difficulty Level: Easy • Serving size: 1 serving • Total cook time: 5 minutes • Family friendly: Yes! My teen loved it! Why You Will Love This Iced Matcha This recipe is super easy to make. We adjusted it a few times to make it sweeter and to tone down the matcha flavor. It's the perfect afternoon drink to get you t...
Read more

Crispy Korean Chicken Wings (Air Fryer, Double-Fried, Sweet & Spicy)

Image
Korean Chicken Wings If you are looking for chicken wings that are sweet, spicy and salty, with a crispy outside due to a double fry, and tender inside, these are the wings for you! Initially I purchased an 8-pack of chicken wings, thinking we would have 2–3 each and be good. Oh no. We ALL wanted seconds, and thirds. We are making this recipe again in the next week and I bought two of the 8-packs. I thought these would be too spicy for me since it uses gochujang (which is actually starting to become one of my favorite ingredients!) but nope—perfect spice, perfect saltiness, perfect amount of crisp to tender. • Difficulty Level: Intermediate • Serving size: 3 servings • Total cook time: Less than 30 minutes • Family friendly: YES! My entire family wanted seconds and thirds Why You Will Love These Korean Chicken Wings These may seem like your average wings, but they aren't at ALL. They are double fried in the air fryer and then d...
Read more