Black Pepper Chicken (Panda Express Copycat) | Plated by Dee
Black Pepper Chicken (Panda Express Copycat)
30 mins prepServes 4
An easy at-home version of the popular Black Pepper Chicken from Panda Express. This recipe features chicken thighs marinated in a flavorful sauce, then stir-fried with celery and onion, and finished with a generous amount of ground black pepper.
1. Chop 3 celery stalks thinly.
2. Chop one medium white onion.
3. Chop 6 boneless chicken thighs into 1-inch pieces. Place them in a bowl.
4. To the chicken, add 2-3 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 1 1/2 tbsp minced ginger, 3 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp sesame oil, and 1 tsp salt. Mix well and let marinate for 10-15 minutes.
5. In a large skillet, add 5-6 tbsp vegetable oil and heat it up.
6. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken and cook for about 4 minutes on each side. You may need to cook the chicken in batches; if so, set cooked chicken aside on a plate.
7. When all chicken is cooked, return it to the pan.
8. Add the chopped celery and onion to the pan with the cooked chicken. Stir for about 1-2 minutes until the vegetables soften a little.
9. Sprinkle ground black pepper and salt to taste on top (use freshly ground black pepper from a grinder, not powdered).
10. Stir and taste to ensure enough salt is added. Top with more ground black pepper if you desire an extra kick.
11. Enjoy with white rice or your preferred side.
