Description
Succulent black pepper chicken elevates home cooking with bold Asian-inspired flavors. Zesty spices and tender meat create a quick, satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) chicken breast, cubed
Vegetables:
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons black pepper, freshly ground
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Instructions
- Thoroughly coat chicken pieces with a robust blend of soy sauce, freshly ground black pepper, and cornstarch, ensuring complete coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Warm cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, carefully introducing marinated chicken and searing until each piece develops a golden-brown exterior, creating a crispy texture.
- Transfer browned chicken to a separate plate, maintaining its temperature and crispness.
- In the same skillet, quickly sauté minced garlic, sliced onions, and colorful bell peppers, releasing their aromatic essence and developing a rich base for the dish.
- Craft a dynamic sauce by whisking together chicken broth, oyster sauce, granulated sugar, and an additional sprinkle of black pepper, creating a harmonious blend of sweet and savory notes.
- Reintroduce the seared chicken to the skillet, gently pouring the prepared sauce over the ingredients and allowing everything to simmer for 3-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken beautifully.
- Plate the black pepper chicken immediately, presenting it alongside steamed rice or tender noodles for a complete and satisfying meal.
Notes
- Toast whole black peppercorns briefly before grinding to enhance their aromatic intensity and release deeper, more complex flavor notes.
- Use low-sodium soy sauce to control salt levels and prevent the dish from becoming overly salty, allowing the black pepper’s nuanced taste to shine.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular soy sauce with tamari and use cornstarch alternatives like arrowroot or potato starch to maintain the sauce’s silky texture.
- Slice chicken against the grain into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking and tender, juicy meat that absorbs marinade and seasonings more effectively.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg