Chinese Ginger Chicken Recipe

Name: Chinese Ginger Chicken
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1.5 lb chicken breast (skinless, boneless, cut into bite sized (680 g)); ¼ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 ½ teaspoon grated ginger; 1 garlic clove (minced); ¼ cup chopped green onions; ¼ cup chopped cilantro; ½ cup red bell pepper (diced (2.64 oz | 75 g)); 2 tablespoons peanut butter (creamy or crunchy); ⅓ cup roasted peanuts (crushed (1.76 oz | 50 g))

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This delicious Chinese Ginger Chicken recipe brings together marinated chunks of tender chicken with a savory ginger-infused peanut sauce. It’s a quick and easy stir-fry recipe that’s perfect for any night of the week.

Chicken stir fry in a white bowl with chopsticks.

This peanut ginger chicken stir fry is the ultimate go-to recipe for busy weeknights. Loaded with wonderfully bold flavors, it will make you forget all about ordering takeout from your favorite Chinese restaurant.

Trust me, this homemade version is so much better! Tender pieces of chicken, paired with the zesty kick of ginger, come together to create a super flavorful dish.

A touch of peanut butter adds a creamy and nutty flavor that gives the chicken the perfect balance of flavors and textures.

The best part? It only takes 30 minutes to prepare. This recipe proves you don’t have to spend hours in the kitchen to achieve restaurant-quality results.

If you love the convenience of easy stir fries, you’ll want to try this delicious Spicy Chicken Stir Fry, Pepper Steak, Chicken and Steak Stir Fry, or this collection of Weight Watchers Stir Fry Recipes.

This Chinese Mandarin Chicken is one of our latest favorites!

Why We Love This Ginger Chicken

Quick and easy: This Chinese Ginger Chicken is a delicious answer to busy weeknights. You’ll have dinner on the table in 30 minutes without a lot of fuss.
Irresistible flavors: The earthy, nutty flavors of peanut butter, the zesty ginger, and the saltiness of the soy sauce give the chicken an explosion of flavor.
Great for any occasion: Whether it’s a casual family dinner, a cozy date night, or a gathering with friends, this chicken stir fry is always a hit.

What You Need to Make Chinese Chicken

Chicken breasts, skinless, boneless, cut into bite-size pieces
Salt and ground black pepper
Olive oil
Soy sauce
Freshly grated ginger
Garlic clove, minced
Chopped green onions (spring onions)
Chopped cilantro
Red bell pepper, diced
Peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
Roasted peanuts, crushed

See the recipe card for the full list of ingredients to take to the grocery store as well as complete instructions for this dish.

Ginger Garlic Chicken Variations

We used regular sauce, but feel free to use light soy sauce if you prefer. You can also use dark soy, which has a thicker, darker, and slightly sweeter flavor.

Add other flavorful Asian sauces to the soy sauce mixture. A few drops of oyster sauce or hoisin sauce are a great way to amp up the flavor.

If you like a sweet sauce, you can add about a tablespoon of brown sugar to the sauce.

We use chicken breast, but you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead. Or, for a totally different take, you can swap out the chicken for thin slices of beef.

You can add other veggies like green onions, pepper mushrooms, snow peas, broccoli, or bean sprouts.

How to Make It

Step 1. Add the cubed chicken breast to a large bowl. Marinate with salt, pepper, oil, and soy sauce for 15 minutes.

Step 2. Heat a non-stick heavy skillet and sear the chicken pieces over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes.

Cooked pieces of cubed chicken in a black skillet.

Step 3. Add the grated fresh ginger, minced garlic, green onions, cilantro, and bell pepper.

Step 4. Stir and continue to cook the coated chicken over medium heat for 2 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown.

Step 5. Add creamy peanut butter and roasted peanuts.

Step 6. Garnish with cilantro, a squeeze of fresh lime juice, and sesame seeds (optional).

Step 7. Serve ginger chicken over a bed of fluffy white rice, jasmine rice, or Asian noodles.

Chicken stir fry in a white bowl with rice.

Recipe FAQs

How do I store leftover Chinese ginger chicken?

To store your leftovers, allow them to cool to room temperature before transferring them to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. You can also freeze this dish for up to a couple of months in a freezer-safe container.

How do I grate fresh ginger?

When you see a fresh piece of ginger, it can look a little intimidating to peel. For best results, use a spoon or a vegetable peeler to remove the brown skin. Then, use a fine grater, micro-plane, or the smallest holes on a box grater to grate it.

How can I add more sauce to this dish?

This recipe does not make an abundance of the savory sauce. If you want more to spoon over the rice, add a cooking liquid, like chicken stock, or just enough water to deglaze the pan. Keep in mind that you may want to add more seasoning if you adjust the liquids.

Can I just use ground ginger?

While fresh ginger is recommended for the best flavor, you can also use ground ginger. You’ll use about 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger for every tablespoon of fresh ginger.

Garlic Ginger Chicken Top Tips

Cut chicken evenly: Cut the chunks of chicken into similar sized pieces so that they’ll cook evenly.
Don’t over-chop cilantro: Remember to only pass through once when chopping cilantro. When you overly chop cilantro, it releases oils, which cause it to lose flavor.
Avoid marinating too long: Marinating for up to 30 minutes is great, but if you have more time, you can marinate for up to 2 hours. Any longer than that, and the chicken will begin to break down and get mushy.
Start rice first: To make sure your meal is done in 30 minutes, start your pot of rice right before starting the chicken. By the time the chicken is done, the rice will also be done.