Sichuan-Style Black Pepper Chicken Stir-Fry

After sharing my favorite black pepper sauce, I found myself constantly seeking new ways to incorporate it into my meals. This tender and perfectly balanced chicken stir-fry has completely changed my takeout experience. Let’s dive into making a delicious chicken stir-fry that is juicy, savory, tender, and bursting with the robust flavor of black pepper. The best part? It can be prepared in just 20 minutes!

black pepper chicken

In this recipe, I use butter alongside the black pepper sauce, which enhances the chicken’s flavor significantly.

black pepper chicken

Step by Step Instructions

The first step in preparing this stir-fry is to marinate the chicken. Proper marination is crucial for ensuring the chicken remains tender and juicy.

Begin by adding salt, pepper, and soy sauce to the chicken. Mix thoroughly. Next, combine starch with water and coat the chicken with this mixture. Initially, the starch may not adhere well, so keep mixing until it absorbs the water completely.

Finally, it’s essential to add some cooking oil to ensure each piece of chicken is coated. This will help prevent them from sticking together or to the bottom of the wok.

marinating chicken

Now, let’s prepare the black pepper sauce. Heat about 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a pot. Add garlic and onion, sautéing them over low heat until they soften. Then, stir in freshly ground black pepper, followed by the butter and either stock or water. Allow the mixture to simmer for about a minute to let the flavors meld together.

Next, pour in the starch water and continue heating until the sauce thickens to your liking.

black pepper sauce

Cooking the Chicken: Add oil to a pan and sauté the garlic until fragrant. Push the chicken to the edges of the pan and add the onion and chili peppers. Pour in the black pepper sauce, mixing everything well, and serve hot.

frying the chicken

My preferred way to enjoy this black pepper chicken is with steamed rice, but it also pairs wonderfully with noodles.

black pepper chicken
black pepper chicken
  • ½ red bell pepper cut into shreds
  • 3 tbsp. vegetable cooking oil for stir fry
  • 1 green pepper cut into shreds
  • ¼ onion cut into shreds
  • 2 garlic cloves cut into slices

Black Pepper Sauce

  • 2 tbsp. vegetable cooking oil
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • ¼ onion minced
  • tsp. salt
  • ½ tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tbsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tbsp. light soy sauce + 1 tsp. dark soy sauce
  • ½ tbsp. butter
  • 1 cup water or beef stock
  • 1 tbsp. oyster sauce
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch + 2 tbsp. water

Marinate Chicken

  • Add salt, pepper, and soy sauce to the chicken. Mix well. Then, mix the starch with water and coat the chicken with this mixture.

  • The final step is crucial: add some cooking oil and ensure each piece of chicken is coated.

Make Black Pepper Sauce

  • Mix the starch with water.

  • Add oil and sauté garlic and onion until soft over low heat. Stir in freshly ground black pepper, then add butter and stock or water. Let it simmer for about a minute to blend the flavors.

Fry Chicken

  • Add oil and sauté garlic until fragrant. Push the chicken to the edges of the pan and add onion and chili peppers. Pour in the black pepper sauce.

  • Mix everything thoroughly and serve hot.

black pepper chicken stir fry

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