Hunan Chicken is a favorite Asian American recipe for dinner. This Easy Chicken Stir Fry with veggies and sauces is a perfect weeknight dinner recipe. This is a spicy Chicken recipe and tastes excellent with some steamed Jasmine rice or noodles.

Hunan Chicken is one of the spiciest Asian Chicken recipes. Other favorite Asian recipes which I love are General Tso's Chicken or Sweet and Sour Chicken or Mongolian Chicken or Grilled Teriyaki Chicken or Kung Pao Chicken or Chinese Chilli Chicken or Sesame Chicken or Chinese Lemon Chicken
Hunan Chicken is one of my favorite Asian takeout recipes. You can easily make this delicious Chinese recipe at home and enjoy it with your family. I love to make Asian food recipes for dinner. My kids especially love Asian food recipes for dinner. Also, try these favorite takeout recipes like Honey Bourbon Shrimp or Thai Peanut Lime Shrimp Curry or Honey Bourbon Chicken in Crockpot or Sweet and Sour Chicken Meatballs or Thai Sweet Chili Chicken or Orange Chicken or Firecracker Chicken Meatballs or Honey Sriracha Chicken or Honey Garlic Chicken

This Hunan Chicken recipe is one of our favorites. It's surely spicy but for a spicy food lover family like us, this is surely a special recipe. It's full of flavors!!!
🍱 What is Hunan Chicken made of?
Hunan Chicken is a popular Chinese takeout recipe made using crispy fried Chicken which is stir-fried with veggies. This dish originated in the Hunan Province of China and has been one of the most loved Chinese recipes all across the globe.
🥫 What does Hunan Sauce taste like?
The Hunan Sauce is made using Soy Sauce, Oyster Sauce, Cornstarch, and Chili Paste (Sambal Olek). This is spicy chili paste which is typically used in Hunan Chicken. Is this spicy chili paste that makes Hunan Chicken taste so spicy?
What is the Difference Between Hunan Chicken and Schezawn Chicken?
Hunan Chicken is spicier as compared to Schezwan Chicken. Hunan Chicken used Chili Paste which is generally made using fresh chilis. So it's super spicy and hot
Whereas, Schezwan Chicken is made using Dried Red Peppers and Sichuan Peppercorns. So the Schezwan sauce is milder but is a bit tangy.
Also, Hunan Chicken is basically a stir fry of chicken and veggies. Whereas in Schezwan Chicken no veggies are added.
Hunan Chicken doesn't include any nuts or toppings whereas Schezwan Chicken is topped with Toasted Sesame Seeds or sometimes Peanuts or Cashew Nuts.
Jump to:
- 🍱 What is Hunan Chicken made of?
- 🥫 What does Hunan Sauce taste like?
- What is the Difference Between Hunan Chicken and Schezawn Chicken?
- 🥘 Ingredients
- 👩🍳 How to make Chinese Hunan Chicken stir fry
- 📝 Substitutions to Chicken Stir Fry with Veggies
- Chicken Stir Fry Storage
- 🥘 Make-Ahead
- 💯 Top tips to make Hunan Chicken
- 🥗 Serving Sides
- FAQs:
- Hunan Chicken Vs General Tso's Chicken
- Hunan Chicken Vs Kung Pao Chicken
- Is Hunan Chicken Spicier than Kung Pao Chicken?
- Hunan Chicken Vs Schezwan Chicken
- Is Hunan or Schezwan Better?
- Hunan Chicken Vs Mongolian Chicken
- 📝 Recipe
- Hunan Chicken
🥘 Ingredients

Hunan Sauce
- Garlic (minced)
- Chili Paste (sambal Olek)
- Soy Sauce
- Oyster Sauce
- Rice Wine Vinegar
- Honey
- Cornstarch
- Chicken Broth
Hunan Chicken
- Chicken (diced)
- Cornstarch
- Salt & Pepper
- Canola Oil (to cook the chicken)
- Red Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- Yellow Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- Green Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- Zucchini (sliced)
- Chopped Green Beans
- Carrot (thinly sliced)
- Baby Corn (drained and thinly sliced)
See recipe card for quantities. Also, watch the video for a quick visual.
👩🍳 How to make Chinese Hunan Chicken stir fry
STEP 1: COOK THE CHICKEN
- Toss the Chicken Cubes with Cornstarch, salt and pepper
- Heat Canola Oil in a skillet. As the oil shimmers, add the Chicken and cook over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes (per side)
- Once the Chicken gets cooked, remove from the skillet

STEP 2: COOK THE VEGGIES
- Add the veggies to the skillet and cook until they tenderize
STEP 3: ADD THE SAUCE
- Add the sauces, cornstarch and Chicken Broth
- Toss to combine
- Cook over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes
- Serve hot with steamed rice or noodles.

Remember to not overcook the veggies. They should remain crispy. So keep the heat on high all the while.
Hint: Cook the Chicken in batches. If you want you can make this spicer by adding more chili paste. The mentioned quantity will account for a mildly spicy Hunan Chicken.

📝 Substitutions to Chicken Stir Fry with Veggies
- Sriracha - If you do not have Sambal Olek, then You can replace it with Sriracha. However, it won't be as spicy
- Oyster Sauce - if you donot have Oyster sauce, replace it with Hoisin Sauce. (However this will make the sauce sweeter, but is a great replacement when in a pinch)
- Beef - Replace Chicken with Beef to make spicy Hunan Beef.
Easy stir fry dinner recipes
- Honey Mustard Chicken Stir Fry
- Sweet and Sour Teriyaki Cauliflower Chicken Stir Fry
- Chinese Broccoli Tofu Stir Fry
- Asian Cashew Chicken [Better Than Takeout]
Chicken Stir Fry Storage
You can cook Hunan Chicken. Cool it down to room temperature and store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 1 week. You can also freeze this for up to 3 months

🥘 Make-Ahead
You can make the Hunan Sauce in advance and refrigerate this for up to 1 week. You can also precook the Chicken, double wrap it with foil and cellophane, and freeze this.
💯 Top tips to make Hunan Chicken
- Donot overcrowd the skillet while cooking the Chicken. Cook the Chicken in batches so that they crisp evenly.
- Donot overcook the veggies. The veggies should be crunchy. So cook the veggies on high heat and only for 3-4 minutes
- Be very careful while using Hot Sambal Olek Chili Paste. Wash your hands after using it. Donot touch your eyes or other body parts after using it as it might cause burn and itching.
- Be very careful while cooking the Chicken as a lot of hot oil will spatter while cooking it. So, you might want to cover and then cook the chicken so that it cooks at an even temperature and the splattering of oil is limited to the skillet.
- You can make the Hunan Sauce in a mixing jar and pour it to the skillet
🥗 Serving Sides
This is best served with Jasmine Rice or Asian Coconut Rice. You can also serve with cooked Rice noodles or Udon Noodles or Spicy Schezwan Noodles or Instant Pot Sesame Noodles (10-minutes) {Takeout Style} or Black Pepper Noodles or Miso Sesame Udon Noodles Stir Fry or Easy Lo Mein Noodles or Spicy Ramen Noodles Stir Fry with Vegetables
Also, serve this with Asian Cucumber Red Onion Salad with Garlic Vinegar Dressing or Creamy Cucumber Red Onion Salad with Dill and Sourcream
OTHER ASIAN RECIPES
- Crockpot Chicken Thigh Recipe with Asian Glaze
- Ginger Sesame Chicken Meatballs | Asian Chicken Meatballs
- Sticky Asian Hoisin Chicken Drumsticks
- Chinese Chilli Chicken Recipe - Asian Chilli Chicken
- Asian Cashew Chicken [Better Than Takeout]
- Korean Fried Chicken Recipe
- Kung Pao Chicken
- Peanut Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe
- Sesame Chicken (Like a Chinese Restaurant)
FAQs:
Hunan Chicken Vs General Tso's Chicken
Hunan Chicken is spicier as compared to General Tso's Chicken. This is made using Sambal Olek (Chili Paste) and hence is spicier as opposed to General Tso's Chicken which is generally a bit sweet.
Hunan Chicken Vs Kung Pao Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken has a very mild taste to it. The only thing spicy in Kung Pao Chicken is the Sichuan Peppercorns and Dried Red Chilis. However is you compare Hunan Chicken Vs Kung Pao Chicken, the latter is way mild in terms of the level of spice.
Is Hunan Chicken Spicier than Kung Pao Chicken?
Yes, absolutely! Hunan Chicken is spicier because of the Chili Paste (Sambal Olek) which is used in making the Hunan Sauce. Kung Pao Chicken is not too spicy. It's like a basic stir fry. The only heat is because of the Dried Red Peppers and Dried Sichuan Peppercorns.
Hunan Chicken Vs Schezwan Chicken
Hunan Chicken and Schezwan Chicken are both spicy Asian Chicken Recipes. However, if you compare the two, Hunan Chicken is definitely spicier. Hunan Chicken is generally dry with loads of veggies and crispy chicken but is just too spicy.
Whereas Schezwan Chicken is has a hint of sweet and tangy flavor to it. However, it too is spicy and has a numbing effect on your mouth.
Is Hunan or Schezwan Better?
If you want to know in terms of taste, then Schezwan is better because it has a wholesome taste to it. However, if you love extremely spicy food, then you will love Hunan Chicken better.
Hunan Chicken Vs Mongolian Chicken
Mongolian Chicken is one of the sweetest Chinese American recipes out there. Yes, there can be no comparison between Hunan Chicken and Mongolian Chicken because both taste totally different. Mongolian Chicken sauce is made with Soy Sauce, Chicken Broth, Brown Sugar, and Cornstarch. It's the Brown Sugar here which makes this Mongolian Chicken taste sweet.
I hope you liked this recipe and shall make it soon. If you happen to make this recipe, then comment below and rate this recipe. Also, tag me with #recipemagik On Instagram.
📝 Recipe
Hunan Chicken
INGREDIENTS
Hunan Sauce
- 4 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoon Chili Paste (sambal Olek)
- 2 tablespoon Soy Sauce
- 2½ tablespoon Oyster Sauce
- 2 teaspoon Rice Wine Vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1 cup Chicken Broth
Hunan Chicken
- 1 lbs Chicken (diced)
- 1 tablespoon Cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon Salt & Pepper
- 2 tablespoon Canola Oil (to cook the chicken)
- 1 medium sized Red Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- 1 medium sized Yellow Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- 1 medium sized Green Bell Pepper (cored, seeded, and thinly sliced)
- 1 medium sized Zucchini (sliced)
- ½ cup Chopped Green Beans
- 1 medium sized Carrot (thinly sliced)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Coat the chicken cubes with Cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Heat Canola Oil in a skillet. As the oil shimmers, add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes (per side) until golden brown. You might want to cook the chicken in batches so as to not overcrowd the skillet while cooking them. Once the chicken gets cooked, remove it from the skillet
- In the same pan, add the chopped veggies and cook over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes so that the veggies tenderize.
- Add all the sauces, cornstarch, and minced garlic to the sauteed veggies. Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet. Toss to combine. Cook over medium-low heat for 2-3 min. Serve immediately.
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