Mongolian Chicken Recipe Sweet and Savory Perfection

Succulent mongolian chicken bursts with flavors that dance across your taste buds like a culinary adventure.

Tender meat becomes the star of this delightful dish.

Soy sauce and brown sugar create a perfectly balanced glaze that clings to each morsel.

Chefs appreciate how quickly this meal comes together in one skillet.

Home cooks can easily master these bold, zesty flavors without complicated techniques.

Crispy green onions add a fresh crunch that complements the rich sauce.

Savor every bite and let this recipe become your new weeknight favorite.

What’s So Special About This Mongolian Chicken

• Delivers a sweet and slightly spicy taste that appeals to both kids and adults, making it a crowd-pleasing option for family dinners.
• Requires minimal cooking skills with basic steps like coating chicken, frying, and tossing in sauce- even beginner cooks can master this recipe with ease.
• Easily pair with steamed rice, noodles, or vegetables, allowing you to customize the meal according to your family's preferences and dietary needs.

What You’ll Need for Sweet-Savory Mongolian Chicken

• Chicken: Tender meat that forms the base of the dish, best with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts for even cooking.
• Cornstarch: Creates a crispy golden coating on chicken, helps sauce stick better.

• Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar: Provides sweet and savory base flavor, balances each other perfectly.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Adds subtle heat and spiciness to the dish.
• Garlic, Ginger: Aromatic ingredients that enhance overall flavor profile, fresh is always better.

• Green Onions, Sesame Seeds: Adds fresh, bright flavor and visual appeal, green onions provide a mild onion crunch and sesame seeds offer nutty texture.

Cooking Steps for Tender and Tasty Results

Step 1: Prepare Crispy Chicken Coating

• Cornstarch
• Chicken pieces

Toss chicken in cornstarch, ensuring each piece is completely covered. Gently shake off extra powder for a light, even coating.

Step 2: Sizzle and Golden Fry

Heat cooking oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Cook chicken pieces until they transform into golden, crunchy delights. Once perfectly crisp, transfer to a separate plate.

Step 3: Aromatic Flavor Base

In the same skillet, add minced garlic and grated ginger. Saute until the kitchen fills with an incredible fragrant aroma that makes mouths water.

Step 4: Create Magical Sauce

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Red pepper flakes

Keep stirring until sugar melts and sauce thickens into a glossy, tantalizing mixture.

Step 5: Reunite Chicken with Sauce

Return fried chicken to the skillet. Gently toss until each piece is luxuriously coated with the delectable sauce.

Step 6: Final Flavor Boost

Sprinkle sliced green onions into the skillet. Cook for another 1-2 minutes to blend flavors perfectly.

Step 7: Gorgeous Garnish

Scatter sesame seeds and extra green onions on top. Serve hot and watch everyone’s eyes light up!

Tips for That Signature Sticky Sauce

• Coat Evenly: Use a large bowl or ziplock bag to coat chicken pieces with cornstarch, ensuring complete and uniform coverage for maximum crispiness.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust red pepper flakes according to your heat tolerance, starting with a small amount and gradually increasing for personalized flavor.
• Perfect Sauce Consistency: Simmer sauce until it slightly thickens but remains glossy, stirring constantly to prevent burning and achieve ideal texture.
• Crispy Chicken Technique: Pat chicken dry before coating with cornstarch and use high heat to create a crunchy exterior while keeping the inside tender.
• Boost Flavor Depth: Consider adding a splash of rice vinegar or sesame oil to the sauce for extra complexity and authentic Mongolian-style taste.

Best Way to Store and Reheat Mongolian Chicken

• Store leftover Mongolian chicken in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Warm chicken in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water or broth to prevent drying. Stir occasionally until heated through, about 3-5 minutes.
• Place chicken in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel. Heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each, until temperature reaches 165°F.
• Never refreeze previously thawed chicken to maintain food safety and prevent bacterial growth.

Side Ideas That Match This Dish

• Pair this zesty Mongolian chicken with jasmine rice for a perfect base that soaks up the delicious sauce.
• Choose a crisp, slightly sweet Riesling wine that balances the dish's spicy and savory notes, cutting through the richness.
• Serve alongside cool cucumber salad to provide a refreshing contrast to the warm, spicy chicken, creating a complete meal experience.
• Add crunchy roasted cashews or almonds as a side garnish to introduce an extra textural element that enhances the chicken's crispy coating.

Tweaks for More Heat or More Sweet

• Gluten-Free Version: Replace regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos to create a gluten-free alternative. Use cornstarch as a coating and thickener for a celiac-friendly meal.
• Vegetarian Option: Swap chicken with firm tofu or cauliflower florets. Press tofu to remove excess moisture and coat with cornstarch before frying for a similar crispy texture.
• Low-Carb Adaptation: Skip brown sugar and use a sugar-free sweetener like erythritol. Replace cornstarch coating with almond flour or crushed pork rinds for a keto-friendly version.
• Spicy Lovers' Variation: Increase red pepper flakes or add sriracha sauce for extra heat. Include diced jalapeños or hot chili oil to intensify the spice level for those who enjoy bold flavors.

Common Mongolian Chicken Questions

• Is cornstarch important for this recipe?

Cornstarch creates a crispy exterior on the chicken and helps the sauce cling better, ensuring each piece is perfectly coated with delicious flavor.

• Can I use a different meat instead of chicken?

Beef or pork work great as substitutes and will absorb the sauce similarly, maintaining the recipe’s core taste profile.

• How spicy is this Mongolian chicken?

The red pepper flakes provide a mild heat that adds warmth without overwhelming the dish. You can adjust the amount to suit your spice preference.

• Do I need fresh green onions for this recipe?

Fresh green onions add a bright, crisp flavor and beautiful color, but if unavailable, you can skip them without significantly impacting the overall taste of the dish.

Best Mongolian Chicken Recipe

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4.9 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Succulent Mongolian Chicken delivers an explosion of savory flavors that dance across palates with authentic Asian flair. Crispy tender chicken pieces glazed in a perfect balance of sweet and spicy sauce promise a delightful dining experience you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 500 g (1 lb) chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces

Coating and Seasoning:

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Sauce Ingredients:

• ½ cup low-sodium soy sauce
• ½ cup water
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water (for thickening)
• Chopped green onions
• Sesame seeds
• Red pepper flakes

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Instructions

1. Thoroughly coat chicken fragments with cornstarch, ensuring complete and even coverage while removing surplus powder.
2. Activate a large skillet or wok with hot oil at medium-high temperature, creating a sizzling cooking environment.
3. Carefully deposit chicken pieces into heated oil, transforming them into golden crispy morsels with delectable texture.
4. Extract perfectly cooked chicken fragments, transferring them to a separate holding plate.
5. Within the identical skillet, introduce minced aromatics like garlic and ginger, releasing their fragrant essence through gentle sautéing.
6. Pour liquid seasonings including soy sauce and incorporate brown sugar, stimulating a rich caramelization process.
7. Sprinkle red pepper flakes for subtle heat, continuously stirring until sauce develops a slightly thickened consistency.
8. Reintroduce crispy chicken pieces into the dynamic sauce, ensuring comprehensive and uniform coating.
9. Integrate sliced green onions, allowing them to meld with the existing flavors through brief additional cooking.
10. Provide final flourish by scattering sesame seeds and extra green onion slices, creating an visually appealing presentation.

Notes

• Cornstarch coating creates a crispy, golden exterior that locks in moisture and adds a delightful crunch to the chicken.
• Use high-heat oil like peanut or vegetable oil for optimal frying and achieving that perfect golden-brown color without burning.
• Adjust red pepper flakes to control spice level, making this dish adaptable for those who prefer mild or extra-hot flavors.
• For a healthier version, bake the cornstarch-coated chicken instead of frying, or swap chicken with tofu for a vegetarian alternative.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Mongolian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 420
• Sugar: 12 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg