Black Pepper Chicken (Print Version)

Tender chicken with crunchy peppers in a bold black pepper sauce

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
03 - Salt to taste

→ Sauce

04 - 1 tbsp soy sauce
05 - 1 tbsp oyster sauce
06 - 1 tsp sugar
07 - 1 tbsp cornstarch
08 - 2 tbsp water

→ Vegetables & Aromatics

09 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
10 - 1 large onion, sliced
11 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
12 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
13 - Green onions, chopped for garnish

# How To:

01 - Combine chicken pieces with freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Let marinate for at least 15 minutes.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and stir-fry until browned but not fully cooked. Remove and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add sliced onion and green bell pepper. Sauté for 2–3 minutes until slightly softened.
04 - Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Return the chicken to the skillet. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sugar. Stir well to coat the chicken and vegetables evenly.
06 - In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with water to create a slurry. Pour into the skillet and stir continuously until the sauce thickens.
07 - Adjust seasoning with salt if needed. Cook until the chicken is fully cooked and tender, about 5 more minutes.
08 - Garnish with chopped green onions before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce clings to every piece of chicken and vegetable, creating layers of flavor in each bite
  • It comes together in 30 minutes but tastes like something from a restaurant
  • You can easily adjust the heat level by adding more or less black pepper
02 -
  • Crowding the pan while browning chicken causes it to steam instead of sear, so work in batches if your skillet is small
  • Cornstarch slurry must be smooth before adding it to avoid lumpy sauce that ruins the texture
  • The sauce continues to thicken as it cools, so remove from heat when it looks slightly thinner than you want
03 -
  • Add a teaspoon of sesame oil right before serving to give the dish an incredible nutty aroma that everyone will notice
  • Cut all your vegetables and chicken into similar sizes so everything cooks evenly and you do not end up with undercooked peppers
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