Easy Kung Pao Chicken

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Roasted peanuts, ginger, garlic, and spicy red chilies give this easy kung pao chicken a kick that makes it quite unique.

Kung Pao chicken is savory and sweet with as much spiciness as you might desire. The peanuts provide an additional nutty flavor that really brings it all together.

close up of kung pao chicken stir fry in large stainless skillet

My husband and kids devoured their servings, peppers and all. I simply left the peppers on my plate and the stir fry was the perfect level of heat for my taste.

I found this recipe for the best-ever kung pao chicken over ten years ago and it’s been a family favorite for all of these years. I’ve learned to double this recipe since I first started making it.

The recipe below is already doubled from the original. If you’ve made it in the past and prefer a smaller recipe, use the slider in the recipe card to reduce the serving size to 3.

Easy Kung Pao Chicken

My favorite flavors these days are found in Asian foods and I am always looking for more stir fry ideas. I never can resist the ready-made freezer meals at Trader Joe’s and their Kung Pao Chicken and Orange Chicken have both been staples in our freezer for many years.

That said, it was well past time for me to try my hand at authentic kung pao chicken, so I was thrilled to find this easy recipe. While the ingredient list is a little long at first glance, like most stir-fry recipes the dish comes together very quickly.

The ingredients in this recipe may be a little different from what you’re used to, but they are all very easy to find in an Asian market or online. I typically shop in the stores (because I love to see the variety in person!) but if there isn’t a nearby option or if you want a visual before shopping, I’ve linked to a few similar products here.

Thai chili peppers in skillet

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Ramen Chinese Chicken Salad

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Ramen Chinese Chicken Salad

a photo of ramen chinese chicken salad including shredded cabbage, carrots, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds, and crunchy ramen noodles.

Crunchy ramen Chinese chicken salad is made with rotisserie chicken, three kinds of cabbage, carrots, green onions, mandarin oranges and a sweet tangy homemade salad dressing.

The chicken is completely optional, but I can’t ever make it without it. With the added protein, it makes a great lunch or main dish for dinner. I especially love the chicken marinated in The Original Japanese BBQ Sauce. It’s being sold everywhere lately, but I first found it at Costco. It is so good and goes perfectly with this salad! Using a rotisserie chicken makes it so simple so there’s minimal cooking!

This oriental chicken salad is a great dish for a potluck.  I remember when I was like 15ish, I went to a camp at a college. I stayed the first night with a girl I had grown up with and her roommates. We went on a little BBQ/picnic and a girl made a salad with crunched up top ramen noodles. I thought it was so weird. Years later my girlfriend gave me this recipe and it’s delicious. Very light, but flavorful and those ramen noodles add the most amazing crunch!

Ingredients for Ramen Chinese Chicken Salad

At first glance, this is going to look like a long list of ingredients, but I promise that it’s worth it! The flavor is so bold! Here is what you will need…

  • Rotisserie Chicken: you can cook your own chicken breasts or buy it precooked
  • The Original Japanese BBQ Sauce: this is optional, but it adds fabulous flavor to the chicken

Dressing

  • Peanut Oil: the base of the homemade salad dressing, adds a subtle nutty flavor
  • Peanut Butter: you’ll want creamy peanut butter
  • Sugar: balances the acidity of the vinegar
  • Rice Vinegar: adds tanginess to the dressing
  • Soy Sauce: grab low sodium so the dressing doesn’t get too salty
  • Sesame Oil: the tiniest bit adds the most delightful nutty flavor

Ramen

  • Butter: used to toast the ramen noodles
  • Ramen Noodles: crunch them up so they are bite size and ditch the seasoning packets
  • Almonds: sliced and toasted with the ramen noodles
  • Sesame Seeds: you can use black or just regular seeds and they also get toasted with the ramen

Salad

  • Napa Cabbage: has a slightly sweeter flavor and the leaves are tender and great for eating raw
  • Green Cabbage: chopped thin and adds to the base of the salad
  • Red Cabbage: chopped thin and adds a bright pop of color
  • Carrots: shredded on cheese grater
  • Green Onions: adds that delicious onion flavor but it’s more subtle
  • Mandarin Oranges: drained and left whole

This is meant to be just

Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken

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Quick and Easy Cashew Chicken

a photo of saucy chicken bites mixed with cashews and steamed broccoli.

This cashew chicken recipe comes together in about 10 minutes and is a healthier version of the classic Chinese takeout dish!

These tender bites of chicken are coated in a bold homemade sauce and mixed with roasted cashews. Serve it over a bed of rice with a side of steamed broccoli and dinner is on the table in no time!

Chinese Cashew Chicken Recipe

I have no idea why this is, but Christmas always makes me crave Japanese and Chinese food. Yup, not an Asian ancestor in me, but the holidays, a time when we reflect on family and make family favorite recipes, always makes me want Chinese food like our crispy honey chicken. I have never had cashew chicken at home until now, and I’m sure there are gobs and gobs of recipes out there, but this one is our personal favorite, especially because it’s quick and easy. For real.

I adore cooking, but there’s nothing I love more than a delicious dinner that took no time at all to clean up and then busting out our pajamas and relaxing. It’s my favorite time of day. I love sending everyone upstairs to hop into pajamas.

Especially during the winter because it means I can really get cozy and warm. I have the worst circulation and unless one of you know of some secret way to fix that I depend on layers all winter long. In fact, even during the summer you’ll always catch me in slippers or socks because my feet are freezing. I can’t be the only one, don’t any of you love getting into your pajamas and snuggling up?

Cashew Chicken Ingredients

For this chicken with cashews recipe, you’ll need only a handful of pantry staples and all the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store. You won’t believe how easy it is to make this restaurant quality recipe right at home. Here is what you will need…

Chicken

  • boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • cornstarch
  • salt and pepper
  • garlic
  • rice vinegar
  • canola oil

Sauce

  • hoisin sauce
  • soy sauce
  • brown sugar
  • ground ginger
  • water
  • cornstarch

Add-Ins

  • dry roasted cashews
  • sesame oil

This is meant to be an overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For the detailed measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post.

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Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir-Fry

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Sweet, sticky, and just a little spicy, this Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry is a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

The heat of the Sriracha is mellowed with the sweetness of the pineapple and the result is a sweet and sour stir fry that is not at all burn-your-mouth-hot, despite copious amounts of Sriracha.

Sweet 'n Sour Chicken Stir Fry recipe

If your kids love take-out sweet and sour chicken, they’re going to go nuts for this meal. Faster than ordering in and even tastier, this stir fry recipe makes everyone happy!

While spicy, this is one of the most kid-friendly chicken stir-fry recipes I’ve made. My youngest son has been eating this since he was just 2-3 years old and he still eats every bite and asks for more. For a slightly sweeter version, try this Teriyaki Chicken with Pineapple too.

Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir-Fry

This Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry requires about 10-15 minutes prep time for the chicken, vegetables, and sauce; and less time than that to cook and serve it. Start a pan of rice before doing anything else and you will have dinner served in 30 minutes or less.

This meal is always a hit with my family and there is never a bite leftover!

Sweet n sour chicken stir fry

How to Make Chicken Stir-Fry

After cooking your rice, prepare your chicken and vegetables. Slice boneless skinless chicken thighs into small pieces–the smaller the better for this recipe!

Drain a can of pineapple and reserve the juice to use later. (We’re going to add it to the sauce in a minute!)

Slice your bell peppers into thin strips and make sure your snap peas are rinsed with any stemmed ends trimmed. Prepared bags of washed, trimmed sn

Sausage and Shrimp Fried Rice

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Shrimp and sausage fried rice has officially been added to the list of our favorite dinners. This easy recipe is a “two thumbs up,” kid-approved, hearty-as-can-be skillet meal; perfect for a quick and easy weeknight dinner! 

shrimp and sausage fried rice in giant skillet

Shrimp and Sausage Rice

Okay, let’s just admit it. I’m fried rice obsessed. Ever since I tried my friend Julie’s tips for perfect fried rice, I’ve been making different versions at least once a week.

In case you’re wondering, oh yes, we still love the Fried Rice with Ham and Vegetables that I shared a while back. All three of my kids have declared fried rice to be one of their favorite meals now.

I love shrimp fried rice, as evidenced by this older classic shrimp fried rice recipe. I have tweaked it so much over the years, it is past due for an update. (Especially now that I’ve learned just how much better fried rice can be?!)

Sausage Fried Rice

Recently, I had some kielbasa sausage in the refrigerator and shrimp in the freezer calling my name, so this became the latest variation of fried rice that we’ve fallen in love with.

As soon as I tasted it, I knew I needed to share it with you. Sausage or kielbasa with shrimp is always a great combination.

kielbasa fried rice with shrimp on plate with black chopsticks

The first thing to know when making fried rice is that you’ll need a large deep-sided skillet. Trying to use a shallow or smaller pan will just leave you frustrated and likely with a mess on your

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