Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken

This Black Pepper Chicken is like the dish at Panda Express, and the sauce is easy to make with ingredients from your pantry. 

Ingredients in this Panda Express dish

For the chicken

• Chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• Cornstarch
• Yellow onion, chopped
• Celery, chopped
• Red or green bell pepper, chopped
• Garnish (optional): scallions, sesame seeds, chili flakes

Stir fry sauce

• Hoisin sauce
• Soy sauce
• Garlic
• Black pepper

For the rice

• Water
• White rice – use your favourite variety
• Butter
• Salt

Ingredient substitutions

• Chicken – You can substitute chicken breasts with boneless chicken thighs. Depending on the size of the thighs, they may take a little longer to cook
• Onion – Swap the yellow onion for white or red onions
• Olive oil – Substitute another neutral oil, like canola, vegetable, or avocado
• Hoisin sauce – Choose a gluten-free variety if needed, or use oyster sauce
• Soy sauce – Using tamari or coconut aminos will make this recipe gluten-free
• Garlic – Replace fresh cloves with 2 teaspoons minced
• Rice – Because the rice cooks separately from the rest of the dish, you can make any variety you like. White rice is most common, but the dish will taste just as delicious over brown or even wild rice.
• Vegetables – Use any vegetables you'd like, such as broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, baby corn, zucchini, bok choy, mushrooms and more

What does black pepper chicken taste like?

This Panda Express favourite is a lighter, healthy chicken dish. The chicken has a coating of thick, flavorful sauce.

It’s a little bit spicy and tangy, with lots of garlic flavor. Because the spice comes from the black pepper, it’s not too overwhelming.

How to make this dish

1. Season the chicken and coat in cornstarch. Before you start cooking the chicken, you’ll want to toss the chicken in cornstarch, make the stir fry sauce and start cooking the rice.
2. Cook the chicken. Add oil to the pan to prevent the chicken from sticking. Also, wait until the oil shimmers before adding the chicken, then cook until browned.
3. Add vegetables to the pan. Continue cooking the chicken and vegetables for several minutes, until the onions are translucent and the other veggies are soft.
4. Add stir fry sauce to the pan. Stir the sauce to combine it with the other ingredients.
5. Thicken the sauce by allowing everything to cook for a couple of minutes.
6. Serve in bowls over rice and enjoy!

Making the rice

I like to cook rice using a rice cooker. Other options are to cook it in a saucepan on the stove top, in a rice steamer basket, or even in the microwave. Another easy method is to make Instant Pot rice.

Regardless of which cooking method you use, Just be sure to cook according to the appliance and/or package directions.

Making this recipe low carb

The easiest way to make this recipe low carb is to not serve it with rice. Instead, use more vegetables and turn it into a delicious stir fry.

Here are some ideas for delicious, healthy, low carb veggies to add to the chicken:

• Spiralized vegetables like zucchini or sweet potato noodles
• Shredded sauteed cabbage
• Zucchini or yellow squash
• Mushrooms

Another option is to replace the white rice with cauliflower rice.

Storing and reheating

Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator.

The chicken and vegetables will last for 4-5 days, while the rice can be stored for up to a week.

Reheat your leftovers in the microwave until warmed through. Before reheating, it helps to sprinkle a little bit of water over everything to keep the chicken and rice from drying out.

Can you freeze this recipe?

Yes, this recipe is freezer friendly!

Because the vegetables in it are firm, they won’t get mushy when they thaw from frozen. The rice will need to be stored separately though.

Store the cooked chicken and vegetables with the sauce in freezer bags or airtight containers. It will store well in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Then reheat and serve.

Freezing and reheating cooked rice

It’s easy to freeze rice for leftovers or to use in other recipes. Here’s how to do it:

1. Cool the rice – Spread out over a baking sheet in an even layer.
2. Store in ziploc bags – Divide the rice into the amounts you’ll be using to make thawing easier.
3. Freeze – Use within 2 months for best texture.

To reheat, break the frozen rice into chunks inside the freezer bag.

Transfer the rice to a microwave safe bowl, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave for a few minutes until fluffy.

More Asian-inspired recipes

• Panda Express Kung Pao Chicken
• Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
• PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

Meal prep tools for this recipe

• Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on storing the leftovers for lunches
• I get all my free-range chicken from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen
• Freeze this recipe in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months