Description
Succulent black pepper chicken elevates home cooking with bold Sichuan-inspired flavors that dance across your palate. Crispy, juicy chicken pieces coated in a fragrant pepper sauce promise a delicious journey through spicy culinary landscapes you’ll savor to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 1.5 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
Instructions
- Pat chicken pieces thoroughly dry with paper towels to ensure optimal seasoning adherence and crispy exterior.
- Blend all dry spices together in a small mixing bowl, creating a uniform seasoning mixture with black pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and red chili flakes.
- Generously coat each chicken piece with the spice blend, massaging the seasonings into the meat to maximize flavor penetration.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers and appears slightly rippled, approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully place seasoned chicken into the hot skillet, allowing each piece to sear undisturbed for 6-7 minutes until a golden-brown crust develops.
- Flip chicken pieces and continue cooking for an additional 6-7 minutes, ensuring internal temperature reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Remove chicken from skillet and let rest for 3-4 minutes to allow juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
- Squeeze fresh lime juice over the cooked chicken to brighten and enhance the complex spice profile.
- Garnish with finely chopped green onions and parsley, adding a fresh, vibrant finish to the intensely seasoned dish.
- Serve immediately while the chicken remains hot and the exterior maintains its crispy texture.
Notes
- Ensure chicken is completely dry before seasoning to achieve a perfectly crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in maximum flavor.
- Create a balanced spice blend by adjusting red chili flakes to control heat intensity, making the dish adaptable for different spice tolerances.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee precise doneness, preventing overcooking while ensuring food safety and maintaining juicy, tender chicken.
- Experiment with alternative protein options like tofu or cauliflower for a vegetarian twist, keeping the same bold black pepper seasoning profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg