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photorealistic black pepper chicken plated with glossy sauce and fresh garnish in modern kitchen
Taha Ayad

Black Pepper Chicken – A Takeout-Style Stir-Fry

This Black Pepper Chicken is a quick, restaurant-style stir-fry made with juicy chicken, colorful bell peppers, and a bold pepper sauce that’s ready in under 30 minutes.
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Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp oyster sauce or hoisin sauce
  • 1 tsp brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp ground white pepper optional
  • 1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water
  • ½ cup chicken broth or water
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 medium-sized onion sliced
  • 1 green bell pepper sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger grated
  • 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • Green onions sliced for garnish

Method
 

  1. Marinate the chicken with soy sauce, oyster sauce, cornstarch, and black pepper for 10 minutes.
  2. Whisk together soy sauce, oyster or hoisin sauce, brown sugar, white pepper, cornstarch slurry, and chicken broth to make the sauce.
  3. Heat oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat, then sear the chicken until nearly cooked through; remove and set aside.
  4. Add onion, bell peppers, garlic, and ginger to the same pan; stir-fry for 3–4 minutes until tender-crisp.
  5. Return the chicken to the pan, pour in the sauce, and cook until thickened and glossy.
  6. Finish with sesame oil and more cracked black pepper. Garnish with sliced green onions and serve hot over rice.

Notes

  1. Use freshly cracked black pepper for the best flavor.
  2. You can adjust spice levels by adding or reducing pepper.
  3. Marinating the chicken helps it stay juicy and tender.
  4. For meal prep, store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
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