Description
Succulent chicken embraces tender broccoli in this classic Chinese chicken with broccoli recipe. Home cooks discover a quick, flavorful meal that delivers restaurant-quality comfort with minimal kitchen effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 boneless chicken thighs (cut into 1-inch/2.5 cm pieces)
- 1 cup broccoli florets
- ⅔ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup apple juice
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 4 tbsps vegetable oil
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 3 tbsps cornstarch
- 2 tsps apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- sesame seeds (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep Chicken: Generously season chicken with salt and black pepper, then meticulously dust with cornstarch, creating a uniform protective coating that ensures crispy texture.
- Sauce Creation: Whisk apple juice, chicken broth, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a bowl until ingredients harmonize into a complex flavor profile.
- Vegetable Preparation: Sauté broccoli florets in a skillet over medium heat until they transform into a vibrant, tender green, approximately 4-5 minutes. Transfer to a separate plate and set aside.
- Chicken Searing: Elevate skillet temperature to medium-high, add oil, and strategically place seasoned chicken pieces to develop a golden-brown crust, cooking roughly 3 minutes per side for optimal caramelization.
- Sauce Integration: Pour prepared sauce into the skillet, bringing to a gentle boil. Reduce heat, reintroduce chicken, and simmer until sauce develops a glossy, slightly thickened consistency that clings beautifully to the meat.
- Final Assembly: Whisk cornstarch with cold water to create a smooth slurry, then fold back broccoli and cornstarch mixture into the skillet. Gently stir to ensure even coating and sauce thickening.
- Presentation: Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and serve immediately, capturing the dish’s peak temperature and flavor intensity.
Notes
- Maximize Cornstarch Coating: Ensure chicken is completely and evenly coated with cornstarch for a crispy, golden exterior that locks in moisture and creates a perfect texture.
- Balance Flavor Complexity: Whisk sauce ingredients thoroughly to blend sweet, tangy, and spicy notes, creating a harmonious and depth-rich flavor profile.
- Perfect Broccoli Technique: Sauté broccoli just until vibrant green and tender to preserve nutrients, color, and crisp texture without overcooking.
- Sauce Thickening Precision: Gradually add cornstarch slurry while stirring to prevent lumps and achieve a glossy, smooth sauce consistency that clings perfectly to chicken and broccoli.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg