Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken
Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken brings a balanced heat with smoky dried chiles, nutty sesame undertones, and juicy bites of tender chicken. Crisp bok choy and green onions add freshness, while roasted peanuts lend crunch, all over hearty brown rice. It’s a weeknight-friendly stir-fry perfect for a quick Dinner when you want bold flavor without feeling heavy.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook10 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 54 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 26 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 76 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 42
- Heart Health
- 69
- Metabolic
- 45
- Digestive
- 36
- Inflammatory
- 50
- Performance
- 49
- General Wellness
- 1
In a bowl, mix 2 teaspoons soy sauce, the sherry, and sesame oil. Add the chicken and toss to coat.
- 2
Cover and marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.
- 3
Meanwhile, combine the water, rice vinegar, sugar, cornstarch, and the remaining 3 teaspoons soy sauce; set aside.
- 4
Heat 2 teaspoons canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 5
Stir-fry the chicken until almost cooked through, about 5 minutes, then remove it.
- 6
Add the chile peppers, green onions, and the remaining 2 teaspoons canola oil to the skillet; stir-fry for 1 minute.
- 7
Add the bok choy and ginger; stir-fry for 1 minute more.
- 8
Return the chicken to the pan and pour in the soy sauce mixture; cook until it is bubbling.
- 9
Sprinkle with peanuts and serve with rice.
- Calories 568.54 kcal High 28%
- Protein 34.07 g Good Source 68%
- Carbohydrate 74.58 g 27%
- Total Fat 17.85 g High 23%
- Saturated Fat 2.21 g Moderate 11%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 91.84 mg High 31%
- Sodium 780.66 mg High 34%
- Dietary Fiber 6.0 g Good Source 21%
- Total Sugars 4.27 g --
- Added Sugars 0.48 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 24.73 mg Low Source 2%
- Iron 2.5 mg Moderate 14%
- Potassium 550.36 mg Moderate 12%
- Vitamin A 69.17 mcg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin C 57.07 mg Good Source 63%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Peanuts 🥜
- Soy 🌱
- Sesame
- Corn 🌽
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Lightened Up Kung Pao Chicken is a Chinese dinner recipe made with 15 ingredients. It takes about 30 mins, serves 4, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Bok Choy, Brown Rice, Canola Oil, and Cooking Sherry. Each serving provides about 568.54 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken?
- It is a Chinese recipe made with 15 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken made of?
- The main ingredients are Bok Choy, Brown Rice, Canola Oil, Cooking Sherry, Cornstarch. The full list of 15 is above.
- What goes well with Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken?
- Explore these Chinese side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken?
- About 30 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 10 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 568.54 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 15 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken healthy?
- Lightened-Up Kung Pao Chicken has an easyChef Pro health score of 52/100. Per serving, it provides 568.54 calories and 34.07 g of protein, or 68% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 780.66 mg (34% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 2.21 g (11% of the Daily Value). It contains Peanuts, Soy, Sesame, Corn, Onions and Alcohol, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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