This healthy Chinese almond chicken is the easiest, tastiest stir-fry you’ll ever make!
Add this to your weekly meal rotation for a delicious meal your family won’t soon forget.
This dish is packed with sweet and savory chicken, colorful vegetables, crunchy almond slivers, and a sensational sauce.
This Chinese almond chicken is truly the king of stir-fries.
It’s not only delicious but nutritious, to boot!
Serve it with rice or noodles if you’re extra hungry or with lettuce if you want to keep it light. Either way, you’ll have a delectable meal.
The best part? You won’t believe how easy it is to make! With this simple recipe, amateur cooks will look like pros.
Healthy Chinese Almond Chicken
Traditional Chinese almond chicken features a crispy, tempura-battered and deep-fried chicken.
But his recipe gives the American-Chinese classic a healthier spin.
Instead of deep-frying, the chicken is soaked in a soy sauce-and-sugar marinade and pan-fried until golden.
Don’t think for a second that it’s not tasty, though! It might be a more wholesome version, but it doesn’t mean it’s not as flavorful.
It’s filled with tender meat, crunchy veggies and almonds, and a sweet and savory sauce.
This stir-fry is like a treasure chest bursting with amazing color, flavor, and texture combinations.
In other words, it’s mind-blowingly delicious!
Ingredients
This stir-fry has three main components, and each of them is easy to prepare.
Chicken:
Chicken – Some use boneless chicken thighs, which is great because they’re so much juicier and more flavorful. But in the interest of keeping this dish healthy, we’ll use chicken breast.
Marinade – A sweet and savory mix of soy sauce and sugar thickened by cornstarch. It’s given a bit of heat and extra flavor by ginger and garlic.
Pro-tips:
- Use low-sodium soy sauce so you can control the amount of sodium that goes into the dish.
- Swap out the fresh spices for powdered for convenience.
Sauce:
This sweet and savory glaze is made of chicken broth, sherry, and sugar, and once again, thickened by cornstarch.
Mix-ins:
A stir-fry is not complete without the mix-ins! This recipe calls for toasted almond slivers, snow peas, and water chestnuts or bamboo shoots.
Feel free to add whatever nuts and veggies you have on hand.
Tips for the Best Chinese Almond Chicken
- Slice the chicken in uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
- Toast the almonds to enhance their aroma and flavor. Just 4 to 5 minutes at the wok or skillet, no oil needed, is all it takes.
- The breast might not exactly be the most exciting cut of chicken, but wait until it absorbs the flavors from the marinade, sauce, and vegetables!
- Whip up a large batch and store it for another day. This is a great make-ahead recipe because leftovers taste better in time. Time allows the flavors to marry and result in an even tastier stir-fry.
Variations
- Swap out the chicken breast for boneless thighs or other meats, especially if you’re not too concerned about the calories. Fatty proteins such as beef and pork will add a lovely layer of unctuousness to the dish.
- The more the veggies, the more colorful and flavorful the dish will be. Don’t just limit yourself to the veggies on the ingredients list! Check the fridge for celery, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, zucchini, etc.
- Add strips of scrambled eggs for an extra dose of protein and a nice pop of color.
- Vegetarian? Skip the meat and add tofu instead.
- Want some heat? Throw in some chopped jalapenos or red chili flakes to spice things up.
- Don’t have almonds? Try cashews, hazelnuts, or pecans. No matter what nut you go for, don’t forget to toast them beforehand. It makes all the difference.
Serving Suggestions
- With white rice. Spoon the sauce over the rice so that it absorbs its flavors Yum.
- With egg noodles. Use the thick sauce to coat the egg noodles.
- On a bed of lettuce. This low-carb option is ideal for those who follow the keto diet. Not only is it healthy, but the crunch from the lettuce adds a nice textural contrast, too.
How to Store Chinese Almond Chicken
Let the dish cool completely and transfer it into an air-tight container. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
For a longer shelf-life, place the cooled almond chicken in a freezer-safe dish and freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Reheat refrigerated Chinese almond chicken in the microwave until warmed through.
More Asian Recipes You’ll Love
Easy Chinese Almond Chicken Recipe
4
servings20
minutes25
minutesIngredients
- Chicken and Marinade
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ginger, minced or grated
1 chicken breast, cut into small cubes
- Sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup sherry wine or white wine
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- Stir-Fry Mix-ins
4 ounces almonds, slivered or halved
3 tablespoons oil, divided
4 ounces snow peas, sliced
5 ounces water chestnuts or bamboo shoots, drained and sliced
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the soy sauce and cornstarch until dissolved. Mix in the garlic and ginger. Add the chicken breast cubes to the bowl and let them marinate in the mixture for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Combine the cornstarch, chicken broth, sherry or white wine, and granulated sugar in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat a large frying pan or wok and add the almonds. Stir the almonds until fragrant and golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove them and set them aside.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in the same wok. Add the water chestnuts and snow peas and fry for 30 seconds. Remove and set aside.
- Heat the wok again with 2 tablespoons of oil and fry the marinated chicken until white and firm, about 2 minutes. Add the toasted almonds, vegetables, and sauce and toss to coat. Keep stirring until the sauce thickens. Serve with rice, lettuce, or noodles. Enjoy!
