Garlic chicken is a classic Chinese dish that has become beloved around the world for its delicious flavor and ease of preparation. At its most basic, garlic chicken Chinese consists of chicken pieces that are marinated and/or cooked in a sauce prominently featuring garlic. However, across China’s diverse culinary landscape, many regional variations of this dish have emerged.
A Brief History of Garlic Chicken
While the origins of garlic chicken are obscure we know that garlic and chicken have been used in Chinese cooking for thousands of years. Garlic is native to Central Asia and was already a common ingredient across China by the first century CE. Chicken was domesticated in China perhaps as early as 6000 BCE.
By the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century, many popular Chinese chicken dishes had developed, although recipes were not carefully documented until later. The first formal garlic chicken recipes may have emerged in the late 19th or early 20th century.
Today garlic chicken remains a standard homecooked meal across China. It is also popular at Chinese restaurants abroad, often listed as “garlic chicken” or “gung bao chicken with garlic sauce”.
Regional Styles of Garlic Chicken
Different regions of China have developed distinct versions of garlic chicken using local ingredients and cooking methods. Here are some of the most popular regional garlic chicken variations:
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Sichuan: Often contains Sichuan peppercorns and chilies for a numbingly spicy flavor. May use wok frying.
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Guangdong (Cantonese): Features ginger, scallions, rice wine, and oyster sauce for a savory flavor. May use steaming.
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Fujian: Uses chicken pieces on-the-bone rather than boneless. Includes mushrooms for umami.
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Beijing: Emphasizes sweetness from sugar or molasses. Typically uses chicken wings.
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Taiwan: Similar to Guangdong style but often adds peanut powder. May be served chilled.
While these regions have definitive styles, garlic chicken recipes vary immensely across China based on local tastes and available ingredients.
Common Ingredients and Preparation
Though preparations differ, most garlic chicken recipes include a similar base of ingredients and techniques:
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Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thigh meat, cut into 1-2 inch pieces. Chicken wings or on-the-bone pieces also common.
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Garlic: Minced garlic cloves as main flavoring. Usually 6-12 cloves for 1 lb chicken.
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Aromatics: Ginger, scallions, chilies. Provide fragrance and spiciness.
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Sauce: Soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, rice wine. For savoriness.
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Cornstarch: Helps thicken sauce so it coats chicken pieces.
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Cooking method: Pan-fry, stir-fry, deep-fry, or steam chicken until just cooked through.
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Finishing touches: Scallions, toasted sesame seeds or peanuts for garnish.
The marinade, sauce, and cooking techniques result in juicy chicken pieces lacquered in garlic flavor.
Health Benefits of Garlic Chicken
Beyond being delicious, garlic chicken offers some great health benefits when enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Here are some of its top nutrients and how they support wellness:
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Protein: Chicken provides lean protein to support muscle growth and satisfying meals.
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Garlic: Contains beneficial compounds like allicin that support immune function and heart health.
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Vitamin C: Bell peppers add this antioxidant vitamin that aids immunity and collagen formation.
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Iron: Found in chicken and helpful for oxygen circulation.
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Probiotics: Fermented sauces like rice wine contain gut-friendly microbes.
So while it may be most prized for its crave-worthy flavor, garlic chicken also offers nutritious ingredients that can be part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
How to Make Garlic Chicken at Home
Recreating restaurant-quality garlic chicken at home is easy with just a few basic steps:
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Prep chicken: Cut 1 lb boneless chicken breasts or thighs into 1-inch cubes.
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Make marinade/sauce: Whisk minced garlic, soy sauce, honey, rice wine, cornstarch, and other desired seasonings.
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Marinate: Place chicken in a zip top bag with 1/2 of sauce. Refrigerate 30 mins up to overnight.
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Cook aromatics: Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook minced ginger, peppers, onions 2-3 minutes.
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Add chicken: Stir in marinated chicken and remaining sauce. Cook until chicken is browned and sauce thickened, about 8-10 minutes.
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Finish and serve: Garnish with scallions and sesame seeds. Enjoy garlic chicken with steamed rice or vegetables!
With this easy process, you can enjoy restaurant-worthy garlic chicken on a weeknight. Double the recipe for perfect leftovers.
Tips for the Best Garlic Chicken
After making garlic chicken at home many times, here are some of my best tips:
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Marinate ahead: Letting the chicken soak up the flavors before cooking really boosts the taste.
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Velvet the chicken: For ultra-tender chicken, toss in cornstarch and baking soda before marinating.
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Don’t overcook: Chicken cooks fast, so stir frequently and remove it as soon as the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Toast the garlic: Briefly cook the minced garlic before adding to the sauce to mellow its bite.
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Use a mix of sauces: Combining soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin, and rice wine creates complex flavor.
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Make a slurry: Mixing cornstarch with water creates a slurry that instantly thickens the sauce.
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Add veggies: Onions, peppers, snap peas, mushrooms all complement the chicken.
Proper marinating time, thoughtful seasoning, and avoiding overcooking are the secrets to the best homemade garlic chicken.
Enjoy Garlic Chicken Two Ways
My favorite garlic chicken recipe prepares the chicken two ways – fried and steamed – for a nice textural contrast:
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Velvet and fry chicken: Toss cubed chicken with cornstarch, egg white, and baking soda then pan fry until crispy.
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Steam marinated chicken: Meanwhile marinate a second batch of chicken in garlic sauce. Steam until cooked through.
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Make garlic sauce: Prepare a savory garlic sauce. Thicken with cornstarch slurry.
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Combine and serve: Toss the fried and steamed chicken together in the garlic sauce. Enjoy over rice!
The combination of crispy fried chicken and succulent steamed chicken in the garlicky sauce is amazing. Play with different cooking methods to find your favorite take on garlic chicken.
Is Garlic Chicken Healthy?
Garlic chicken can be a healthy option when prepared mindfully. Here are some tips:
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Use lean chicken. Choose breast or thigh meat and remove skin to reduce saturated fat.
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Moderate portion sizes. Stick to 1 serving of chicken with 1/2 cup rice and 1 cup veggies.
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Trim added sugars. Many recipes call for a lot of sugar but a sprinkle will do.
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Load up on aromatics. Onion, peppers, mushrooms add nutrients without many calories.
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Select healthier fats. Saute in olive or avocado oil instead of butter or lard.
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Limit salt. Soy sauce and oyster sauce already contain sodium so go light on added salt.
With its lean protein, nutritious aromatics, and immune-boosting garlic, garlic chicken can absolutely be part of a balanced diet when enjoying the right portion sizes.
Common Questions about Garlic Chicken
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about this popular Chinese dish:
What’s the best chicken cut to use? Boneless, skinless thighs or breast are ideal. They cook quick and absorb flavors well.
Does garlic chicken need to marinate? Marinating improves flavor but you can cook immediately for a quicker meal.
What’s the difference from ginger chicken? Garlic chicken focuses on garlic as main flavor while ginger chicken highlights fresh ginger.
How long does it keep in the fridge? Leftover garlic chicken will keep 3-4 days refrigerated. Reheat gently before serving.
Can you freeze garlic chicken? Yes, it freezes well for 2-3 months. Thaw in fridge overnight before reheating.
Satisfying and Nutritious Garlic Chicken
From its delicious garlic flavor to its lean protein and veggie content, garlic chicken is a highly satisfying and nutritious addition to any diet. With a few basic ingredients and techniques, you can easily recreate this Chinese favorite at home for a fast, healthy weeknight meal. Experiment with new marinades and cooking methods to make this classic comfort food your own.
What to serve with crispy honey garlic chicken
As an appetizer, serve the chicken bites with other appetizers like shrimp cocktail, baked brie and preserves or other vegetarian appetizers.
- You can make this recipe ahead by keeping the chicken in the oven on Warm for an hour, then tossing it in the heated sauce right before serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container. Reheat in a hot oven for 5 minutes.
Chinese velveting technique is used to seal in the juices of the meat, resulting in a tender more flavorful chicken. You marinate meat in a mixture of cornstarch, egg whites, and seasonings before deep frying it. Some blanch the mixture in oil first and then stir fry the chicken.
You can use chicken, beef or pork for the honey garlic recipe. I would suggest sirloin or perhaps a well-marbled tri-tip steak or ribeye for the beef. Chuck or flank can be used as well, but it’s a bit chewier.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
Chicken: I use boneless skinless thighs as I find dark meat juicier and more forgiving. Boneless skinless chicken breasts can be used as well, especially with the velveting technique that helps tenderize the chicken.
Honey garlic sauce: The tasty sauce is simple and classic – honey, garlic and soy. The recipe below doubles the sauce from the original recipe, but if you like extra honey garlic sauce to drizzle on rice, you will need to double the amount again. Add some chili flakes for heat if you like.
Egg white and cornstarch mixture: The recipe uses a Chinese velveting technique which coats the chicken in a mixture of egg whites and cornstarch to seal in the juices for tenderness while creating a crispy coating. It’s really easy and works well. Enhance the flavors by adding a
Oil: Use an oil with a high smoke point (not olive oil) such as grapeseed oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, peanut oil, canola oil, or other vegetable oil.