Video How to stir fry using a pan szetchwan

This Szechuan chicken is a spicy stir fry made with tender pieces of chicken and colorful vegetables, all tossed in a sweet and savory sauce. A classic Chinese style dish that tastes just as good as what you’d get at a restaurant!

I’m always making our favorite take out dishes at home including General Tso’s chicken, beef chow mein, and this spicy Szechuan chicken. If you love heat, you’ll adore this recipe!

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Szechuan chicken with vegetables and chili peppers in a skillet.

When I go to my local Chinese restaurant, I always order the Szechuan chicken. It’s got the perfect blend of chicken and veggies with sweet, savory and spicy notes. My version uses ingredients that are available in most grocery stores which makes this recipe quick and easy for a busy weeknight.

Table of Contents

What is Szechuan chicken?

This dish is a chicken stir fry that contains plenty of spice in the form of sichuan peppercorns and dried red chilies. It originated from the Sichuan providence of China, which is how it got its name. Szechuan chicken also typically contains vegetables, and also may contain peanuts in some cases.

Chicken pieces coated in corn starch.

How do you make Szechuan chicken?

This recipe starts with pieces of chicken breast that are coated in corn starch and seasonings, then pan fried until crisp. Remove the chicken from the pan, then add in vegetables, red chilies and Sichuan peppercorns. While the chicken and vegetables are cooking, prepare the sauce by whisking together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and chicken broth. Pour the sauce over the chicken and vegetables, and let it simmer until thickened. Serve immediately over rice and enjoy.

Golden brown chicken breast pieces in a skillet.

Tips for the perfect stir fry

The Sichuan peppercorns are what gives this dish its authentic flavor. These peppercorns have a citrus flavor and also provide a tingly numbing type sensation in the mouth which contributes to the heat of this dish. If you can’t find this spice, it’s fine to omit it. You can break open a few of the chili peppers and sprinkle the seeds into the dish to create more heat if you don’t have the peppercorns.
Dried red chilies provide a lot of the heat and a mild nutty flavor. While several types of dried red chiles can be used in Szechuan dishes, I use chiles de arbol. Chiles de arbol are Mexican chili peppers that are commonly found in grocery stores. They also bring a lot of flavor and meld well with the sauce.
This recipe uses hoisin sauce as part of the flavoring components. Hoisin sauce has a dark brown-red appearance and a slightly sweet and tangy flavor. Many Chinese dishes use hoisin sauce to provide depth of flavor to the dishes. You can find hoisin sauce in the Asian section of your local supermarket.
Szechuan chicken will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days which makes this a great dish for meal prep.
I recommend serving your stir fry over steamed rice to help temper the heat. Other options include quinoa, noodles or cauliflower rice.

What is the difference between Szechuan chicken and General Tso’s chicken?

Szechuan chicken tender to be spicier than General Tso’s chicken and contains the Sichuan peppercorns. General Tso’s chicken has a heavier batter on the chicken, and the chicken is deep fried instead of pan fried. Szechuan chicken tends to contain a fair amount of vegetables, whereas General Tso’s chicken is served on its own or with broccoli.

Bell peppers, chiles and onions in a pan.

Flavor Variations

This dish is great as-is, but you can also change up the ingredients to customize it to your tastes.

Protein: Instead of chicken breast, try sliced steak, chicken thighs, shrimp or tofu.
Vegetables: While bell peppers are commonly found in this dish, I’ve also seen it served with other vegetables including mushrooms, broccoli and carrots.
Nuts: Some versions of Szechuan chicken contain peanuts. Cashews or almonds would also be a good choice.

Szechuan chicken served over steamed rice in a bowl.

You can’t go wrong with the sweet and spicy flavors of this classic recipe. Next time you’re craving Chinese food, skip the take out and make it at home!