This Panda Express-Inspired String Bean Chicken is light, simple, and delicious. If you’re looking for a healthy dinner for two, look no further!
Happy 2017! How was your New Years Eve?
Did you watch the Sherlock season 4 premiere yesterday? Oh man. Rough. (And you know I love this show–I made Sherlock cookies last year!)
We’re back for another year of recipes, and as is tradition, recipes on the blog this month will be on the lighter side. You might remember last January’s salad series where I posted some of my favorite healthy salads like my BLT Salad and Asian Chicken Salad (if you haven’t tried those salads, you totally should–they are THE BEST).
This year I don’t I have any January salads for you, but I do have lots of my favorite healthy dinners and lighter desserts scheduled that I can’t wait to share.
Things may as well be delicious while we all recover from the smorgasbord that was December.
First up is my favorite Panda Express Copycat recipe around, String Bean Chicken. I know. I know. You hear fast food-inspired and do not think light and healthy, but this String Bean Chicken is made with lean and light boneless skinless chicken breast and packed full of green beans and bell peppers.
It’s a cinch to throw together and SO good. My sister introduced me to this recipe a few years ago, and aside from my Teriyaki Chicken, it’s the Asian-inspired recipe that I make the most often. Mostly because it’s delicious, but also because everything can be cut and prepped ahead of time, so it’s a perfect weeknight meal.
Chop and mix everything over the weekend, and then day of, just pour the marinade over the chicken in the morning, and that evening, everything cooks up in about 15 minutes.
That means that not only is this Panda Express-style String Bean Chicken that tastes better than takeout, but it’s FASTER too.
As written, this String Bean Chicken recipe generously serves 2. To change the recipe yield, hover over the number of servings (or click if you are on mobile) and slide the slider–no preparation changes are necessary for doubling.
Panda Express-Inspired String Bean Chicken
Ingredients
Marinade
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Chicken and Vegetables
- 1 small boneless skinless chicken breast (about 8 ounces) cut into strips
- 1 tablespoon oil use your favorite cooking oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion cut into 1/2-inch squares
- 1/2 cup water divided
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 6 ounces green beans trimmed and halved
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced into 1/2-inch squares
- Salt to taste
Serve Over
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together cornstarch, sugar, soy sauce, and toasted sesame oil. Place cubed chicken in a disposable plastic bag and pour mixture over the top. Toss to coat. Allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes, up to 12 hours.
- In a medium wok or saute pan (with a lid), heat oil over medium high heat. Once hot, add chicken and cook until cooked through. Transfer chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
- Return pan to heat. Deglaze with a couple tablespoons of the water and add onion and garlic. Cook for three minutes, until onion just begins to turn translucent around the edges.
- Add green beans and bell pepper and cook for another three minutes. Add 2 tablespoons of the water, cover, and continue to cook until vegetables reach your desired level of doneness, adding more water as necessary, about 3 to 8 minutes*.
- Stir in chicken and cook just until chicken is hot. Salt to taste.
- Serve over white rice.
Notes
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