Description
This Chinese Lemon Chicken Recipe features juicy chicken pieces coated in a crispy cornstarch batter and tossed in a vibrant, tangy lemon sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it perfectly balances sweet and sour flavors, making it an ideal dish for busy weeknights or an impressive homemade meal. The recipe is versatile, kid-friendly, and great for leftovers, offering a delightful taste of Chinese-inspired cuisine with simple pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- Vegetable oil, for frying
Lemon Sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (about 1 clove)
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup water or chicken broth
Garnish
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Optional: sesame seeds, lemon slices
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Coat each piece evenly with cornstarch to create a light, crispy exterior when fried.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the coated chicken pieces in batches, avoiding overcrowding, until they are golden brown and cooked through. Drain excess oil on paper towels and set aside.
- Make the Lemon Sauce: In the same pan, sauté the minced garlic and ginger until fragrant. Add lemon juice, soy sauce, sugar, and water or chicken broth, stirring constantly. Continue to cook until the sugar dissolves and the sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine Chicken and Sauce: Return the fried chicken to the pan and toss well to coat each piece in the lemon sauce, ensuring a glossy and flavorful finish.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped green onions over the coated chicken. Optionally, add sesame seeds and lemon slices for extra flavor and presentation. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavor.
- Fry chicken in batches to maintain crispiness and even cooking.
- If the lemon sauce is too thin, add a cornstarch slurry to thicken quickly.
- Let fried chicken rest briefly on a wire rack to keep it crisp before combining with sauce.
- Taste and adjust sugar or lemon juice to balance the sweet-tart flavor to your preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Chinese lemon chicken, quick dinner, sweet and sour chicken, easy Chinese recipe, gluten free Chinese chicken