Black Pepper Chicken Stir Fry (Panda Express) + Video!

Amazing Black Pepper Chicken Stir Fry (Copycat Panda Express!) This Low Carb & Gluten Free Chinese Takeout Recipe favorite is easy to make at home, and even more delicious!

Panda Express Takeout Fake-Out

I can resist almost all fast food options.

When I’m out running errands, and I’m suddenly famished, I can drive right by all the burger places and fried chicken chains… But I have a hard time passing up Panda Express.

Even though it’s impractical to eat in the car. And even though some of the dishes are just as terrible for you as a burger and fries, I find myself pulling into the drive-through window, in a hypnotic state.

What is it about hot cheap Chinese takeout that makes it so irresistible?!

Gluten-Free Chinese Takeout

If you are gluten–free, you probably already know that the Panda Express restaurant chain states on their website that they offer no gluten-free food items. What a bummer!

This always baffles me, because swapping gluten-free soy sauce for regular soy sauce is all it would take, in some of their dishes.

Regardless, we still love Panda Express with great passion, I just can’t take my daughter Ava there.

Instead, we make gluten-free versions of her favorite Panda Express dishes at home.

They taste just as (if not more) amazing at home, and we have full quality control on ingredients and portions.

Chinese Black Pepper Chicken Stir Fry

Black Pepper Chicken is my go-to Panda Express order, because it’s bold and zesty, yet is one of their lighter menu options.

It’s essentially made of chicken thighs, onions, celery, and a rich full-bodied spicy black pepper sauce.

Fortunately, this recipe is easy to replicate at home, using organic ingredients (if desired) and of course gluten-free soy sauce.

It takes just a few minutes to prep and cook, and would even be considered low carb, if you skip the side of rice or noodles!

Ready to get started?

Ingredients

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs(or chicken breasts)
1 large onion, peeled and chopped
2 cups sliced celery, 1/3-inch cut on a bias
1/2 cup low sodium gluten-free soy sauce
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
2 tablespoons peanut oil (or coconut oil)
1 tablespoon coarse ground black pepper (use a pepper mill)
1/4-3/4 cup water

How To Make Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken (Gluten-Free!)

Make the sauce. Mix the soy sauce, rice vinegar, cornstarch, ginger, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and liquid smoke. The liquid smoke gives the sauce that unique Panda Express can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it flavor, so don’t skip it! Also, you will marinate the chicken in the sauce for a few minutes, then thicken the sauce in the pan.
Chop, chop. Cut the chicken thighs and vegetables (onions, and celery) into small pieces. Place the chicken in the sauce.
Crack that pepper. Grind the pepper on the largest setting. If you use fine pre-ground pepper the pepper taste will be too powerful. The pieces need to be mostly large.
Sizzle it. In a wok, stir fry the onions and celery for about 1 minute. Then add the chicken to the hot wok. Stir fry for 2 minutes, stirring.
Sauce it up. Add the sauce and the black pepper. Stir as the sauce thickens. Stir in the onions and celery. Simmer another 1-2 minutes.

Get the Full (Printable) Black Pepper Chicken Recipe Below

Easy Black Pepper Chicken Recipe

See how easy that was?

Our Black Pepper Chicken (Copycat Panda Express) is so inviting. The black pepper sauce is bold and spicy, not overpowering. It makes a perfect midweek meal, or takeout alternative for gluten-free friends and family.

P.S. If marinating the chicken in the sauce, then adding it to the pan weirds you out, you can make two separate batches. One for the marinade and one for the sauce.

To me, it all gets cooked so it doesn’t matter.

However, don’t skip the marination time. Even though the chicken only soaks in the sauce for a few minutes, it does impact the overall flavor and helps make the meat more tender.

More Asian Stir Fry Favorites

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I store this recipe?

You can keep this recipe’s leftovers in an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.

Can I Freeze This Chicken Stir Fry Recipe?

This recipe will store nicely in the freezer when in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

What other veggies can I add?

Other great stir-fry veggies that you can add are broccoli or bell pepper.

Check the printable recipe card below for nutritional information including calories, carbohydrates, saturated fat, cholesterol, and fiber percentages.