Chinese Shredded Chicken Recipe: A Delicious Chicken!
When you are using bone-in chicken pieces to make a dish, it is better to make shredded chicken. It is easier to eat for kids and older people. This shredded chicken recipe was passed down from my grandmother, which she used to make often to treat us when we were kids.
Today, I will share the Chinese shredded chicken recipe with you so that you can make the ultimate soy sauce shredded chicken. The chicken is so tender and flavorful. It also looks fantastic with the soy sauce glaze. Let’s make some really good chicken.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
This is a fast recipe that you can make in about 25 minutes, including the preparation. Here is a quick overview of the recipe.
| Course: Main | Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Medium | ||
| Total Time: 25 minutes | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 2 persons | 5 minutes | 20 minutes | 199 kcal | |
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
This recipe mostly uses common ingredients in your kitchen. The following list will help you organize the ingredients.
Main Ingredients for the Recipe
- Chicken: I am using three chicken thighs, each weighing about 200g.
- Garlic: 4-5 cloves, roughly chopped
- Ginger: 2-inch block, roughly sliced
- Shallot: 3-4 pcs, cut into halves
- Pepper: 2-3 peppers, sliced
- Scallion: 1-2 stalks, thinly sliced
- Rock Sugar: 50g
- Brown Sugar: 1tsp
- Bay Leaves: 2-3 pcs
- Cinnamon: 1 stick
- Star Anise: 1 pc
- Cooking Oil: 2 tbsp
Sauces and Seasonings for the Recipe
- Light Soy Sauce: 6 tbsp
- Dark Soy Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Rice Wine: 6 tbsp
- Oyster Sauce: 1 tbsp
- Black Pepper: 1 tsp
Let’s now get into the cooking.
Chinese Shredded Chicken Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
The preparation for this dish is very easy. Let me show you the details of preparation and cooking.
Step 1: Clean the Chicken
Wash the chicken thighs. Remove any excess moisture from the chicken by patting them with a paper towel.
Step 2: Prepare the Spices
Peel the shallot, garlic, and ginger. Then, chop them roughly. You will need larger chunks of spices for this recipe. Then, slice the pepper and scallion.
You Can Also Try Chinese Chicken Broth Recipe
Prepare other spices, such as bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, and sugar in another bowl.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
Take 6 tbsp light soy sauce in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 6 tbsp rice wine, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, and 1 tsp of ground pepper to it. Mix everything well and keep aside.
Step 4: Fry the Chicken
Put oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot, put in the shallot, ginger, and garlic. Fry the spices until they get fragrant.
You Can Also Try Chinese Chicken Fingers Recipe
Then, add the chicken thighs. Sear the chicken thighs on both sides over medium-low heat. You should see some nice colors on the chicken.
Step 5: Add the Sauce and Other Spices
Pour your pre-made sauce mix over the chicken. Add the remaining spices, and the sugar to the pan. Also, add small bowls of water. Mix everything, turn the heat to low, and cover with the lid. Simmer it for about 15 minutes. In the middle, turn the chicken thighs over once.
Step 6: Baste the Chicken
Open the lid after 15 minutes and turn the heat to high. Baste the chicken for a few minutes to moisten it further. Then, take the chicken off and let it cool down.
Step 7: Shred the Chicken and Serve
Once the chicken is cooled, shred the meat. Put the hand-torn meat on a plate. Don’t forget the sauce. It is super rich in flavor and aroma. Drizzle the sauce over the shredded chicken and garnish it with scallions. Juicy and delicious shredded chicken is now ready.
Nutrition Facts of Chinese Shredded Chicken
This dish has 199 calories per serving. Besides the calorie count, you should know about the nutrients present in this dish.
- Total Carbohydrates: 11.2g
- Protein: 30g
- Total Fat: 25.6g
- Saturated Fat: 13.2g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.1g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 4.3g
- Trans Fat: 0.1g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 1.9g
- Total Sugar: 3.2g
- Cholesterol: 91.3mg
- Sodium: 976.3mg
- Potassium: 564mg
- Calcium: 156mg
- Magnesium: 50.4mg
- Iron: 1.08mg
- Vitamin A: 81IU
- Vitamin C: 63mg
Do’s and Don’ts of the Recipe
Even if you have never made this dish, the following tips will help you avoid any complications. Keep them in mind.
Do’s
- Keep the skin on the chicken thighs. The skin turns crispy and protects the meat from drying out.
- Use salt cautiously as the sauces already have a good amount of salt. Otherwise, the chicken will be too salty.
Don’ts
- Don’t put the sauce in until the chicken is seared. Remember the saying, ‘No color, no flavor.’
- Don’t use too small chicken thighs. But if you do, cook them for a shorter period. Otherwise, the chicken will be dry.
Ingredients
Method
- Wash the chicken thighs. Remove any excess moisture from the chicken by patting them with a paper towel.
- Peel the shallot, garlic, and ginger. Then, chop them roughly. You will need larger chunks of spices for this recipe. Then, slice the pepper and scallion.
- Prepare other spices, such as bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, and sugar in another bowl.
- Take 6 tbsp light soy sauce in a bowl. Add 1 tbsp dark soy sauce, 6 tbsp rice wine, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, and 1 tsp of ground pepper to it. Mix everything well and keep aside.
- Put oil in a pan. When the oil gets hot, put in the shallot, ginger, and garlic. Fry the spices until they get fragrant.
- Then, add the chicken thighs. Sear the chicken thighs on both sides over medium-low heat. You should see some nice colors on the chicken.
- Pour your pre-made sauce mix over the chicken. Add the remaining spices, and the sugar to the pan. Also, add small bowls of water. Mix everything, turn the heat to low, and cover with the lid. Simmer it for about 15 minutes. In the middle, turn the chicken thighs over once.
- Open the lid after 15 minutes and turn the heat to high. Baste the chicken for a few minutes to moisten it further. Then, take the chicken off and let it cool down.
- Once the chicken is cooled, shred the meat. Put the hand-torn meat on a plate. Don’t forget the sauce. It is super rich in flavor and aroma. Drizzle the sauce over the shredded chicken and garnish it with scallions. Juicy and delicious shredded chicken is now ready.
FAQs
Before you jump into cooking shredded chicken, knowing the answers to a few common questions won’t hurt. Check them out.
What type of chicken works best for Chinese shredded chicken?
Broiler chicken is the best for making shredded chicken. These chickens have a higher meat-to-bone ratio compared to country chickens. They also turn much softer, so they are easier to shred.
How do I shred the chicken properly for this recipe?
Don’t shred hot chicken thighs. Let the chicken juice redistribute while the chicken is cooling down. Then, shred it into thin strips using your hands. You can also use chopsticks or forks to shred the chicken.
What vegetables can I add to the shredded chicken for extra flavor?
I don’t usually add any vegetables to the shredded chicken to enjoy the original flavor. If you want, you can add cabbage, broccoli, etc., to the shredded chicken.
Is there a specific Chinese sauce traditionally used for this dish?
The traditional Chinese sauce used for this dish is made by mixing a few different sauces. You can even make this dish without the oyster sauce. But the other sauces are required to get the authentic flavor.
Can I use boneless chicken for this recipe?
Of course. Boneless chicken pieces get cooked faster and are easier to shred. But, they might not be as flavorful as chicken thighs.
Conclusion
Chinese shredded chicken is so tender and juicy that even people with weak teeth can eat it without any problems, LOL! Besides, eating shredded chicken makes almost no mess as you don’t have to use your fingers. The preparation and cooking of this dish is also convenient for busy people.
Try this Chinese shredded chicken recipe once and you will fall in love with how delicious this dish is. Experiment with its flavors to find your sweet spot and enjoy the aromatic goodness of the chicken. Don’t forget to share your experience with me.
