Mongolian Chicken Garlic Ginger Sauce (Print Version)

Crispy chicken coated in rich garlic ginger sauce with fresh scallions

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
02 - 1/4 cup cornstarch
03 - 1/4 tsp salt
04 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
05 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

→ For the Sauce

06 - 2 tbsp soy sauce
07 - 2 tbsp hoisin sauce
08 - 2 tbsp brown sugar
09 - 1/2 cup water
10 - 2 tsp cornstarch
11 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
12 - 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced

→ For Serving

13 - 4 scallions, sliced
14 - Steamed rice, to serve (optional)
15 - Sesame seeds, for garnish (optional)

# Steps:

01 - In a bowl, toss the chicken slices with cornstarch, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
02 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer. Cook for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through. Remove chicken and set aside.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, water, and cornstarch until smooth.
04 - In the same skillet, add a splash of oil if necessary, then add garlic and ginger. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
05 - Pour in the sauce mixture. Bring to a simmer and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens.
06 - Return the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat in the sauce. Cook for 1–2 minutes more, until heated through.
07 - Stir in half of the sliced scallions. Serve immediately over steamed rice, garnished with remaining scallions and sesame seeds if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce achieves that perfect restaurant style balance between savory and sweet without any complicated techniques
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for weeknight dinners when you want something impressive but effortless
02 -
  • Overcrowding the pan will steam the chicken instead of searing it, so cook in batches if necessary
  • The sauce continues thickening off the heat, so remove it from the flame while it still looks slightly thinner than desired
03 -
  • Slice your chicken while it is partially frozen, it cuts cleanly and holds its shape better during cooking
  • Pre whisk your sauce ingredients in a jar, shake to combine, and store any extra in the fridge for next time