One Pot Black Pepper Chicken (Better Than Takeout!)

If you have ever had Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken, then you know just how tasty this dish can be! This One Pot Black Pepper Chicken is even better than takeout and is very simple to make. With chicken, bell peppers, onions, and a spicy homemade black pepper sauce, this Black Pepper Chicken will satisfy all of your takeout cravings in a healthier (and cheaper!) way.

Black Pepper Chicken has always been one of my favorite things to order when I am getting Chinese takeout. Panda Express Black Pepper Chicken in particular was always the one that stood out to me. I knew that I needed to figure out how to make black pepper chicken at home and, let me tell you, this recipe is spot on! It may even be better than the one from the restaurant. I love that it can all be made in one pot, and the homemade black pepper sauce gives it the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors – all in one delicious sauce!

This Black Pepper Chicken recipe can be made in no time at all! You will start by browning your chicken in the skillet with sesame oil. Then you will saute your garlic, peppers, and onions until they are soft. Your next step is to add your chicken back into the mix. While that is cooking, you can whisk together all of your ingredients for the black pepper sauce. All that is left to do is to pour this tasty sauce over your chicken and let it cook until the sauce is nice and thick. Your one pot black pepper chicken will be ready to serve in under 30 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This One Pot Black Pepper Chicken

• This black pepper chicken recipe is very simple to make, and you only need one pot, which makes cleanup a breeze!
• The homemade black pepper sauce is the perfect combination of sweet, salty, and spicy flavors.
• It is even better than takeout and can be made in under 30 minutes, making it a great option when you don’t have much time to cook.
• This black pepper chicken is healthier and cheaper than takeout.

Ingredients For Your Black Pepper Chicken

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Tbsp. oil olive oil, sesame oil, or vegetable oil
• salt and pepper to season chicken breast to taste
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp. minced garlic

Black Pepper Sauce

• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 1 1/2 Tbsp. rice vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes optional
• 1/4 tsp. black pepper more or less to taste
• 1 Tbsp. cornstarch

How To Make One Pot Black Pepper Chicken

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Heat 1 Tbsp sesame oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken until cooked through and browned. Transfer to a plate.

Step 2: Pour remaining Tbsp oil into skillet and sauté garlic for 30 seconds.

Step 3: Add bell peppers and onion. Cook for 5-10 minutes until soft

Step 4: Return cooked chicken to the skillet and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes.

Step 5: In a small bowl, mix soy sauce, rice vinegar, cornstarch, brown sugar, honey, black pepper, and chili pepper flakes until well combined and the sugar dissolves

Step 6: Pour over the chicken and vegetables. Cook until the sauce thickens, stirring occasionally.

Step 7: Remove from heat and garnish with sesame seeds. Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy!

What to Serve/Pair with Your Black Pepper Chicken

This chicken is delicious served over rice or noodles. The pepper sauce really soaks into them, making them extra delicious! For something a little heartier, serve your black pepper chicken with this Homemade Chicken Fried Rice.

If you are anything like me, you love a good excuse for an egg roll, and they pair perfectly with this black pepper chicken. For a low carb option, try your chicken with this Egg Roll in a Bowl recipe.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

If you don’t have red or green bell peppers, you can use orange or yellow peppers. You could also use all of them if you want to add extra peppers to this recipe.

To lower the sodium content of this Black Pepper Chicken recipe, use low sodium soy sauce.

If you like a lot of spice, add in extra red pepper flakes. If you don’t want much spice, eliminate red pepper flakes all together.

Storage & Leftovers

This one pot black pepper chicken will last in the fridge for up to two days. Keep any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge. When you are ready to reheat your pepper chicken, heat individual portions in the microwave until they are warm. You can also reheat this in the air fryer if you want it to have a little crispiness.

FAQs

Does it matter what type of oil I use for this black pepper chicken recipe?

No, you can use any of the oils that are listed in the recipe. I always opt for sesame oil when I am making Asian recipes because of the flavor that it adds, but if I don’t have any on hand, olive oil is my next go-to.

Where can I find rice vinegar?

Rice vinegar can usually be found in the Asian section of your grocery store. If for some reason you can’t find it, it is also available on Amazon. The closest substitution would be apple cider vinegar.

How will I know that my pepper sauce is thick enough?

You will know that your sauce is thick enough when it really starts to cling to the chicken and peppers and there is not a lot of liquid left in the skillet.

Other Easy One Pot Recipes You’ll Love

• Healthy One Pot Skillet Lasagna
• The BEST Crockpot Shredded BBQ Chicken (Pulled Breast Meat)
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Don’t Forget To Come Back And Let Me Know How Your One Pot Black Pepper Chicken (Better THan Takeout!) Turned Out!