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Lemon Chicken on white plate garnished with red pepper flakes and lemon zest.

Chinese Lemon Chicken

Chinese Lemon Chicken is crisp on the outside and juicy and tender inside and tossed in a sweet and tangy lemon glaze. This restaurant quality take out classic is made easy with a my special take saving shortcut. This easy chicken recipe is sure to become a new family dinner favorite everyone will love!
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Chinese Inspired
Keyword Chinese Lemon Chicken, Lemon Chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 270 kcal
Susanne Susanne

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds cooked popcorn chicken
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 4 green onions thinly sliced, green part and white part separated2
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger root minced or in a tube3
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice fresh squeezed, or bottled
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes optional
  • Cornstarch slurry 1 tablespoon water and 1 tablespoon cornstarch whisked together

Instructions

  1. Prepare the popcorn chicken in the oven per the directions on the back of the packaging and set aside.
  2. In a large wok or skillet over medium heat, add the oil.
  3. Once hot, add the white part of the green onion, garlic, ginger, and optional chili flakes. Stir constantly and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds.
  4. Add the water, sugar, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine.
  5. Bring to a simmer. Once at a simmer, slowly stream in the cornstarch slurry while whisking constantly until thickened.
  6. Immediately add the chicken and toss in the sauce until the chicken is coated and warmed through. Serve with the remaining green onion for garnish.

Recipe Notes

  1. Nutritional information is estimated. Amounts will vary based on ingredient choices and serving sizes.
  2. Slice green onions thinly and separate the green tops from the thicker white bottoms of the onions.
  3. If you don’t want to buy a Ginger Root you can use minced Ginger that comes in a tube. You usually can find this in the refrigerator cases in the produce section of the grocery store.
  4. Skip the popcorn chicken and use a 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast. To do so, seasoned bite-sized pieces of chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Toss in cornstarch until well coated. Fry in ½ inch oil in a deep skillet over medium heat until lightly browned and an internal temperature reaches 165°F. Drain on paper towels and fry the remaining chicken; proceed with the recipe as written.
Nutrition Facts
Chinese Lemon Chicken
Amount Per Serving (1 serving)
Calories 270 Calories from Fat 108
% Daily Value*
Fat 12g18%
Saturated Fat 3g19%
Trans Fat 0.1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 5g
Cholesterol 58mg19%
Sodium 254mg11%
Potassium 194mg6%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Fiber 0.4g2%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 15g30%
Vitamin A 239IU5%
Vitamin C 8mg10%
Calcium 19mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.