Chinese Lemon Chicken
Crispy chicken bites coated in a tangy-sweet lemon sauce—this Chinese lemon chicken is a delicious takeout-style dinner made at home.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Fry / Deep Fry
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Ingredients
For the Chicken
Vegetable oil (for frying)
2 egg whites
1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
¼ cup cornstarch
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Lemon Sauce
¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons water (for slurry)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
For Garnish
Lemon slices
Thinly sliced green onions
Sesame seeds
Instructions
Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet or wok to 350°F.
In a bowl, whisk egg whites until frothy. Add chicken pieces and coat well.
In another bowl, mix cornstarch, flour, salt, and pepper.
Dredge egg-coated chicken in dry mixture. Shake off excess.
Fry in batches for 3–4 minutes until golden and crispy. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate.
In a saucepan, combine broth, lemon juice, sugar, honey, zest, and soy sauce over medium heat.
Mix cornstarch and water into a slurry, then stir it into the simmering sauce. Cook 2–3 minutes until thickened.
Remove from heat and stir in sesame oil.
Toss the fried chicken in lemon sauce until fully coated.
Garnish with lemon slices, green onions, and sesame seeds before serving.
Notes
Fresh lemon juice and zest add bright, authentic flavor — avoid bottled juice.
Chicken thighs can be used instead of breasts for extra juiciness.
Serve over steamed jasmine rice or noodles for a complete meal.
Find it online: https://allrecipesmade.com/chinese-lemon-chicken/
