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This Lemon Chicken is an easy, crispy and delicious dish that’s sweet and savory, balanced with tangy flavor.
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4.64 from 33 votes

Chinese Lemon Chicken (with Video)

Chinese Lemon Chicken is an easy, crispy and delicious dish that’s sweet and savory, balanced with tangy flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Chinese
Keyword: lemon chicken
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 449kcal
Author: Cindy

Ingredients

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cubed
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 egg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2 cups vegetable oil
  • 1 cup water (plus another 3 tbsp for cornstarch mix)
  • 1/2 cup white sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

  • In a mixing bowl with cubed chicken breasts, add zest of half a lemon, egg, salt and pepper. Mix well and marinate for about 15 minutes.
  • Coat the marinated cubed chicken breasts into flour.
  • In a medium-sized saucepan heat the oil to 350˚F. Deep fry the chicken for about 3-4 minutes until they turn golden brown.
  • Remove and drain oil. Set aside.
  • In a saucepan, add 1 cup water, lemon juice (about 2 tbsp) and sugar. Bring the mixture to boil.
  • Mix the cornstarch with 3 tbsp water, then add the mixture to the frying pan to thicken the sauce. Stir until mixture is smooth and thick.
  • Mix in the chicken and toss to coat evenly. Serve and enjoy!

Video

Notes

  • If you have extra time, marinate the chicken for more than 30 minutes. But if you are in a rush, you can even reduce the marinating time to 10 minutes.
  • Make sure not to crowd the pan when you fry the chicken, otherwise, the chicken might stick together and won’t be cooked properly.

Nutrition

Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 14.3mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 3.3mg | Net Carbs: 75g