The Best Three Cup Chicken | Easy Recipe

Three Cup Chicken is one of my favorite weeknight meals and is ready in just 20 minutes!

On my lazy nights, I turn to this dish as there is very little prep, and this dish comes together so quickly. The velvety three cup chicken meat, paired with savory flavorful sauce really hits the spot with a hot steaming bowl of rice.

"San Bei Ji" (三杯鸡), Translates directly into Three Cup Chicken.

Three Cup Chicken is made primarily of 3 ingredients, and in every recipe you will always find soy sauce, sesame oil and rice cooking wine. This is where this recipe gets the name, from the 3 seasonings that are always used to cook it.

If you're looking for more Taiwanese Recipes, Here are some more of my favorites!

• Taiwanese Cucumber Salad
• Hot & Sour Dumplings
• Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1-1.25 lbs Chicken Thighs ** I used boneless skin on. Boneless works great too.
• 1 tbsp Baking Soda (Optional if you want to velvet the meat) **Marinate with baking soda for 10 minutes before rinsing well.
• 1 tbsp Cooking oil
• 6 cloves Garlic (Minced)
• 2 inch Knob of Ginger (sliced)
• 2 Dried Red Chilis (optional)
• 2 tbsp Light Soy Sauce
• 1.5 tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
• 1.5 tsp Rock Sugar or White Sugar
• 1.5 tbsp Sesame Oil
• 1-2 tbsp Cooking Wine ** Add 2 tablespoon if you want a stronger taste of rice wine**

Garnish

• 1 cup Basil Leaves
• 1 stalk Green Onions (Sliced)

Instructions

• Wash and slice Ginger, and Mince Garlic
• Cut chicken in to 1" cubes.
• *optional* If you would like to velvet the chicken for a super tender result, mix in baking soda and marinate for 10 minutes. Rinse the chicken very well after 10 minutes and pat dry with a paper towel.
• Heat your work or pan to high and add oil, and the aromatics:6 cloves Garlic (Minced),2 inch Knob of Ginger (sliced),2 Dried Red Chilis (optional)
• After fragrant 1-2 minutes, push the aromatics to the side and add Chicken.
• Let the chicken brown for a few minutes, then mix, and add the seasonings:2 tablespoon Light Soy Sauce,1.5 tablespoon Dark Soy Sauce,1-2 tablespoon Cooking Wine,1.5 teaspoon Rock Sugar or White Sugar
• Mix Together, and let the chicken simmer on medium high for 5 minutes.
• While the meat is simmering, wash and pluck your basil leaves, and wash and slice your green onions.
• After about another 5 minutes, the sauce should start to thicken.
• Add in the sesame oil, and then mix in Basil and/or Green onions.
• Give one more mix and serve with rice.
• If the sauce is not thickened at this time, remove the chicken to a plate, and turn the heat up to medium high and simmer until thickened. Pour that delightful sauce over your chicken.

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