BETTER THAN TAKEOUT - Lemon Chicken Recipe

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As one of the popular take-out dishes, crispy lemon chicken is breaded, then fried, and coated with a glossy sauce; it tastes lemony, savory, and tangy. Usually, restaurants will deep fry the chicken. However, cooking it at home, you can try shallow fry with less oil and use my trick to get the same crispy result.
INGREDIENTS
To marinate the chicken
1 lb (450g) of chicken breast or boneless chicken thigh
1 tbsp of minced garlic
1 tsp of ginger
black pepper to taste (Amazon Link - geni.us/black-...)
1.5 tsp of soy sauce (Amazon Link - geni.us/light-...)
1.5 tsp of Chinese cooking wine
For the sauce
2 tbsp of Honey (Amazon Link - geni.us/unfilt...)
4 tbsp of brown sugar (Amazon Link - geni.us/brown-...)
3.5 tbsp of soy sauce (Amazon Link - geni.us/light-...)
2 tbsp of sambal chili sauce (Amazon Link - geni.us/sambal...)
3 tbsp of water + 1 tbsp of cornstarch
3.5 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tbsp of Lemon zest
Others:
2/3 cup of cornstarch (Amazon Link - geni.us/cornst...)
2/3 cup of all-purpose flour (Amazon Link - geni.us/all-pu...)
1 egg
1 cup of oil to shallow fry
Diced scallion as garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
Cut the boneless chicken breast or thigh into big strips, then slice into bite-size pieces.
Marinate the chicken with minced garlic, minced ginger, soy sauce, and black pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly and rest it for 20 minutes.
While waiting, combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well. This sauce is versatile; it works great with other proteins such as shrimp, pork, and beef.
Tip No 1 for meal prepping: This amount is enough to pair with 1 lb of meat. You can make multiple batches and keep them in the freezer for up to six months. The sauce will not solidify in the freezer due to the high sugar and salt content, so you can use it anytime without defrosting.
The next step is to bread the chicken. Combine 2/3 cups of cornstarch and 2/3 cups of all-purpose in a large zip lock bag, then shake well. Cornstarch is the key to making the chicken crispy. The breading will come out doughy if you use 100% all-purpose flour.
Add the marinated chicken into the bag and shake until well-coated. Use a sieve to get rid of the excess flour and transfer the chicken into a bowl.
Crack one egg into the chicken and mix thoroughly. Put the chicken back into the bag and shake to coat it twice because a thicker breading will protect the breast meat from drying out.
Use a sieve to get rid of the excess flour again. Let the chicken rest on the side for 15 minutes so the flour can have enough time to bond together, and it will fall off less during the frying.
Meanwhile, heat 2/3 cups of oil to 400 F. Shallow frying uses less oil than deep-frying. Since the food is only partly submerged, it must be flipped over partway through the cooking process. The bigger the item is, the lower the frying temperature should be. These chicken bites are small, so we start with 400 F.
Fry the chicken in two batches over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes on each side or until both sides are golden brown. Before you fry the second batch, remove the flour crumbs from the oil using a fine sieve.
Tip No.2 for meal prepping - freeze the chicken after frying for 5-6 months. Whenever you want to eat them again, heat them in an air fryer (400 F for 8-10 minutes), or an oven ( 450 F for 12-14 minutes). Then coat it with the sauce, and you have your quick delicious dinner ready.
Remove the chicken to the side and pour out most of the oil from the wok. Then pour in the sauce and stir over medium heat for a few minutes or until it thickens.
Introduce the chicken to the wok with 1.5 tbsp of toasted sesame seeds. Toss everything until the chicken is coated with the sauce, and serve with white rice. Make sure everybody is ready to eat and do the last step to combine the chicken with the sauce. The longer you let it sit before serving, the less crispy it will be.

[@KMICHAELODONOVAN]

This young lady is the best teacher for Chinese cooking from A to Z.

[@kimdaniels7177]

Isn't she I'm so glad I found her site. I've tried a few dishes now and they all work perfectly and she is such a good instructor.

[@hansdampf4055]

Yesterday I cooked it up, and it really tastes wonderful. I can definitely recommend this. For my wife and me, the amount is enough to have dinner 2x.

[@reginaschwartz4524]

I made this tonight for dinner! It was delicious, I love this girl. For decades I never tried to cook Chinese food because I thought it was super hard to make, not with Mandy. Love you Mandy, you are the best.

[@dunderwood4444]

I've tried several of this Chef's recipes that turned out better than the best NYC restaurants had to offer. Making this this weekend 🤪. Thank you. Bless up from Brooklyn NY

[@KevinWJenner]

Seems a really refreshing summer dish, perfect sauce and flavors for crispy chicken.

[@knightsofneeech]

Mandy, you have grown in maturity and content, professionalism, everything! I've been enjoying your recipes for many years. My favorite is still Hakka style tofu. But I love your potstickers as well as this. Thank you for continuing to bring us great content and I'm good to help on Patreon. You are wonderful!

[@chrisskidmore8961]

Just made this recipe for lunch and it turned out fantastic! It was my first time frying, but with the simple instructions, nothing burnt and the chicken came out perfectly crispy. The sauce is punchy with the right amount of kick! Highly recommend! 🍗

[@elishaanderson8029]

Oh wow... amazing! Love Mandy and how she so clearly explains cooking theory while presenting a wonderful beginner dish to Cantonese cooking! Chef's kiss to you Mandy!

[@Crow_Whiskey]

A few modifications set this off for me. I marinated the chicken overnight before frying. For the sauce I used lemon juice, orange juice, and tangerine peel to add some complexity to the flavor profile. Also fried broccoli before the sauce step and tossed that with the chicken. Superb.

[@appel_vreter]

Congrats! You made orange chicken! 💀

[@Britt-r3r]

​@@appel_vreter😂

[@everythingfiction2778]

@@appel_vreterwas hoping someone said it lmao

[@christinakschinhair4690]

@@appel_vreterright?

[@maryegerton6848]

So it’s no longer lemon chicken 🙄

[@gooseygirl1]

I made this today and it was spectacular! My sweetie raved and went back for thirds...and now I'm going to do the same method and make Orange Chicken, my other favorite. I am fortunate to have both a lemon tree and a orange tree in my back yard, so the fresh fruit juice really puts it all together. Thank you for the awesome recipe and method. Subscribed

[@zero_bs_tolerance8646]

I made this because I was craving lemon chicken and it was amazing!! Thanks so much, Mandy. Your recipes are always excellent and delish.

[@Studio344]

Hi Mandy, I made this tonight according to your recipe and it turned out PERFECTLY! Crispy and delicious, wonderful breading. The shallow fry worked perfectly (in batches) even with my western pan. Your recipe *tastes* very complex, but with your instructions I found the process simple. Thank you!

[@ray_mck]

I made this tonight. It is really tasty -- just the right punch of sour to balance the sweet and salty. It was a hit with the family. It's not something I will make extremely often because it *is* very sweet like a lot of Americanized Chinese take-out food. It will stay in my rotation, though, because it does taste so good, and is very easy to prepare! Thank you Mandy for making me and my family happy!

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Thank you for trying my recipes. I am glad you enjoyed.

[@daretv1514]

Just cut the brown sugar in half ive had to do that with some of her recipes but the food is too good to not make 😂

[@kolithakaluarachchi7301]

can i use Doubanjiang (Spicy Chili Bean Paste) if i dont have the samball sauce or normal chili sauce?@@SoupedUpRecipes

[@pauletteriddle3776]

I made this tonight! My whole family loved it. Just the right amount of tart and sweet. The breading was perfect! Thank you!

[@kimdaniels7177]

I made this a few times and I love it, in fact I'm just making it again now. And I love your tips Mandy especially so the flours in the bag for coating the chicken. That is a game changer for me, I never would have thought about doing this. Thank you for sharing all your great recipes that are easy to follow.

[@vicwillo]

I made your Crispy Lemon Chicken for our dinner yesterday. It was FABULOUS! Absolutely delicious and easy to do. Thanks so much for this one.

[@Noo1980]

I’ve just made this and completely agree that it is so much better than take away. The amount of lemon is perfect - not too over powering. Thank you for sharing your recipe!

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Thank you for watching and trying my recipes. I am glad you like it. Hope you continue to enjoy my videos. Mandy

[@davidf9494]

This was my first recipe from your channel and the lemon chicken is the best I've ever tasted - It was perfect - moist, crispy and very tasty. Thank you! Looking forward to trying some of your other recipes.

[@YK-2424]

First tip when frying for a crispy result, is frying two or even three times. The difference is huge. Thank you for the delicious recipe!

[@julie-annesingh2800]

My son and I made this tonight, first time for both of us, it was delicious! Thank you for your clear instructions and tips!

[@c.1290]

I tried this recipe this evening. The results were absolutely fantastic and it was delicious. I followed the directions, exactly, and wouldn’t change a thing.

[@crystalm2291]

I just made this and it came out amazing! I've always been so intimidated to cook asian food but it was so easy. I dont have a wok so I used a cast iron skillet and it worked great. Thank you for sharing!

[@maestrojon]

Looking forward to trying this recipe! Not a lot of restaurants near me make lemon chicken. I used to work next to one where I would normally be buying a $1 side of steamed rice for lunch because of how broke I was. The owner actually suggested I try their lemon chicken, saying it was his favorite of all the Americanized citrusy sweet dishes. I think he was right. It was so good! I ordered it quite a bit when I had the money.

[@TheDude-yl3qd]

This blew my mind the recipe tops any and almost all restaurants… excellent!!

[@daniellebarker7667]

I Love lemon and this looks especially tasty!! Thank you again, Mandy.

[@Wwalker1000]

Mandy!! You knocked this recipe out of the park!!! Will make this weekend!! Your Wok will make this perfectly! Thanks so much!!

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Hope you like it!

[@Wwalker1000]

@@SoupedUpRecipes I'm sure I will like it. Also, I've been meaning to ask you for quite a while....do you ever use "peanut" oil for your stir fried dishes? It has a wonderful flavor and at the same time, a pretty high heating point. In the U.S., it is used often and particularly at Thanksgiving for deep-frying whole turkeys! You really should try it sometime...

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

I made this for tea and it went down a treat. loving your recipes and presentation style.

[@andyb1837]

Made it tonight and its got to be one of the best things ive ever made. Thank you so much.

[@arejetko]

Another great recipe, Mandy. Love the shallow fry option and the lemon sauce!

[@lisamolinar]

As always Mandy you are a precious treat in the kitchen I love all your work even when I sometimes don't understand it I know there's a reason and purpose in your culture and I appreciate you for it thank you for sharing this I am making this ASAP tomorrow is not soon enough

[@michaelmarty7709]

This is fantastic! I made this tonight and it was just amazingly delicious. Loved the texture of the chicken, while the flavor was fresh and lemony. Thank you for sharing.

[@navyjax1128]

Thank you for all the great recipes, I will buy the book anytime it comes out. I tried maybe 40 recipes...and its so much better and cheaper that takeout. its so sad how much takeout is now, so us seniors must cook while we can still do it. again thanks.

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Wow- thank you for the good feedback. So glad to help you cook better than what you can purchase locally- it is really getting expensive =(

[@Nikkimommyof4]

yet another great dinner idea. Loved her way of frying the chicken and making it extra crispy. Will try this at home soon.

[@opwave79]

I used your flouring and shallow frying tips to make fried pork chops for dinner. I didn’t have all the ingredients for lemon chicken, but since I had so much success making very crispy pork chops, I will definitely make lemon chicken with the same tips very soon!

[@robinlondrow9263]

I love the way you zested that lemon. Way easier for me to do that. Thank you.

[@candacebaughman420]

Thank you for posting this. I was wanting a lemon chicken recipe. But couldn't find the one I wanted. Thank you!😊

[@rlwalker2]

You might wish to consider using a micro plane to zest your lemon. It is superior to any technique I've ever tried. Thanks for the tip on shallow frying. This is definitely a recipe I need to try. Thanks.

[@claudionogueira9836]

You are brilliant. I watch your cooking and it makes my mouth water. Thank you.

[@lovelynagrace3303]

Wow I never thought this is so easy and what I can say this is much better than takeout.Made it tonight and it was a smash. Even my mom praise the sauce ,tangy,salty and sweet which is a perfect balance pair with the crunchy chicken 😊❤️

[@XanderWhat]

How do you keep reading my mind and posting exactly what I'm in the mood for?

[@hildithucks6556]

I made this last night and it was delicious!! I think I would double the sauce next time. Thank you for the great recipe!

[@lisahinton9682]

Another home-run by Mandy! Looks dang delicious, and I will make it this weekend. Thanks!

[@刘泽立]

做的怎么样？

[@MysticMage255]

Watching you eat is so satisfying for some reason! This recipe looks delicious and easy to make. Going to try this one day. Yum!

[@katrinaarthurs8090]

Thanks Mandy, I was looking for this recipe last week. I like your recipes so I am glad to have it now.

[@queenjenna2233]

I love this Korean lemon chicken recipe looks so delicious

[@hansdampf4055]

A very nice dish! Above all, wonderful tips & tricks. The sauce is also a great idea, as it is durable for so long.

[@susieangelo6410]

Kaboom! Mandy, your Lemon Chicken Recipe is the Bomb! Thank you with much Appreciation for all your Super Helpful Tips. Continue to Stay Happy and Healthy. 💜

[@limitbreaking]

I have been following your channel for a long time it is amazing to see how far you've come. Keep up the good work! Thank you so much!

[@whoppers-food]

Looks so delicious and yummy 😋😋 thanks for sharing 😊

[@colleenmayes1537]

TY for including the instructions for freezing some for later.

[@ellenjones9435]

I just tried this recipe but I double the batch and add a little bit more lemon juice. It was delicious.

[@kimdaniels7177]

I'm about to make this tomorrow and after watching this video I'm really looking forward to it. Thank you Mandy.

[@ellove370]

The recipe to try is a YES!! I love your instructions because you never over complicate them.

[@flynn427]

I got your wok as an early Valentine’s Day present and omg!! I love it !

[@yezuyi2938]

I love all your tips and explanations. Keep up the good work, Mandy! 👍 I hope to try this one day as my husband loves lemon chicken! 😊

[@ReneesatItAgain]

Ooooo, can't wait to try this one!! Love the 'low level oil but still crispy' idea!! Thank you!!! Always waiting for more of your recipes!!! Thank you!!!

[@8bitpothead]

So lemon-y, 8 made this and it's Boe a new favorite. Great easy recipe to follow!

[@ARIZJOE]

It's almost Arizona lemon season. When they are ripe on the tree this recipe will come in handy.

[@gilcarreon5958]

Thanks for sharing your recipes lov from Los Angeles California ❤️

[@heavyarms4983]

Made this tonight. Came out great! Better than any take-out.

[@kimserio8317]

this is one of my favorite recipes :) thank you for sharing it with us!

[@KyivanEnjoyer]

After you started eating your dish I run to the shop for ingredients and cooked it!🤩😋I had zero experience of cooking except sandwitches and spagetti😁 Amazing recipe, thanks from Ukraine 💛💙

[@jennyhunter5414]

Made tonight, the best we ever tasted. Thank you for a fantastic recipe

[@vDgzxcq]

I always look forward to hearing your "Hi everyoneeeeeeee" ring in the background 😁

[@KevinWJenner]

I feel (certain... strongly) like she'll get a show on T.V. someday.

[@RMCToo]

Mindy! This is one of the BEST items to eat when it is supe crispy and very TANGY, and this looks like the perfect 🍋🐔recipe. Usually and always my husband (who is Chines AND his name is Bruce Lee! 100% True lol) cooks, but I am going to make this tomorrow night for dinner and have a friend over. Thanks again as always!!! Richard

[@martinkayne9675]

Once again, Mandy, you've taught me how it's better than takeout! I will do this soon. Thank You!

[@sandchalermkiat4993]

I just made today very delicious! Perfect absolutely have every taste in there, thank you so much for sharing, wish you the best😘

[@Katrina.for_art]

My mouth watered for the whole video!!! I love lemon 🍋 😍

[@southerncaltattooedbiker3643]

Mandy this looks so good I'm going to the Dr tomorrow morning so I can go to the grocery store next door and I'm going to get everything I need I think that my Husband will like this also 😊

[@ScottRawdin]

Delightful ! What a wonderful treat : your smile, a beautiful voice and a delicious recipe.

[@michaelwhinnery164]

Ok !!! You are the best !!! Thank you so much, I will try this recipe with a little bit less chili sauce, I like spicy foods but you are on a whole different level when it comes to hot foods. 😅

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

You are welcome 😊

[@geneg3776]

Such clear and efficient instructions. Thankyou!!

[@dawnlawien]

I love all of the tips and tricks you include, especially freezing to use at a later date. I haven't tried any recipes yet as I'm just starting my make at home Asian food journey. Could I sub out orange for the lemon in equal amounts? I have a friend who loves orange chicken and I'd like to surprise her. Thank you for such great videos.

[@beatricethompson4340]

Thank you sooo much for this. And the ingredients. I can find them in my stores around cause some ingredients u can’t even get at stores

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Thank you for watching and hope you enjoy the recipe.

[@beatricethompson4340]

@@SoupedUpRecipes I want to make 4pieces of breast do I use same measurements?please my family big. Lol.

[@teee.8467]

We cooked this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! It disappeared faster than if I was serving dessert! 😂. Thank you for sharing your recipes! I will check out more soon!

[@collegekids15]

love all the recipes Mandy, I've been following a long time!

[@deidregoodman6485]

Look very delicious I love lemon chicken

[@Agoldenexit]

Hi Mandy, If I can add a suggestion for making the chicken stay crispy, like you mentioned: You can fry the chicken at a lower temp first just to get a pale color on it, then let it rest. Then fry it again at a higher temperature to get a cracklier, crispier coating that holds up well to heavier sauces. Love your videos and your wok!

[@canedewey756]

She did double fry her sesame chicken, I wonder why she didn't here

[@843thebear]

Thanks, made this today and it was lovely. Next time I'm going to make more sauce and maybe add pineapple.

[@Miracx3]

You are truly amazing. You need your own show.

[@anastasiamathura5401]

Wow that's amazing looks delicious thanks for sharing one of your amazing recipes thanks for the tips

[@lovemypuppy2857]

❤Love your recipies!❤ Have tried a couple of them, sweet & sour chicken & honey garlic chicken. They both have turned out great, delicious & better than take out. Can't wait to try this one.

[@jakemasterson6057]

I made it for dinner tonight and it turned out wonderful. So tasty.

[@skylarrupp9624]

Can't wait to make this! Love your wok and your recipes! Thanks for making them.

[@ricklee5845]

An excellent presentation Mandy, thank you! I always learn something from you! ❤❤

[@amandaarirahaman9531]

You're cooking is always so amazing and detailed 😍

[@olyman63]

Beautiful chicken. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day Mandy

[@spicyy_dicey5580]

Omg you inspired me to make general tso's at home and now I definitely wanna try this one.

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

I'm so glad!

[@besymartinez4727]

Looks sooooo good!! I love all your recipes.. thank you😊

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

You are so welcome!

[@carledorsey]

Another great recipe. I will try this this weekend!

[@tonyevans4898]

Hi Mandy ...!.. Another great dish 😋 wheat least amount of prep and amazing flavours.......Cool....😃👌👌👍👍🖐🖐🖐

[@blessedhummingbird4]

This recipe was delicious as usual! Thank you!

[@wendyhannan2454]

Thank you Mandy, great recipe and I picked up some really good tips.

[@danilozanussi8209]

Excellent recipe!

[@TheOneChartine]

o ... m ... g Mandi!!! THIS ... LOOKS ... DELICIOUS 😋 Will definitely add to my list of must try YT Souped Up recipes! Thank you!!!

[@DrBrunoRecipes]

Amazing 😍 Greetings from Scotland 😊 Have a great day everyone 🌻

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

Thank you! You too!

[@RiskingBrandon]

so used to making orange chicken, but lemon chicken?!?! i definitely have to try this. looks delicious!

[@SoupedUpRecipes]

It's so good!

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

lemon chicken is very popular here in the UK Chinese restraunts and takeaways.

[@goodluck7ch]

Wow!! look like Thai food at Thailand. I come from Thailand.❤🌹I like it❤

[@maureenikwueme6251]

Definitely going to give it a go. Thank you. I made your cashew chicken delicious

[@cel2460]

Wow that is different with what's being marketed as "lemon chicken" here, but this looks so good! Also very surprised with the addition of sambal here.

[@ricklee5845]

I am curious about this because Mandy's link points to Amazon and a lot of different brands of "Sambal chili sauce". In my experience, some brands regarding chili sauces and "hot sauces" and sambal are very good and others, though popular, are simply not good. Any ideas?

[@cel2460]

@@ricklee5845 Hi rick! Since I'm indonesian I'd make my own sambal but I think huey fong's sambal oelek is okay for this. You really just need it's spiciness. To make your own, stir-fry chili, tomatoes, garlic, and shallots (you don't want to fry for too long). Crush, add salt, sugar, and a bit of lime. That's it. Adding shrimp paste (terasi or belacan) is optional, although huey fong foods seems to ommit this one and you're making a lemon sauce anyway, so you can absolutely not use that. Cheers

[@pittypatterputzzler5311]

In Brazil there is something close to this, I wish I knew the ingredients.

[@flowerchild777]

@@cel2460 Thank you so much for sharing your recipe💖💖💖

[@korcommander]

@@ricklee5845 i just get the one with the roaster on the bottle. Ingredients are chili, vinegar, salt, and sulfates

[@theresa5059]

Some very good ideas. Thanks for sharing! 🥰😋👍